Start a Crown Trophy Franchise in 2024

Franchise 500 Rank: N/R Not ranked last year

Initial investment: $168K - $228K

Units as of 2023: 130 5% over 3 years

Crown Trophy, established in Brooklyn, New York in 1978, is one of the largest retailers of award and recognition trophies in the United States. It is a one-stop-shop for trophies and awards for any occasion and has subsequently secured its footing as a leader in the industry.

Crown Trophy currently has over 130 locations in 40 states. Their 100,000 sq. ft. corporate office and warehouse in Hawthorne, New York, strives to use state-of-the-art equipment and houses its franchise team and graphic artists.

Why You May Want to Start a Crown Trophy Franchise

Operating a Crown Trophy franchise is an easy way to run a community-oriented business. The company focuses on serving local sports leagues, youth groups, schools, and clubs. This is what made it an instant success when founder Chuck Weisenfield opened his first location.

But not only will you be giving out trophies to Little Leaguers and student achievers. You’ll also be selling awards for executives in corporate settings, personalized gifts, and banners. With a dedicated showroom in each store that showcases award options, Crown Trophy is truly a sight to behold, and its products are a great way to bring a smile to someone’s face.

As a Crown Trophy franchisee, you’ll receive ongoing support from lease negotiations, security and safety procedures, email marketing, web development, and training. You will go through a few hours of on-the-job training and several dozen hours of classroom training. Additionally, you will attend annual Crown Trophy franchise meetings where you can meet with other franchisees and learn best practices for your business.

What Might Make a Crown Trophy Franchise a Good Choice?

Crown Trophy has a long history of ranking in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500. That ranking is based on an evaluation of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability.

Its relatively low franchise fee, unique hold over the market, and small employee requirement—you only need two people to operate a store—may make it an easy investment to add to a portfolio and run daily. You also have the opportunity to hold exclusive territory in your locale. Seeing as there are not many other franchising competitors in the market, you can potentially become the only resource for customizable awards and trophies in the area.

To be part of the Crown Trophy team, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. You should also be prepared for ongoing fees that will include royalty fees. The term of an agreement typically lasts for five years, and the contract is renewable.

How To Open a Crown Trophy Franchise?

To open a Crown Trophy franchise, you’ll need a cash requirement and net worth minimum set by the company. You cannot be an absentee franchisee, meaning you will have to work in the business itself. You also cannot run this franchise part-time. To begin your Crown Trophy franchise journey, simply submit a franchise inquiry form.

Company Overview

About Crown Trophy

Industry	Retail
Related Categories	Miscellaneous Retail Businesses, Miscellaneous Recreation Businesses, Sports Equipment & Apparel
Founded	1978
Parent Company	Crown Trophy Inc.
Leadership	Chuck Weisenfeld, Founder
Corporate Address	9 Skyline Dr. Hawthorne, NY 10532

Business Overview

Franchising Since	1987 (37 years)
# of employees at HQ	16
Where seeking	This company is offering new franchises throughout the US.
# of Units	130 (as of 2023)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Crown Trophy franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Definition: The initial fee paid to a franchisor to join their system What you need to know: Found in Item 5 of the FDD, this may be a flat fee, or may vary based on territory size, experience, or other factors.The franchise fee is an up-front (one-time) cost that a new franchisee pays to the franchisor. This fee is usually due at the signing of the franchise agreement and covers the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, name, and related business systems.	$35,000
Initial Investment Definition: The total amount necessary to begin operation of the franchise What you need to know: The initial investment includes the franchise fee, along with other startup expenses such as real estate, equipment, supplies, business licenses, and working capital. This is outlined in a chart in Item 7 of the FDD, showing a range of possible costs from low to high.	$168,150 - $227,700
Net Worth Requirement Definition: The minimum net worth you must have in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company What you need to know: Net worth is the value of a person's assets minus liabilities. Assets include cash, stocks, retirement accounts, and real estate. Liabilities include items like mortgages, car payments, and credit card debt.	$50,000 - $1,000,000
Cash Requirement Definition: The minimum liquid capital you must have available in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company.	$50,000 - $60,000
Veteran Incentives Definition: A discount or other incentive offered to military veterans who buy a franchise with this company.	5% off franchise fee
Royalty Fee Definition: A ongoing fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis. What you need to know: Most franchisors require franchisees to pay an ongoing royalty fee, which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. This fee is typically a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales, but may also be a flat weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	5%
Term of Agreement Definition: The length of time your franchise agreement will last. What you need to know: Franchise terms are typically anywhere from 5 to 20 years in length, but are sometimes instead dependent on factors such as the term of your lease. Once your term is up, you may have the option to renew your agreement, typically for a smaller fee than the original franchise fee.	5 years
Is franchise term renewable?	Yes

Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing	Crown Trophy has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: startup costs, equipment, inventory

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training	12 hours
Classroom Training	52 hours
Ongoing Support	Newsletter Meetings & Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security & Safety Procedures Lease Negotiation Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support	Ad Templates SEO Website Development Email Marketing

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed?	No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Definition: The business can be run from your home and/or a vehicle, and it is not necessary to have a retail facility, office space, or warehouse.	No
Can this franchise be run part time? Definition: This business can be run by the owner on a part-time basis (less than 40 hours per week) and/or as a side business; it is not necessary for the business to be open/run full-time.	No
# of employees required to run	2
Are exclusive territories available? Definition: An exclusive territory is a fixed area in which you are given the right to operate and in which no other units of the same franchise may be opened. What you need to know: Territory size may be based on factors such as radius, population size, zip codes, and more. Details can be found in Item 12 of the FDD.	Yes