Entrepreneur: Start & Grow Your Business

Once Upon A Child

Retailer selling new and used children’s clothing, toys and furniture

Year began: 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.
4200 Dahlberg Dr., #100 Minneapolis, MN 55422-4837 Phone: (800)453-7750/(763)520-8490 Fax: (763)520-8501	Franchisor has 100 employee(s); 5 employee(s) in franchise department.

Franchise Growth

Year

2008
2007
2006
2005
2004

U.S. Franchises

203
203
189
189
189

Canadian Franchises

20
20
19
19
20

Foreign Franchises

0
0
0
0
0

Company
Owned

0
0
0
1
1

Where Seeking Franchisees

Nationwide

Outside the U.S.:

Exclusive territories available.
Territory size: 5-mile radius

Costs & Fees

Total investment: $158.5K-251.5K
Franchise fee: $20K
Ongoing royalty fee: 5%
Term of agreement: 10 years, renewable
Renewal fee: $5K

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: $250K
Cash liquidity requirement: $47K-75K
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 & Support

TRAINING

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 in Entrepreneur magazine 2004-2008

Franchise 500® rank:
#226 (2008); #362 (2007); #408 (2006); #364 (2005); #380 (2004);

Ranked #1 in category in:
2008; 2005;

America's Top Global Franchises:
#192 (2008);

Last Updated: 8/6/2008 12:00:00 AM