Once Upon A Child
New & used children's clothing, equipment, furniture, toysBackground
Founded: 1984 Franchising since: 1992
Founded in 1984 in Columbus, Ohio, Once Upon A Child specializes in selling new and used children's clothes, toys, furniture and equipment. Franchises were first offered in 1992. The company is owned by Winmark (formerly Grow Biz), which also franchises Music Go Round, Plato's Closet, and Play It Again Sports.
Franchisor has 100 employee(s); 5 employee(s) in franchise department.
Franchise Growth
Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Outside the U.S.: Canada
Exclusive territories available.
Territory size: 5-mile radius
Founded in 1984 in Columbus, Ohio, Once Upon A Child specializes in selling new and used children's clothes, toys, furniture and equipment. Franchises were first offered in 1992. The company is owned by Winmark (formerly Grow Biz), which also franchises Music Go Round, Plato's Closet, and Play It Again Sports.
|
605 Hwy. 109 N., # 400 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55441 |
Phone: (800)592-8049/ (763)520-8490 |
Franchisor has 100 employee(s); 5 employee(s) in franchise department.
Franchise Growth
| Year | U.S. Franchises | Canadian Franchises | Foreign Franchises | Company Owned |
| 2009 | 211 | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 208 | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 203 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 189 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 189 | 19 | 0 | 1 |
Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Outside the U.S.: Canada
Exclusive territories available.
Territory size: 5-mile radius
Costs and Fees
|
Total investment: $170K-264K Franchise fee: $25K |
Ongoing royalty fee: 5% Term of agreement: 10 years, renewable |
Type of Financing Available
| In-House | Third Party | |
| Franchise Fee | No | No |
| Startup Costs | No | No |
| Equipment | No | No |
| Inventory | No | No |
| Accounts Receivable | No | No |
| Payroll | No | No |
Qualifications
Net worth requirement: $200K
Cash liquidity requirement: $51K-79.2K
Business Experience:
- General business experience
- Marketing skills
Operations
- 25% of all franchisees own more than one unit
- Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3 - 5
- Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (95% of current franchisees are owner/operators)
Training and Support
Training
Ongoing Support
Marketing Support
- Available at headquarters: 2 weeks
Ongoing Support
- Newsletter
- Meetings
- Toll-free phone line
- Grand opening
- Internet
- Security/safety procedures
- Field operations/evaluations
- Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing Support
- Co-op advertising
- Ad slicks
Rankings
Franchise 500® rank:
#197 (2009); #226 (2008); #362 (2007); #408 (2006); #364 (2005);
Ranked #1 in category in:
2008; 2005;
America's Top Global Franchises:
#152 (2009); #192 (2008);
#197 (2009); #226 (2008); #362 (2007); #408 (2006); #364 (2005);
Ranked #1 in category in:
2008; 2005;
America's Top Global Franchises:
#152 (2009); #192 (2008);