Plato's Closet logo

Plato's Closet

Teen- and young-adult-clothing resale stores
Investment
$327,200
Initial Franchise Fee
$25,000
Units
526
Growth Rate
+5.8%

Overview

Industry
Retail
Founded
1998
Franchising Since
1999
Parent Company
Winmark Corp.
Leadership
Brett Heffes, CEO
# of Employees at HQ
89

Units and Growth Chart

About Plato's Closet

The perfect candidate for a Plato's Closet franchise has a love of fashion, style, and community to go along with with a passion for sustainability.

Plato's Closet, which was founded in 1998, is one of the leading second-hand brand-name clothes and accessories stores in North America. They buy and sell gently used brand-name clothing and accessories that specifically appeal to youth. With over 475 locations, their brand is all about affordable fashion, inclusivity, and enhancing style.

You typically do not need expertise in fashion, but instead a willingness to provide quality style options to the community. Plato's Closet may give you the training you need to run your business.

Why You May Want to Start a Plato's Closet Franchise

Running a Plato's Closet franchise means you can buy gently used clothes from people and sell them to others. You also get to own one of the leading stores directed at teenagers, providing a client base that is unique and typically ready to buy. They resell brand names like Uggs, Adidas, Aéropostale, and more at a fraction of the price. They are firm in their beliefs that fashion should come with community and sustainability.

A Plato's Closet franchise might be an excellent opportunity to become part of the fashion industry. Being a Winmark brand, they have established themselves as a retail franchise leader in the resale space with affordable prices and great finds.

What Might Make a Plato's Closet Franchise a Good Choice?

Many times since its founding, Plato's Closet has been ranked in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500. This 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.

To be part of Plato's Closet team, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment consisting of a franchise fee and other startup costs. You’ll want to make sure you have enough capital available to cover ongoing fees, as well. These ongoing fees will include royalty, advertising, and potential renewal fees.

How Do You Open a Plato's Closet Franchise?

To start a Plato's Closet franchise, you can fill out a franchise inquiry form. A Plato's Closet franchise representative may reach out to you to begin the franchise process by first checking your financial qualifications. You might then have meetings with other franchisees to hear about their experience as Plato’s Closet franchisees.

You usually have to visit Plato's Closet corporate headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota for discovery day to get more information from the franchise team. They will also use this opportunity to learn more about you and your potential fit with the franchise. Once you have signed on board, you generally attend their intensive training program that will help equip you to run the business. Plato's Closet is ready to support your franchise every step of the way. Soon you may be opening your door to excited customers ready to buy name-brand items. 

Investment Details

Initial Franchise Fee
$25,000
Initial Investment
$327,200 - $449,000
Net Worth Requirement
$400,000
Cash Requirement
$90,000
Royalty Fee
5%
Ad Royalty Fee
$1.5K/yr.
Technology Fee
0
Term of Agreement
10 years
Is Franchise Term Renewable?
Yes
Financing
Third Party
Veterans Incentive
N/A

Available Territories

Franchising opportunities available in the following regions

United States International

Continents

Canada

Training & Support Programs

Comprehensive training and ongoing support to help you succeed

Training

On the Job Training
21.5 hours
Classroom Training
40 hours

Ongoing Support

Purchasing Co-ops
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform

Marketing Support

Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App

Operations & Requirements

Key operational details and requirements for running this franchise

Is absentee ownership allowed?
No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit?
No
Can this franchise be run part time?
No
# of employees required to run
15-20
Are exclusive territories available?
Yes

Ranking History

Plato's Closet performance in the Franchise rankings over recent years

Additional Rankings

Curious to know where Plato's Closet ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.

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Disclaimer
The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.
Updated: December 12th, 2022