Hurts Donut^®

Food & Beverage • Year: 2025

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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

The franchise’s key strength is a spotless legal record — zero disclosed lawsuits, franchisor enforcement actions, government penalties, or franchisee judgments/settlements — well below typical and promising lower regulatory friction; the biggest risk is one outlet non‑renewal, unusually high in Food & Beverage and suggesting at least one operator chose not to continue.

Pros

Zero disclosed legal and enforcement issues — total lawsuits, franchisor-initiated enforcement, government penalties, and franchisee judgments/settlements are all zero, which is well below what's typical and indicates a clean legal record and lower regulatory friction.

A perfect 100 training-and-support score is well above typical for franchises, meaning you'll get unusually comprehensive onboarding and ongoing operational support.

A territory protection score of 65 is well above typical for Food & Beverage, giving you stronger territorial rights and better defense against nearby franchisor expansion.

Cons

There is 1 outlet non-renewal, which is unusually high for Food & Beverage and suggests at least one operator chose not to continue under the system.

Managers are not required to complete initial training, an uncommon absence compared with most peers, which places the full burden of training managers on you as the owner.

The franchisor cannot operate in alternative venues (an unusual absence versus most peers), which limits franchisor-led channel expansion and may slow broader brand distribution or centralized revenue opportunities.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

100

Excellent

The franchise reported no material legal proceedings.

Territory Protection

65/100

Excellent

Grants a protected operating area where the franchisor will not place other physical units. The franchisor retains rights to sell via e‑commerce and alternative distribution channels, operate under different trademarks, and develop additional units in the surrounding market, while the franchisee keeps site-specific rights and relocation flexibility without performance contingencies.

Training & Support

100

Excellent

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.

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

$504,000

Franchise Fee

Real Estate

Equipment & Assets

Reserves

Training

Other

Maximum Investment

$825,000

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.

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.

Average Gross Sales:

$1,158,813

Median Gross Sales:

$1,100,988

High Gross Sales:

$2,850,207

Low Gross Sales:

$566,308

Sample Size:

Percent Attaining Average:

46.6%

Franchise vs Corporate Performance: The franchised outlets reported an average gross revenue of 1,158,813.43 for 2024 compared with the single affiliated company store adjusted as-if-franchised revenue of 1,405,129.79, indicating the affiliate performed above the franchised average when adjusted for royalties.

Performance Variability Analysis: There is substantial variability among franchised outlets, with the highest at 2,850,206.88 and the lowest at 566,308.39, and only 46.6% of outlets meeting or exceeding the average, suggesting outcomes are uneven across locations.

Data Scope and Limitations: The dataset covers only franchised outlets operating the full 2024 year (n=15) and is unaudited and self-reported, and no expense or profit figures are provided for franchised units, limiting profitability analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to open a Hurts Donut franchise?

The total initial investment for a Hurts Donut franchise ranges from $504,000 to $825,000, according to the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and working capital.

What is the Hurts Donut initial franchise fee?

The initial franchise fee for Hurts Donut is $35,000, as stated in the 2025 FDD. This fee is paid upon signing the Franchise Agreement.

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 Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document. Actual earnings vary by location, market, and operator experience.

Does Hurts Donut have any franchise lawsuits or legal issues?

Hurts Donut received a legal risk score of 100 out of 100 in the 2025 FDD analysis. The franchise reported no material legal proceedings.

Does Hurts Donut offer exclusive franchise territories?

Hurts Donut received a territory protection score of 65 out of 100. Grants a protected operating area where the franchisor will not place other physical units.

What training does Hurts Donut provide to new franchisees?

Hurts Donut received a training and support score of 100 out of 100. The brand provides an extensive 128-hour training curriculum designed to prepare four franchisee staff members for launch.

How many Hurts Donut franchise locations are there?

Hurts Donut had 16 total locations as of the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document.

What type of business 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.

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