Hurts Donut®
What Is Hurts Donut?
Hurts Donut is a donut shop franchise offering donuts with unique toppings and ingredients and full-service espresso in a distinctive, casual setting. Franchise stores are described to operate 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
Hurts Donut Franchise: Pros and Cons
With a training and support score of 100 and a $12,000 Item 7 training estimate suggesting a comprehensive initial program to cut startup mistakes, the franchise still risks inconsistent store readiness because managers are not required to complete initial training, an unusual absence given 89.7% of food and beverage franchises require it.
Pros
Cons
Lawsuits & Legal Risk
Hurts Donut reported no material legal proceedings,
Territory Protection
Hurts Donut grants an exclusive, protected, site-specific territory (zip-code or political boundaries) with a minimum population requirement and approved relocation rights that are not contingent on sales performance. The franchisor retains e-commerce/alternative distribution rights, may use different trademarks for direct sales, and will not grant rights of first refusal.
Training & Support
The brand provides an extensive 128-hour training curriculum designed to prepare four franchisee staff members for launch. Training includes on-site launch support to ensure operational readiness; franchisees are responsible for travel and lodging, and additional on-site support services incur separate fees.
Franchisee Stability
Hurts Donut receives a Normal Stability Score. Three-year turnover of 9.09% sits above the typical Food & Beverage franchise (around 5.4%). Out of 5 total exits, terminations dominated with 3, alongside 1 non-renewal, no franchisor buybacks, and 1 ceased operations.
The dominance of terminations points to franchisor-initiated exits, which suggests either operators struggled with the model or the franchisor enforces standards aggressively. This is built on a compact track record (roughly 55 franchisees averaged across three years); continued retention as the system grows would solidify the picture. Prospective buyers should ask about onboarding, ongoing support, and how the franchisor manages underperforming units to understand whether exits reflect economics or enforcement. Talk directly with current and former franchisees about early performance and the support they received. For prospective franchisees, retention is in line with industry peers.
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 2025 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
Maximum Investment
Minimum Investment Breakdown
Maximum Investment Breakdown
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.
How Much Do Hurts Donut Franchise Owners Make?
Hurts Donut franchise locations reported average gross sales of $1,158,813 and median gross sales of $1,100,988 in 2025, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.
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 2025 FDD: Hurts Donut operates 16 locations, received a legal risk score of 100/100, a training and support score of 100/100. Financial performance data is disclosed in Item 19. 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. Hurts Donut disclosed average gross sales of $1,158,813 in 2025. 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 2025 FDD, Hurts Donut reported 0 terminated franchises and 1 non-renewals out of 16 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 2025 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 2025 FDD, Hurts Donut operates 15 franchised locations and 1 company-owned locations. Franchise opportunities are available through the franchisor's disclosure process.
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