2012
8
$150,000
$30,000
$450,000
No
A Sweet Spot in the QSR Market
Doughnuttery offers a compelling and disruptive concept in the competitive dessert and Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) landscape: hot, freshly made, miniature donuts dusted in unique, gourmet sugar blends. This isn't your average donut shop; it's a high-margin, low-complexity model built around a captivating sensory experience.
The Doughnuttery Experience is the core of our market positioning. Customers are immediately drawn to the sight, smell, and sound of our proprietary donut machine producing dozens of perfect, golden-brown mini-donuts right before their eyes. The signature twist lies in the unique, handcrafted sugar coatings, featuring adventurous flavors like Cacao Nibs & Vanilla, Rosemary & Olive Oil, Speculoos Cookie, and seasonal favorites. This focus on novelty, quality, and immediate gratification translates directly into impulse purchases and high customer loyalty.
For potential franchisees, Doughnuttery represents an opportunity to tap into the resilient comfort-food market with a small physical footprint. Our streamlined operational process, requiring minimal specialized labor, maximizes efficiency and minimizes waste, setting the stage for strong unit economics. By focusing on quality, spectacle, and unique flavors, Doughnuttery is perfectly positioned for explosive growth across high-traffic U.S. locations, including malls, transit hubs, food halls, and entertainment venues.
Investing in a Doughnuttery mini donut franchise offers several strategic advantages that minimize risk and maximize potential returns in the booming QSR and specialty dessert sector:
Unique Product Differentiation: While the market is saturated with full-size donut chains, Doughnuttery owns the niche of gourmet, made-to-order mini donuts. This creates a "sweet spot" for impulse purchasing, shareability, and novelty that traditional offerings cannot match.
Low Footprint & High Operational Efficiency (Low Labor Model): Our concept is designed for streamlined operations, often fitting into kiosk or in-line locations requiring significantly less square footage than typical coffee or bakery shops. The proprietary equipment automates the core cooking process, drastically simplifying kitchen management and reducing labor costs.
High-Margin Product: Donuts, particularly mini-donuts made fresh, boast one of the lowest food costs in the QSR sector. Combined with premium pricing driven by the unique gourmet flavor profile and "hot and fresh" experience, this results in excellent gross profit margins.
Sensory Marketing Power: The sight, sound, and aroma of hot donuts being made and tossed in specialty sugars is a potent form of organic, in-store marketing. This inherent spectacle draws customer attention and drives immediate sales velocity.
Scalability: The small, standardized footprint and simple operational manual make the Doughnuttery model highly scalable, ideal for multi-unit development in major metropolitan areas and tourist destinations across the USA.
Established Year: 2012
Founders: Evan Feldman – a finance professional turned entrepreneur who, along with his wife, leveraged family experience in the dessert business to create Doughnuttery.
Brand Journey & Company History: Doughnuttery started in Chelsea Market, New York City, as a family-inspired venture combining innovation with tradition. The founder drew inspiration from his wife’s family-owned bakery, William Greenberg Desserts, focusing on fresh, hot, mini doughnuts served with unique flavor combinations. Over the years, the brand has expanded its presence across high-traffic locations in the U.S., gaining popularity for its interactive and visually appealing product presentation.
Franchise Units: As of 2025, Doughnuttery has 8 operational franchise units in the United States, with ongoing plans for expansion in food halls, malls, airports, colleges, and entertainment arenas.
Ownership: Doughnuttery Franchise LLC – privately held.
Market Presence in the USA: The brand has become a recognizable name in dessert and quick-service markets, with locations in major urban centers and participation in food festivals, pop-ups, and catering events.
Industry Category: Desserts, Baked Goods, Quick-Service Restaurants (QSR).
Unique Selling Proposition: Doughnuttery differentiates itself with freshly made, mini doughnuts served hot, customizable sugar and topping options, and a visually interactive experience for customers. Its compact operational footprint allows flexible placement in various high-traffic environments, making it a scalable and versatile franchise opportunity.
Doughnuttery is committed to ensuring every franchisee is fully equipped to replicate the brand's success with comprehensive, multi-phase training and robust ongoing support.
Site Selection Assistance: Guidance on identifying high-traffic locations (malls, entertainment districts, transit centers, food halls) that align with the Doughnuttery model's low-footprint requirements.
Design & Construction: Complete, standardized architectural and design plans for kiosks, inline stores, and carts, ensuring cost-effective and efficient build-out.
Equipment & Supply Chain: Assistance in procuring the proprietary donut-making equipment and establishing relationships with our approved, cost-effective suppliers for high-quality ingredients and unique sugar blends.
Grand Opening Marketing: A structured plan, including digital assets, local PR templates, and social media guidance to ensure a high-impact opening event.
Initial Training Program (Doughnuttery University): An intensive program covering all aspects of the business, including recipe standardization, proprietary equipment operation and maintenance, customer service standards, and local marketing execution.
Confidential Operations Manual: Access to the proprietary manual detailing every step of the day-to-day operation, from inventory management and cleaning checklists to cash handling and opening/closing procedures.
Field Operations Support: Regular site visits and ongoing consulting from dedicated Field Operations Managers to ensure quality control, operational efficiency, and adherence to brand standards.
Marketing & R&D: Development of new flavor profiles, seasonal promotions, and digital marketing assets (photography, video, campaigns) to keep the menu fresh and relevant.
Technology Support: Assistance with required Point-of-Sale (POS) systems and back-office reporting tools to help monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and drive profitability.
Doughnuttery is seeking ambitious, operationally minded entrepreneurs who are passionate about quality food and delivering an exceptional customer experience.
Entrepreneurial Spirit: A strong drive for business ownership and a commitment to hands-on management, especially during the crucial first 12-18 months of operation.
Business & Management Background: While direct QSR or bakery experience is a plus, it is not mandatory. The ideal candidate possesses excellent managerial, people-management, and organizational skills. They must be adept at hiring, training, and retaining a small, efficient team.
Financial Capability: Must meet the minimum liquid capital and net worth requirements (see Financial Details below) to successfully finance the initial build-out and maintain sufficient working capital during the ramp-up phase.
Passion for the Brand: A genuine enthusiasm for the unique Doughnuttery product and the desire to uphold the high standards of quality, flavor, and visual appeal that define the brand.
Location Preference & Strategy: We prioritize multi-unit developers who are interested in targeting high-density, urban, or high-foot-traffic territories, including regional shopping centers, airports, universities, major train stations, and designated food hall locations.
Disclaimer: The following financial figures are estimates based on industry averages for similar QSR/Dessert kiosk models and should be used for informational purposes only. The true, detailed costs and financial performance representations will be provided exclusively in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). You must consult the FDD before making any investment decision.
Financial Component | Estimated Range (USD) | Detail & Rationale |
|---|---|---|
Total Investment Required | $150,000 - $450,000 | This range covers everything from a small, low-cost cart/kiosk model to a larger, premium in-line retail location build-out. |
Minimum Liquid Capital Required | $75,000 - $125,000 | Cash/liquid assets needed to cover the investment and working capital. |
Franchise Fee (Initial) | $30,000 - $40,000 | One-time fee for rights to operate, initial training, and access to proprietary systems. |
Infrastructure/Build-out Cost | $60,000 - $250,000 | Varies widely based on location size, tenant improvements, and local labor rates. |
Equipment & Signage | $30,000 - $50,000 | Includes the proprietary automatic donut machine, POS system, small wares, and external signage package. |
Working Capital (3-6 Months) | $15,000 - $50,000 | Funds needed for initial payroll, rent, inventory, and utilities until the business reaches cash-flow positive status. |
Royalty Fees (Ongoing) | 6% of Gross Sales | Paid weekly or monthly; covers ongoing support, R&D, and brand maintenance. |
Marketing/Advertising Fund | 1% - 2% of Gross Sales | Contribution to the national/regional advertising fund to promote the brand. |
Potential Revenue Streams | Retail sales of hot mini-donuts, coffee/specialty beverages, catering, and branded merchandise. | The core revenue driver is high-volume, impulse mini-donut sales. |
Expected ROI & Break-even Time | Varies significantly by location, execution, and sales volume. | Franchisees should review Item 19 of the FDD for any Financial Performance Representations. |
Next Step: To receive the official Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and begin your journey to owning a Doughnuttery franchise, please submit an inquiry directly through the corporate contact channel.
