How Much Does it Cost to Open a Donut Shop? [Donut Shop Startup Costs]

How Much Does it Cost to Open a Donut Shop?

Donuts (or doughnuts!) aren’t just a short-lived craze. They’re an attractive and flexible business model. Donuts can be served in bakeries, as part of a food truck or mobile donut business, or in a counter-service donut shop. Another option for aspiring donut moguls? Opening a franchise! 

The cost of opening a restaurant, specially a donut franchise might be a bit more than that of a traditional shop. But the brand recognition is priceless. 

There are endless possibilities when it comes to donut shops… they can be cozy and classic or high-end and gourmet. Check out Saint Honoré couture donuts in Las Vegas on Instagram and their take on truly decadent treats. The process behind making them is drool-worthy to watch!

The donut industry is worth over $7B. Are you ready to set up your own shop and get involved? Here are all of the startup costs for opening a donut shop, along with expected revenue, monthly expenses, and the tools and resources you need in order to put together a successful restaurant business plan. 

Average Restaurant Startup Costs

The average cost to start a new restaurant is around $275,000, and can vary depending on location, type of restaurant, restaurant size, renovation or building needs, and whether you rent, buy, or build.

Average Cost to Open a Donut Shop

This depends on whether you’re opening a new restaurant, renting, building new construction, or launching a franchise. To open a franchise like a Dunkin’ Donuts, you’ll need at least $250,000, but opening your own small donut shop or food truck might run closer to $80,000 (similar to the cost of opening a cafe).

When you consider that donut shops earn an average of $120,000 - $150,000 per year, the opening costs will prove well worth it after only a few years in business.

Donut Shop Startup Costs by Square Foot

When estimating the costs of your new shop by square foot, decide if you’re going to buy or rent an existing space, or undergo a new construction or renovation. 

Donut shops need anywhere from 1,200 square feet to almost 3,000 square feet to ensure adequate space for baking, prep, and a counter or seating area. To purchase space for your new restaurant, budget $180 per square foot — to build, allocate $300-400 per square foot for new construction. 

The Restaurant Opening Calculator will give you a more specific idea of startup costs.

Standard Donut Shop Startup Costs

After real estate, you’ll need to consider initial startup investments like equipment and branding, along with ongoing operating costs such as staff and food supplies. 

Use a restaurant business plan to stay on budget and plan ahead for potential unexpected costs.

Donut Shop Startup Expenses Checklist

Use these average costs as a starting point to map out your restaurant opening budget. 

1. Utilities

Utilities for restaurants include water, electricity, WiFi, gas, and any other services that aren’t covered by your rent. If you’re renting a new property or purchasing an existing building, you may be able to find out how much the previous owners paid on an average month, or you can benchmark based on square footage and location. Small, quick service restaurant (QSR) utilities cost about $5,000 per year.

2. Location

You can choose to sell from a brick and mortar store, a food truck, or a pop-up location that offers multiple businesses’ products. 

Research competitors in the area and find out where the existing shops are, then seek out an opportunity nearby or in a heavily populated area. 

Successful donut shops only need around 1,000 square feet of space, so you may benefit from choosing a smaller building in a more prime location. 

3. Interior Design

The biggest influence on interior design costs will be whether or not you choose to offer seating, or if you’ll operate a counter-service only shop. Restaurant interior design costs add up to around $85/square foot on the lower end. So it’ll help your budget to purchase resale furniture, or offer limited seating. A little paint and creativity can go a long way. You’ll also want a bakery display case to show off your treats, which can cost between $5-10,000 depending on the size. 

4. Donut Making Equipment

Will you bake your donuts or fry them? Fill them with fresh cream and jelly, or frost them? Different donut-making methods require different equipment, and you can choose to purchase brand new equipment or rent. 

Bakery equipment to make donuts or coffee drinks can include:

• Funnel cake and donut fryers: $650 to $10,000

• Fryer oil filtration machines: $2,500 to $7,500

• Donut glazing and finishing tables: $1,800 to $6,000

• Bakery convection ovens: $12,000 to $60,000

• Donut depositors: $60 to $70 each

• Coffee makers: $500 to $800

• Espresso machines: $1,000 to $6,000

All in, equipment costs to open a donut shop start around $15,000 and go up based on the number of locations and the types of donuts you make.

5. Pre-Opening Expenses

During the time leading up to opening day, budget for costs to train new staff, develop a marketing plan, and secure any permits needed. These restaurant pre-opening expenses can run you between $20,000 and $120,000 considering size, previous experience, staff experience, and whether or not you’re opening a franchise.

6. Marketing, Branding, and PR

Marketing and branding is usually covered by franchise fees, but for independent shop owners it’s all on you. You can choose to run your own social media accounts, or hire a restaurant-industry marketing agency to handle your marketing and communications. 

Restaurant marketing and branding can include:

• Email marketing

• Public relations

• Social media marketing

• Digital advertising

• Giveaways and contests

• Local advertising and SEO

The largest portion of a restaurant marketing budget typically goes towards social media ads, which can be targeted towards certain demographics and tend to be cost effective when in the hands of an experienced strategist.

7. Restaurant or Franchise Startup Capital and Loans

Restaurant startup capital and financing are available through programs like Toast Capital, and should cover opening costs, six to twelve months of ongoing operations costs, and emergency funds in case of unexpected situations.

When applying for restaurant financing or loans, have a detailed business plan prepared and map out as many expenses as you can ahead of time. 

8. Exterior Design

Plan out for $1,000 to $40,000 to design the exterior of your donut shop, and consider opening a counter-service window. 

Exterior design costs for restaurants can include outdoor seating areas, heaters, parking, landscaping, or signage. A traditional restaurant sign costs $15 to $35 per square foot and varies based on materials.

9. Restaurant Permits and Organizational Costs

Restaurants require food safety and handling permits along with the standard licenses that businesses need to operate. Restaurant licenses and permit costs include:

• A business license: $25 to $7,000

• A certificate of occupancy: $100

• A food service license: $100 to $1,000

• A sign permit: $25 to $50

• A resale permit: $0 to $50

• A building health permit: $50 to $1000

If you need help navigating which permits and licenses you need, consult with a lawyer or restaurant business consultant. 

10. Professional Services

Professional services you can choose to outsource include legal services, marketing services, real estate scouting, competitive analysis, bookkeeping and accounting, and establishing a new business. Restaurant professional service costs can add up to $50,000+ if a full suite of professionals are enlisted. 

There are also self-serve websites like LegalZoom that provide less expensive alternatives for savvy business owners who want to avoid hefty professional service fees. 

11. Technology and Point of Sale

Today’s customers expect a digital dining experience, and a seamless one at that. The tools you invest in from the start can help your donut shop business develop a loyal customer base. 

POS platforms like Toast are fully integrated restaurant technology solutions that make order handling easier, provide delivery options and restaurant apps, and automatically update your Google business hours. The more automated your tech and POS system, the less manual work for you and your team. 

The Toast Cafe and Bakery POS System ranges in price based on services and solutions chosen, and can grow as your business scales. 

12. Food Cost

The cost to make one donut is, on average, only $0.12. Talk about an opportunity to make some serious dough! Restaurants should prepare to spend anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000 on monthly food costs, or about 30% of their revenue on food items and supplies. 

13. Staffing and Management

Krispy Kreme has offered the same menu since the 1930s, and their methods can be taught to any new worker, but couture donuts like Saint Honoré require a more advanced pastry training program. 

Consider hiring a pastry chef or manager with experience in confections. Budget for 30% of revenue to go towards restaurant labor costs and staffing. 

Donut tell me you aren’t ready to get started…

The world needs more donuts. Always. And it’s ready for your spin! Take these actionable steps and use cost estimates to finally put together a plan that’ll bring you closer to opening a new shop. 

Related Donut Shop Resources:

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• How to Open a Donut Shop

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• Donut Shop Business Plan