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Hurts Donut®

Food & Beverage • Year: 2026
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What Is Hurts Donut?

Hurts Donut is a franchise for operating donut stores that offer donuts with unique toppings and full-service espresso in a distinctive, casual 24-hour, seven-days-per-week setting. The concept centers on specialty donuts and espresso beverages as the primary product offerings. Franchisees are granted the right to establish and operate Hurts Donut stores.

Hurts Donut Franchise: Pros and Cons

A key strength is the strong territory protection score of 73 (top 5% for Food & Beverage), offering unusually robust rights against nearby duplicative openings; a notable risk is one outlet non‑renewal (higher than typical, in the top 25%), which suggests at least one operator chose not to continue at renewal.

Pros

The $12,000 estimate for initial franchisee training is well above typical (top 10%), which-per the expert note-usually signals a more comprehensive, hands‑on onboarding program that can shorten your time to competency.
A territory protection score of 73 is well above typical for Food & Beverage (top 5%), giving you stronger-than-usual territorial rights and better defense against nearby duplicative openings.
Zero disclosed lawsuits, government penalties, franchisor-initiated enforcement actions, and franchisee-initiated judgments/settlements - all well below typical for Food & Beverage (bottom 5%) - points to a clean legal and compliance record, which is favorable for long‑term system stability.

Cons

One outlet non-renewal is higher than typical for Food & Beverage (top quarter), which suggests at least one operator chose not to continue with the system at renewal.
No requirement that managers complete initial training - an unusual absence (90.8% of peers require it) - shifts the burden onto you to train or hire already-qualified managers, increasing operational effort.
The franchisor cannot sell in retail - an unusual absence (87.3% of peers can) - which limits potential ancillary revenue channels and may reduce broader brand exposure that could help drive franchisee sales.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

100
Excellent

Hurts Donut reported no material legal proceedings,

Territory Protection

73/100
Excellent

Hurts Donut grants an exclusive, protected geographic territory (site-specific, typically ≥150,000 population) with continuity of rights absent performance quotas; relocation requires franchisor approval and a $2,000 fee. The franchisor retains the right to sell via e-commerce/alternative channels, use different trademarks, and develop nearby units.

Training & Support

98
Good

Hurts Donut provides an Extensive 128-hour training curriculum designed to prepare four individuals for launch through a comprehensive, multi-component program. The program includes on-site launch assistance to support operational readiness, with travel and lodging expenses managed by the franchisee and additional on-site support available for separate fees.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Hurts Donut Franchise?

Opening a Hurts Donut franchise requires a total initial investment of $504,000 to $825,000, according to the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. This range covers the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and initial working capital needed to launch and operate through the early months.

Minimum Investment

$504,000
Minimum Investment Breakdown
Franchise Fee
Real Estate
Equipment & Assets
Reserves
Training
Other

Maximum Investment

$825,000
Maximum Investment Breakdown

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$35,000
Real Estate$216,000
Equipment & Assets$195,000
Reserves$5,000
Training$12,000
Other$41,000

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$35,000
Real Estate$380,000
Equipment & Assets$316,000
Reserves$20,000
Training$15,000
Other$59,000

Investment Analysis

This investment analysis is coming soon. Have ideas for other analyses you'd like us to add? Get in touch.

The initial investment amounts shown are estimates only. Actual costs may vary based on location size, business model, and multi-unit ownership arrangements. We recommend reviewing the full Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hurts Donut a good franchise to own?

Whether Hurts Donut is a good franchise depends on your goals, experience, and local market. Key factors from the 2026 FDD: Hurts Donut operates 18 locations, received a legal risk score of 100/100, a training and support score of 98/100. The franchisor does not disclose financial performance data. Prospective franchisees should review the full Franchise Disclosure Document and consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decision.

Is a Hurts Donut franchise worth the investment?

The value of a Hurts Donut franchise investment depends on factors such as location, operator experience, and market demand. The initial investment ranges from $504,000 to $825,000. Franchise investments carry inherent risk, and prospective buyers should conduct thorough due diligence before committing capital.

What is the failure rate of Hurts Donut franchises?

In the 2026 FDD, Hurts Donut reported 0 terminated franchises and 1 non-renewals out of 18 total locations. Franchise closures can result from many factors including market conditions, operator decisions, lease expirations, and franchisor enforcement actions. The FDD's Item 20 provides the most detailed unit turnover data.

How long does it take to break even with a Hurts Donut franchise?

Break-even timelines for Hurts Donut franchises are not disclosed in the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. Break-even periods vary significantly based on initial investment level, local market conditions, operating costs, and revenue ramp-up speed. Prospective franchisees should build a pro forma financial model using Item 7 cost estimates and, where available, Item 19 financial performance data from the FDD.

Is Hurts Donut a franchise or a corporate-owned business?

As of the 2026 FDD, Hurts Donut operates 16 franchised locations and 2 company-owned locations. Franchise opportunities are available through the franchisor's disclosure process.

Does Hurts Donut disclose franchise revenue data?

Hurts Donut did not disclose financial performance data (Item 19) in their 2026 FDD. Not all franchisors choose to publish this information.

Report generated on June 16, 2026 at 08:40 AM

ZeeReport does not audit the information it receives and does not independently verify the information in every instance.

Prospective franchisees should consult the original Franchise Disclosure Document before making any investment decision.

Data is extracted via automated AI tools. Inaccuracies or omissions are possible due to the nature of the technology.

This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial, investment, or other professional advice.

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