Donut Distillery franchise: cost, fees and total investment
Short answer: The Donut Distillery franchise fee is $29,900 and the total initial investment ranges from $198,150 to $329,900, with about $45,000 in liquid cash required, based on franchise disclosure data compiled in October 2026. Confirm current figures in Items 5 and 7 of the Donut Distillery FDD.
What are the Donut Distillery franchise fees and investment?
The Donut Distillery franchise requires a franchise fee of $29,900 and a total initial investment of $198,150 to $329,900. The franchise fee is one line inside the total investment, which also covers location, equipment, opening inventory and working capital.
| Franchise fee (FDD Item 5) | $29,900 |
|---|---|
| Total initial investment (FDD Item 7) | $198,150 to $329,900 |
| Minimum liquid cash | $45,000 |
| US locations | 2 |
| Industry | Food & Restaurant |
| Headquarters | Nolensville, Tennessee |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Franchising since | 2021 |
How does the Donut Distillery investment compare with other food & restaurant franchises?
Donut Distillery's minimum investment of $198,150 is at or below the median minimum investment of $297,082 across the 1213 food & restaurant franchises in the SelectFranchiseList database. 845 of the other 1211 brands in this industry start at a higher investment. Its franchise fee starting at $29,900 compares with an industry median of $35,000.
By minimum investment, Donut Distillery belongs with franchises from $100,000 to $250,000.
What should you verify in the Donut Distillery FDD?
Verify six parts of the Donut Distillery Franchise Disclosure Document before you sign, because figures change with every annual FDD:
- Item 5 and Item 6: the current franchise fee, royalty, marketing fund and technology fees.
- Item 7: the full investment range by expense line, including working capital.
- Item 19: whether Donut Distillery discloses financial performance data, and which units it covers.
- Item 20: openings, closures and transfers, plus contacts for current and former franchisees.
- Item 21: the franchisor's audited financial statements.
- Item 12: whether your territory is protected.
The full list of Items is in the FDD guide. You must receive the FDD at least 14 calendar days before you sign a binding agreement or pay any money.
Which franchises are similar to Donut Distillery?
These food & restaurant franchises have the closest minimum investment to Donut Distillery:
| Franchise | Franchise fee | Total investment |
|---|---|---|
| Sidewalk Juice | $22,500 to $30,000 | $198,000 to $1,298,000 |
| Wings Over | $30,000 | $198,000 to $701,875 |
| Chocolate Bash | $45,000 | $198,400 to $380,000 |
| Erik's Delicafe | $20,000 | $198,500 to $406,600 |
| Captain Tony's Pizza | $10,000 to $20,000 | $197,550 to $389,800 |
See every brand in food & restaurant franchises.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Donut Distillery franchise cost?
The total initial investment for a Donut Distillery franchise ranges from $198,150 to $329,900, including a franchise fee of $29,900, according to franchise disclosure data compiled in October 2026. The exact amount depends on location, build-out and working capital, as shown in Item 7 of the FDD.
How much cash do you need to open a Donut Distillery franchise?
Donut Distillery lists a minimum of about $45,000 in liquid cash. Lenders usually finance part of the remaining investment, and the franchisor confirms its capital requirements during qualification.
How many Donut Distillery locations are there?
Donut Distillery reported 2 US locations in the data compiled in October 2026. Item 20 of the FDD shows openings, closures and transfers for the last three years.
How long has Donut Distillery been franchising?
Donut Distillery started offering franchises in 2021 after the company was founded in 2017.
Figures are compiled from franchise disclosure data and public franchise listings as of October 2026 and may have changed. Donut Distillery and its trademarks belong to their owner; SelectFranchiseList is not affiliated with or endorsed by Donut Distillery. This page is not an offer to sell a franchise. Only the franchisor's current FDD is authoritative.