Hurts Donut
Food & Beverage · Donuts, Pastries, Bagels
Description
What is Hurts Donut?
What sets Hurts Donut apart is their commitment to pushing culinary boundaries with unique flavor combinations and eye-catching designs. Their menu features everything from classic glazed donuts to innovative specialties like their famous maple bacon long john, cookie monster creation, and apple fritters 'as big as your head.' Many locations operate 24/7, ensuring fresh donuts are available whenever cravings strike.
The brand's personality shines through its quirky store designs, featuring industrial-modern décor, vintage touches, and their signature counter swings for seating. Their clever marketing includes a converted ambulance 'Emergency Donut Vehicle' that responds to local 'donut emergencies,' showcasing the fun, community-oriented spirit of the brand.
Each Hurts Donut location serves as more than just a donut shop – it's a destination where customers can enjoy premium coffee drinks, specialty milkshakes, and an atmosphere that keeps them coming back. Their commitment to quality is evident in their made-fresh-daily approach, using premium ingredients to create donuts that are consistently praised for their size, freshness, and innovative flavors.
Perfect for entrepreneurs who want to bring something unique to their community, Hurts Donut offers a business model that combines creativity, quality, and an unforgettable brand experience.
- 24-hour drive-thru operations available
- Unique rebellious donut brand positioning
- Above-average reported gross revenue performance
- Established 2013 with proven concept
- Artisanal specialty donut market focus
- Corporate headquarters training and support
Location Analysis
Where Hurts Donut wins
The franchise's current geographic distribution reveals significant expansion opportunities, particularly in the Northeast and Southeast markets where the brand has limited presence. The successful clustering strategy in the core Midwest markets suggests that market density drives operational efficiency and brand recognition. Key success factors include locations in mid-sized cities with strong college populations and downtown areas with active nightlife scenes, as demonstrated by their profitable units in university towns.
Prospective franchisees should focus on markets with similar characteristics to their successful Midwest locations: areas with median household incomes above $50,000, strong morning commuter traffic, and proximity to business districts or college campuses. The brand's limited penetration in major metropolitan areas presents significant growth potential, particularly in markets with developed breakfast and specialty dessert cultures.
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Financial Analysis
The numbers behind Hurts Donut
The franchise system shows limited scale with 20 units since its 2013 establishment, indicating a boutique approach rather than aggressive expansion. This smaller footprint may limit brand recognition but could offer greater territory availability and personalized franchisor support. The reported gross revenue of $1,025,399 exceeds sub-sector averages by 46%, suggesting strong unit-level performance, though prospective investors should verify this data through the FDD.
The 24-hour operating model mentioned on their website creates unique operational complexity requiring substantial staffing investments and management oversight. This extended-hours approach may capture late-night and early-morning markets but increases labor costs and operational challenges.
Ideal investors should possess strong operational experience in food service, adequate liquid capital for the mid-tier investment, and comfort with hands-on management. The brand's quirky positioning requires operators who understand experiential retail and social media marketing. Territory selection becomes critical given the limited system size and need for demographic alignment with the brand's unconventional approach.
Financing partners
Vetted partners, tailored to franchisees
Your Franzy advisor can connect you with these partners later in the process — competitive rates, specialized in franchise financing.
FranFund
CRF USA
Nonprofit SBA lender; provides financing for franchise acquisitions, startups, and expansion.
First Bank of the Lake
Pension Pros
FDD Item 7
Initial investment range
Per FDD Item 7, total initial investment ranges from $504,000 to $825,000. The midpoint $664,500 is what most franchisees report at signing — financing typically reduces cash-at-close by 80–90%. Knowing the investment range helps you plan confidently and ensure you're fully prepared to make the leap.
FDD Item 19
Average gross sales
According to Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document, Hurts Donut has an average gross revenue of $1M. (Note: This information is based on the latest FDD in our records. Please review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and confirm this information directly with the brand. We make no claims of accuracy for the information presented.)
Growth over time
Franchise footprint
2024 Franchise Disclosure
FDD documents
Below are items 2, 3, 4, 7, 11 and 19 for Hurts Donut's 2024 FDD. The complete FDD is delivered to you directly by the franchisor, per the FTC Franchise Rule.
Connect to download Items 2, 3, 4, and 11 — direct from the franchisor.
Buyer FAQs
Frequently asked questions
The initial investment for a Hurts Donut franchise typically ranges between $504,000.00 and $825,000.00. This includes the franchise fee, equipment, real estate, and other startup costs. To get a detailed breakdown and better understand the financial requirements, we recommend scheduling a call with the Franzy team. We'll walk you through the specifics and answer any questions you might have. For more detailed information, refer to the financial sections of the FDD.
Disclaimer. The information provided on this page is based on the latest Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) that is publicly available and that we have on record, which was issued in 2024. This information is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal, financial, or business advice. We make no guarantees or claims regarding the completeness or accuracy. For the most current and detailed information, we recommend consulting the franchisor directly for the most recent FDD and regarding any questions that you may have about the information provided.
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