Batteries Plus

Batteries Plus is an American specialty retail franchise focused on batteries, lighting products, and repair-related services. The brand began in 1988 when Ron Rezetko opened its first store in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Its original business was narrowly centered on batteries for a broad range of uses, including consumer electronics, vehicles, industrial equipment, household devices, and specialty applications. A defining feature of the chain has been its ability to supply batteries that are difficult to find through general retailers, including products for older appliances, discontinued equipment, and antique automobiles. The company began franchising in 1992, when Dan and Susan Manwaring opened the first franchise location in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Franchising became the core mechanism for national expansion, allowing locally owned stores to operate within a common retail, merchandising, training, and service framework. Batteries Plus established its corporate headquarters in Hartland, Wisconsin, in 1998. Over time, the brand expanded beyond batteries. Lighting products became an important part of the assortment, including LED, compact fluorescent, halogen, and specialty bulbs. In 2013, the company changed its name to Batteries Plus Bulbs to make the broader merchandise range more apparent. It subsequently added service businesses designed to bring customers into stores for technical and maintenance needs. A nationwide smartphone and tablet repair service was rolled out in 2014, followed by automotive key cutting and key-fob programming services in 2016. These additions broadened the brand from a product retailer into a local problem-solving destination for power, lighting, access, and small-device needs. Batteries Plus Bulbs was acquired by Roark Capital Group in November 2007. Freeman Spogli & Co., a Los Angeles-based private-equity firm, acquired the company from Roark in July 2016. The chain continued to operate primarily through franchised locations, with franchisees benefiting from centralized purchasing, marketing, operational guidance, training, and service standards. In 2021, the company returned to the Batteries Plus name and introduced the tagline “Power it. Light it. Fix it.” The rebrand emphasized the combination of merchandise and practical services rather than batteries alone. The company remains a United States-focused retailer with a network of more than 700 locations. Expansion continued in 2024 and 2025 through additional franchise agreements and new-store openings, reaching 48 states after the first quarter of 2025, including the brand’s first location in Hawaii. Its recent operating priorities have included franchise growth, supply-chain diversification, battery recycling, and stronger communication of employees’ technical expertise. In 2025, the brand launched “The Experts In Charge,” a nationwide campaign centered on knowledgeable store associates and personalized in-store service. Batteries Plus also promotes battery recycling through a partnership with Cirba Solutions. The initiative, highlighted around National Battery Day in February 2025, was intended to encourage responsible disposal and recovery of materials from used batteries. The company has also reported reducing its reliance on Chinese imports between 2018 and 2025 by sourcing more products from the United States, Vietnam, Malaysia, and other countries. Its current positioning combines hard-to-find product availability with local service convenience and franchise-based customer relationships. Batteries Plus is a U.S. retail and service business focused on batteries and related products, with additional offerings in lighting, repairs, key fobs, and recycling. The company says it began in 1988 with a single store in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Its stated founding purpose was to meet customers’ needs through quality products and technical knowledge. The brand later developed a franchise model: its About page identifies 1992 as the year Dan and Susan Manwaring opened the first Batteries Plus franchise store, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The company serves both retail and business customers. Its retail range includes automotive, powersport, golf-cart, marine, alkaline, rechargeable, generator, and other batteries; lighting products; and accessories. Its service offering includes phone and tablet repairs, car and truck battery testing and installation, key cutting and fob programming, watch battery replacement, mobility battery services, and gaming-console repair. Service availability and specific work may depend on the store. Batteries Plus also offers recycling at its stores for categories including batteries, light bulbs, and small electronics. For business customers, it describes additional recycling services that may include volume discounts, collection boxes, and pickup options. The company presents expert assistance and convenient local service as important parts of its offer, alongside online shopping and store-based services. Its website also promotes business accounts and services for commercial customers. The brand is active and presents itself as having a national U.S. reach, with stores serving communities and businesses. Its official materials emphasize franchise development and veteran support, including participation in the International Franchise Association’s VetFran program. The supplied material does not identify a current parent company, ultimate owner, headquarters location, or individual corporate executives. Batteries Plus serves both retail and business customers. Its retail range includes automotive, powersport, golf-cart, marine, alkaline, rechargeable, generator, emergency-lighting, and other batteries; lighting products; and accessories. Its service offering includes phone and tablet repairs (including screen, battery, and charge-port work), car and truck battery testing and installation, key cutting and fob programming, watch battery replacement, mobility battery services, and gaming-console repair. Service availability and specific work may depend on the store. At its stores it also accepts used batteries, light bulbs, and small electronics for recycling; for business customers it describes additional recycling services that may include volume discounts, collection boxes, and pickup options. The company presents expert assistance and convenient local service as important parts of its offer, alongside online shopping and store-based services, and promotes business accounts and services for commercial customers. Its official materials emphasize franchise development and veteran support, including participation in the International Franchise Association's VetFran program and recognition on Entrepreneur Magazine's Top Franchises for Veterans list, including in 2025.

Batteries Plus was founded in 1988 by Ron Rezetko, who opened the first store in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The initial concept was a specialized battery retailer serving customers whose needs were not adequately addressed by general merchandise stores. Rather than concentrating only on common household batteries, the business carried products for consumer electronics, vehicles, industrial equipment, appliances, and other specialized applications. Its assortment included batteries for older and discontinued products, a characteristic that helped distinguish the chain from broader retailers. The company moved into franchising in 1992. Dan and Susan Manwaring opened the first franchise store in Fort Wayne, Indiana, establishing a model in which independent operators could serve local markets under a shared brand and operating system. Batteries Plus later established its corporate headquarters in Hartland, Wisconsin, in 1998. The franchise structure allowed the company to expand beyond its original Wisconsin base while retaining a local-store presence. Ownership and expansion strategy changed over the following decades. Roark Capital Group acquired Batteries Plus Bulbs in November 2007. In 2010, the company began offering franchise opportunities as a more explicit growth vehicle, accelerating the addition of locations across the United States. As the product assortment widened, the company changed its name in 2013 from Batteries Plus to Batteries Plus Bulbs. The new name reflected the growing importance of lighting products alongside batteries. Service offerings became another major stage in the company’s development. In July 2014, Batteries Plus Bulbs introduced a nationwide smartphone and tablet repair service. This gave stores a role in maintaining and extending the life of personal devices rather than simply selling replacement power sources. In 2016, the company expanded further into automotive services by adding key cutting and key-fob programming. Freeman Spogli & Co. acquired the business from Roark Capital in July 2016. In 2021, the brand returned to the shorter Batteries Plus name. Its accompanying tagline, “Power it. Light it. Fix it.”, summarized the company’s three principal areas: batteries and power products, lighting, and repair or replacement services. The rebrand also helped move the public identity away from a purely merchandise-based interpretation and toward a broader local service proposition. By the mid-2020s, Batteries Plus had grown to more than 700 locations in the United States. In 2024, it signed 57 franchise agreements across 11 states and opened 30 stores. In the first quarter of 2025, it signed 17 more agreements and opened eight locations in seven states, including its first store in Hawaii, bringing its presence to 48 states. The company’s franchise model remains central to its market coverage, with local owners supported by corporate programs involving product requirements, marketing, supply-chain coordination, training, and customer-service standards. Recent initiatives have addressed brand communication, sourcing, and environmental responsibility. In May 2025, “The Experts In Charge” campaign emphasized the technical knowledge of store associates and the value of personalized in-person assistance. The company also reported a substantial reduction in its dependence on Chinese imports from 2018 to 2025 by diversifying procurement across the United States, Vietnam, Malaysia, and other countries. Around National Battery Day in February 2025, Batteries Plus worked with Cirba Solutions to promote battery recycling at more than 730 locations. This effort connected the company’s retail footprint with consumer education and the recovery of materials from used batteries. Batteries Plus today operates as a United States specialty franchise retailer combining batteries, lighting, repair, automotive access products, and recycling-related services. Batteries Plus traces its history to 1988, when, according to the company’s About page, its first store opened in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The company describes the original business as having a straightforward purpose: serve customers with quality products and technical knowledge. This emphasis on assistance with batteries and related products remains visible in the present-day combination of retail, repair, installation, and recycling services. The next specifically dated turning point in the supplied company history is 1992. Batteries Plus says Dan and Susan Manwaring opened its first franchise store in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This indicates that franchising became part of the business’s expansion relatively early in its history. The company’s About page lists further years—1998, 2003, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021, and 2025–Today—in a timeline, but the supplied page extract does not include the descriptions associated with those entries. Their significance cannot therefore be stated reliably here. The page does note that corporate headquarters were established in 1998, without specifying a location in the supplied text. The current business described across Batteries Plus’s official pages extends beyond battery retail. The company serves individual shoppers and businesses with batteries and lighting, phone and tablet repair, automotive battery testing and installation, key cutting and key-fob programming, watch battery replacement, mobility-related battery services, and gaming-console repair. It also sells products for categories such as powersports, golf carts, marine use, generators, and emergency lighting. The specific assortment and services depend on the relevant product category and store. Recycling is another part of the company’s stated offer. Batteries Plus says customers can bring used batteries, bulbs, and small electronics to nearby stores. It lists a range of battery chemistries and lighting types, as well as small electronics such as phones, tablets, laptops, charging accessories, portable tools, and power cords. For businesses, the page describes possible additional services including recycling boxes, pickup, and volume-discount opportunities, with details and potential fees subject to confirmation with a store. The company also highlights franchising and community-related initiatives. Its About page says it participates in the International Franchise Association’s VetFran program and supports veterans interested in business ownership through training, resources, and franchise support. The same page reports recognition on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top Franchises for Veterans list, including 2025. These are company-reported statements in the supplied material. Batteries Plus remains an active retail and service brand. Its current homepage promotes online product shopping, store services, business accounts, and store-finding tools. The available evidence does not establish its current ownership, parent-company relationship, headquarters address, or executive leadership, and does not provide enough detail to reconstruct the company’s later timeline entries. The company's official materials describe the same founding purpose: serving customers with quality products and technical knowledge, an emphasis still visible in the present-day combination of retail, repair, installation, and recycling services. Batteries Plus serves both individual shoppers and businesses. Its retail range includes automotive, powersport, golf-cart, marine, alkaline, rechargeable, generator, emergency-lighting, and other batteries, plus lighting products and accessories. Its service offering includes phone and tablet repairs (including screen, battery, and charge-port work), car and truck battery testing and installation, key cutting and fob programming, watch battery replacement, mobility battery services, and gaming-console repair, with availability depending on the store. Stores also accept used batteries, bulbs, and small electronics for recycling, and the company describes additional business recycling services that may include volume discounts, collection boxes, and pickup options. Its official materials emphasize franchise development and veteran support, including participation in the International Franchise Association's VetFran program and recognition on Entrepreneur Magazine's Top Franchises for Veterans list, including in 2025.

• 2025

  First Hawaii location and 48-state footprint

  [1]Batteries Plusen.wikipedia.org

  After opening eight stores in the first quarter, including its first Hawaii location, the brand reached 48 U.S. states.

• 2025

  Company reports veteran-franchise recognition

  [3]About Us at Batteries Plusbatteriesplus.com

  Batteries Plus reported recognition on Entrepreneur Magazine's Top Franchises for Veterans list, including in 2025, and participation in the International Franchise Association's VetFran program.

• 2024

  Franchise and store growth

  [1]Batteries Plusen.wikipedia.org

  The company signed 57 new franchise agreements and opened 30 stores across 11 states.

• 2021

  Return to Batteries Plus name

  [1]Batteries Plusen.wikipedia.org

  The company rebranded as Batteries Plus and adopted the tagline "Power it. Light it. Fix it."

• 2016

  Automotive key services added

  [1]Batteries Plusen.wikipedia.org

  Stores expanded into automotive key cutting and key-fob programming.

• 2016

  Freeman Spogli acquisition

  [1]Batteries Plusen.wikipedia.org

  Freeman Spogli & Co. acquired Batteries Plus Bulbs from Roark Capital Group.

• 2014

  Nationwide device-repair service introduced

  [1]Batteries Plusen.wikipedia.org

  The company rolled out smartphone and tablet repair services across its network.

• 2013

  Name changes to Batteries Plus Bulbs

  [1]Batteries Plusen.wikipedia.org

  The brand adopted the Batteries Plus Bulbs name to reflect the expanded lighting assortment.

• 2010

  Franchise expansion program grows

  [1]Batteries Plusen.wikipedia.org

  The company began offering additional franchise opportunities, supporting faster expansion across the United States.

• 2007

  Roark Capital acquisition

  [1]Batteries Plusen.wikipedia.org

  Roark Capital Group acquired Batteries Plus Bulbs.

Showing the 10 most recent.

A nationwide specialty retailer and franchise network that combines broad battery availability, lighting products, and practical repair and replacement services. The brand emphasizes technical expertise, local convenience, and solutions for both everyday and hard-to-find power needs. A local-service-focused U.S. retailer combining a broad battery and lighting assortment with technical expertise, repair services, key-fob services, and recycling for retail and business customers.

• Power products · 1988

  Batteries

  Batteries Plus sells batteries for automotive, powersport, golf-cart, marine, industrial, consumer-electronics, laptop, smartphone, hearing-aid, appliance, alkaline, rechargeable, generator, emergency-lighting, and other specialty applications. The assortment is notable for including replacement products for older, discontinued, or otherwise hard-to-find devices and equipment.

• Lighting

  Light bulbs and lighting products

  The lighting assortment includes LED, compact fluorescent, halogen, and specialty bulbs for household, commercial, and equipment-related uses. Lighting became a significant part of the business and was reflected in the Batteries Plus Bulbs name adopted in 2013.

• Device services · 2014

  Smartphone and tablet repair

  The chain provides repair services for smartphones and tablets, extending the brand beyond product retail. The service was rolled out nationwide in 2014 and complements the company’s battery-replacement expertise. Listed repair services include screen, battery, and charge-port repairs, with additional repairs available. The chain provides repair services for smartphones and tablets, including screen, battery, and charge-port repairs, with additional repairs available. The service was rolled out nationwide in 2014 and complements the company's battery-replacement expertise.

• Automotive services · 2016

  Automotive keys and key-fob services

  Batteries Plus offers automotive key cutting and key-fob programming or replacement services, along with fob battery replacement. These capabilities were added in 2016 and broadened the chain's role in vehicle-related maintenance and access solutions.

• Recycling service · 2025

  Battery recycling

  Through its partnership with Cirba Solutions, Batteries Plus promotes collection and recycling of used batteries at participating locations. The initiative is intended to support responsible disposal and recovery of valuable materials. Through its partnership with Cirba Solutions, Batteries Plus promotes collection and recycling of used batteries at participating locations. Stores also accept used bulbs and small electronics such as phones, tablets, laptops, charging accessories, portable tools, and power cords; for businesses, additional recycling services may include volume discounts, collection boxes, and pickup options. The initiative is intended to support responsible disposal and recovery of valuable materials.

• Batteries and power products

  The company lists automotive, powersport, golf-cart, marine, alkaline, rechargeable, generator, emergency-lighting, and other battery categories.

• Lighting products

  The company offers lighting products and lists multiple bulb and lamp types in its recycling information.

• Key-fob and watch services

  Services include key cutting, fob programming, fob battery replacement, and watch battery replacement.

• In-store services

  Watch and mobility battery services

  Store services include watch battery replacement and mobility-related battery services, alongside gaming-console repair. Availability and specific work may depend on the store.

• 2025The Experts In Charge

  United States

  The nationwide campaign positioned store associates as knowledgeable technical experts and emphasized personalized assistance in local stores, reinforcing the brand's service-led positioning across a network of more than 730 locations.

  Outcome. The campaign reinforced the brand’s service-led positioning across a network of more than 730 locations.

  Source
• 2025National Battery Day recycling initiative

  United States

  Batteries Plus partnered with Cirba Solutions around National Battery Day to encourage consumers to recycle used batteries at participating stores, raising awareness of responsible battery disposal and material recovery.

  Outcome. The initiative raised awareness of responsible battery disposal and material recovery.

  Source
• 2021Power it. Light it. Fix it.

  United States

  The tagline introduced with the 2021 rebrand summarized the company's expanded role in batteries, lighting, repairs, and related replacement services.

  Outcome. It accompanied the return from Batteries Plus Bulbs to the Batteries Plus identity.

  Source

• 2025

  Diversify product sourcingStrategy

  Background

  The company sought to reduce supply-chain exposure and respond to tariff and sourcing risks.

  Action taken

  Batteries Plus increased sourcing from the United States, Vietnam, Malaysia, and other countries while reducing reliance on Chinese imports.

  Aftermath

  The company reported that Chinese imports represented a smaller share of sourcing in 2025 than in 2018.

  Source

• 2021

  Rebrand as Batteries PlusStrategy

  Background

  The Batteries Plus Bulbs identity no longer fully represented the company’s growing mix of products and services.

  Action taken

  The company returned to the Batteries Plus name and adopted the tagline “Power it. Light it. Fix it.”

  Aftermath

  The rebrand emphasized batteries, lighting, repairs, and practical in-store assistance as a unified proposition.

  Source

• 2016

  Add automotive key servicesStrategy

  Background

  The company continued to broaden its local service offering around vehicle-related power and access needs.

  Action taken

  Stores began offering automotive key cutting and key-fob programming.

  Aftermath

  The service portfolio expanded beyond batteries and device repair into automotive replacement and programming.

  Source

• 2014

  Launch nationwide smartphone and tablet repairProduct launch

  Background

  The retailer sought to add service revenue and make stores destinations for device maintenance as well as battery purchases.

  Action taken

  Batteries Plus Bulbs rolled out smartphone and tablet repair services nationwide.

  Aftermath

  The move expanded the brand’s role from specialty product retail into technical repair services.

  Source

• 2013

  Expand the brand into lightingStrategy

  Background

  The company had broadened its assortment beyond batteries to include multiple categories of light bulbs and lighting products.

  Action taken

  It changed its name from Batteries Plus to Batteries Plus Bulbs.

  Aftermath

  The new name made the expanded merchandise proposition more explicit.

  Source

• 2025

  Batteries Plus reaches Hawaii and expands to 48 states[1]Batteries Plusen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  During the first quarter, the company signed 17 additional franchise agreements and opened eight stores in seven states, including its first Hawaii location.

• 2025

  Batteries Plus launches “The Experts In Charge” campaign[1]Batteries Plusen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  The nationwide campaign presented store associates as technical experts and highlighted personalized service across the chain’s more than 730 locations.

• 2025

  Batteries Plus promotes battery recycling with Cirba Solutions[1]Batteries Plusen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Other

  The companies promoted battery recycling at Batteries Plus locations around the United States, with an emphasis on responsible disposal and recovery of critical materials.

• 2025

  Batteries Plus diversifies sourcing to reduce supply-chain exposure[1]Batteries Plusen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company reported reducing its reliance on Chinese imports between 2018 and 2025 while increasing sourcing from the United States, Vietnam, Malaysia, and other countries.

• 2024

  Batteries Plus expands through new franchise agreements and stores[1]Batteries Plusen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The franchise network signed 57 new agreements across 11 states and opened 30 stores, continuing its domestic expansion.

• 2021

  Batteries Plus returns to its original brand name[1]Batteries Plusen.wikipedia.org

  Other · Campaign

  The company rebranded from Batteries Plus Bulbs to Batteries Plus and introduced the tagline “Power it. Light it. Fix it.” to communicate its expanded product and service offering.

1. 1Batteries Plusen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Batteries Plus homepagebatteriesplus.com
3. 3About Us at Batteries Plusbatteriesplus.com
4. 4Services at Batteries Plusbatteriesplus.com
5. 5Recycling Services at Batteries Plusbatteriesplus.com