How to Start a Donut Shop

A Donut shop is a tried and true business idea that can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Whether you choose to open a more bakery style shop, a quiet cafe, or perhaps open a more expensive franchise, the potential for growth is incredible.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the process with hands-on support.

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Start a donut shop by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Donut Shop
  2. Form your Donut Shop into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Donut Shop for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Donut Shop
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Donut Shop
  7. Get Donut Shop Insurance
  8. Define your Donut Shop Brand
  9. Create your Donut Shop Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your donut shop. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a donut shop?

You must have a location from which to make and sell donuts, you need basic equipment and inventory supplies to get you started, you need advertising to get customers in the door, and possibly a website, POS system, and insurance, and you’ll likely need some money set aside for licenses and food service training and certification (e.g., ServSafe). A successful donut shop location, depending on the area you choose and how many cars and foot traffic pass by the location can set you up well financially. Most donut shop owners lease a small retail space that is less than 1000 square feet. In most small and midsized towns you can expect to spend around $6 per square feet of rented space. Ideally, you want your cost to be between 10 and 12 percent of your overall cost. So if you rent a space that is 1000 square feet, and it costs you $6 per square foot, you’ll end up spending $6000 per month on your lease. To put this into perspective, you’ll need to generate just under $50,000 per month, to fall in line with this 10 to 12% range. When putting together your business plan, you’ll need to devise a strategy for selling $50,000 worth of donuts and coffee each month. This will start you in the right direction as far as knowing where to price your donuts, what selling strategies you’ll need to come up with, and how many dozen donuts per day you’ll need to sell. Knowing all this will ensure that you start off on the right foot and know what has to happen to stay in business.

A business plan is the most vital step you must take if you want to operate a successful donut shop for the long haul. Do not skip this step!

What are the ongoing expenses for a donut shop?

Donut shops must pay for rent, as discussed above, but also for equipment. Equipment costs between $15,000 and $20,000 assuming that you buy your equipment new.  There are advantages to buying new equipment that many people don’t think about. For one, there are the tax advantages. Equipment depreciation can be deducted from your business tax return. There’s also the benefit of knowing your equipment will last for years to come as you build out your donut empire. And a good POS system is also necessary. A good POS system can range in price depending on which company you decide to go with. We’ve put together some great reviews on POS systems to help you decide which fits your donut business best. Budget at least a few thousand dollars for these POS system expenses. Employee labor costs will likely cost your business $10 to $15 per hour, depending on locality. Certain miscellaneous expenses might be incurred as well: You may need a truck to haul donuts to gas stations and other businesses that you partner with. You may need some money set aside for remodeling the commercial space, meaning you may have to pay around $20,000 to $30,000 to perfect your restaurant’s brand. If you take this route, you will spend between $50,000 and $100,000 or more to get yourself set-up to open and sell donuts. We recommend having a cash reserve of one year’s worth of rent and utility expenses set aside to cover the fact that a business takes time to acquire customers. After one year, you should be generating enough income to cover these most basic costs and if you’re not, you may want to revisit your business plan and tweak it accordingly to ensure you do what you need to do to get these costs covered. One year, though, will provide you with a financial safety net that will take a lot of the pressure off of you so you can run your donut business worry-free.

Who is the target market?

The ideal client type are coffee drinkers and early morning school and business commuters that require caffeine and sugar to help them start their day. Examples of such clients include university students, business professionals, parents of school age children, and churches on Sunday morning who need several dozen donuts to feed their parishioners. Many businesses make great customers too! Fire stations purchase dozens every week for their people. Corporate office buildings will often stock employee breakrooms with donuts. Factories will quite often bring in donuts for their line crews. You just have to think outside the box and start to understand who your ideal customer is. One of the best things you can do is go talk to someone else who is already operating a donut shop and ask them who their ideal customer is. Listen to what they say, because this will also be true for your own donut shop business.

How does a donut shop make money?

Donut shop businesses make money by charging customers for their primary products, which are donuts and coffee. The price of a donut is between .80 cents and $1.25 and is usually based on the size, type, and quality of the donut. Alternatively, it is possible to charge for larger quantities where you give a discount to customers who purchase a half-dozen or dozen donuts. The average cost of a half-dozen donuts is $5.95, while the average cost of a dozen is $9.99. It may sound like you’re not really making a lot of money selling such a large number of donuts, but keep in mind that the average cost to make a donut is just .12 cents. This is a substantial markup when you stop to think about it. You will need to sell a lot of dozens per day if you plan to stay in business though, due to the costs we mentioned earlier (rent, advertising, etc.).

A little known donut shop secret is that coffee is where the brunt of the profits comes from. A single cup of coffee averages out to $2.70. The cost to make that one cup averages out to .27 cents. The add-ons are where the real money’s at though. Add milk and chocolate or some flavored syrup to the coffee and the same cup sells for $3.95 per cup. The add-ons are an insignificant cost, but they mean huge profits for your donut shop business.

What you really got going for you is the fact that sugar, which is what donuts are packed full of, and caffeine which is what coffees packed full of, are both addictive stimulants that people can hardly live without. Selling these two items together, well, you stack the deck in your favor, as people will keep coming back again and again, day-after-day, to your donut shop to get their daily fix of sugar and caffeine. It’s been proven that sugar is more addictive than heroin and cocaine.

How much can you charge customers?

You can charge customers more if you’re positioning your brand as an upscale elite brand or less if you decide to target the working class. The exact price hinges on several factors, how much you need to make to reach a certain income average, your costs, and your desire to keep customers happy and coming back to your donut shop. In general, a customer will pay between $7 and $10 per person for donuts and coffee. If they are buying for a group of people, this number goes down as they’ll take advantage of cost savings by purchasing a dozen or more donuts. Coffee is a fixed price though, so the price isn’t discounted if someone purchases four coffees over say just one cup. There is no discount for purchasing additional beverages, just discounts on the donuts.

How much profit can a donut shop make?

A donut shop business can make upwards of $50,000 or more in the first year. Stick with the business and you can earn $100,000 or more in subsequent years. Continue to build your brand, develop your customer base, and sell franchises, and you might reach the $1,000,000 mark or higher after a few short years.

How can you make your business more profitable?

If you want to drive profits with your donut business you have several options. A donut shop business that gives customers the option of other menu items, like for instance breakfast sandwiches, a small lunch menu, etc., can add to your profit margins. There are other actions you can take as well, where you can partner with convenience store chains and get your donuts into these businesses on a daily basis to generate more brand visibility but also more sales. Some donut shop owners decide to partner with food-truck vendors and doing so can be a great way to rake in more profits. The sky’s the limits as far as ways you can generate profits with your donut shop business. Certainly you can use your imagination to come up with other innovative and strategic methods for generating your business.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your donut shop is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your donut shop were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

Ready to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Reality?

Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our How to Start a Business guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best Business Formation Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a donut shop business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Trademark & Copyright Protection

If you are developing a unique product, concept, brand, or design, it is prudent to protect your rights by registering for the appropriate trademarks and copyrights.

Learn more about trademark and copyright protection

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a donut shop

Network with local business owners and managers as well as those who are involved with local newspapers, magazines and other publications. Pass out your business cards to these individuals. Offer to let them try your donuts and to prove you’re a person worthy of doing business with. If you decide to network, be sure to advocate for those who advocate on your business’ behalf. Many of these leaders of the community can be exactly what you need to get your donuts in front of people so you can drive more business. It will also help to establish your brand and put forth to the publics you seek to do business with, what you stand for and why they should support you as a new business in the community. A little promotion just might surprise you when it comes to how easy it is to double your business. You might even want to do trades in exchange for advertising and marketing. Trade some of your donuts and coffee for a yellow pages ad spot or a listing in a local business publication. Offer to donate some donuts to some non-profits. At the end of the day, before you throw those day-old donuts out with the trash; think how you can benefit a local food bank or homeless shelter. A little good will can do a lot of good not only for others, but also for your business.

How to keep customers coming back

Take every opportunity to promote your business. Build strong relationships with customers, get to know regulars on a first name basis, and keep your product quality consistent to ensure people keep coming back to your donut shop regularly. Retaining customers is as simple as providing them with beyond excellent customer service and a total over-all satisfactory experience. Be sure to offer a loyalty rewards program that can be personalized for each and every customer. A great tip we’ll give you is to get a POS system that offers a built-in loyalty rewards program, such as a rewards card. The benefit of doing this is twofold: (1) you get your customers contact information so you can send them deals and discounts and keep them informed about your offerings, and (2) you give them a reason to keep coming back to your donut shop.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

Donut shops are perfect for those who have a passion for sweets, a creative side, and a solid work ethic. Donut shops typically have an assortment of standard treats, but it can take a special dish, or a unique take on an old classic, to really solidify your business as a local hotspot. If you plan on baking many of these goods yourself, culinary knowledge becomes incredibly important and should be a top priority. It is up to you to decide how to run your business, if you feel you have gaps in your knowledge, it is important to educate yourself or find others that you trust to fill those gaps.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading