DUCK DONUTS
Duck Donuts franchises operate retail shops that sell fresh, made-to-order donuts prepared on the premises, along with breakfast items, gourmet coffee, and merchandise, using proprietary recipes, operating procedures, and distinctive trade dress in a quick-serve setting. The business model involves granting franchises for single-unit or multi-unit developments to qualified individuals, providing training, support, and system standards. Their target market is the general public seeking prepared baked goods, competing with national, regional, and local bakeries, coffee shops, and other foodservice businesses.
Franchise Costs
6% royalty + 2% brand fund + $500/mo accounting (first year)
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: 99 franchised outlets that were open as of January 1, 2024, and operated continuously throughout calendar year 2024.
* The overall average gross revenue of $537,112 for 99 franchised outlets was confirmed by calculating the weighted average from the segmented data: (25 units × $792,152 (Top 25%) + 49 units × $505,505 (Middle 50%) + 25 units × $344,021 (Bottom 25%)) / 99 total units = $537,111.82, which rounds to $537,112. No expense, profit, or EBITDA data was provided for franchised outlets, so profit estimations could not be made.
Extracted Item 19 Section
How DUCK DONUTS Compares
Key Insights
- Lower than average SBA loan default rate in Fast Food
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
DUCK DONUTS Current | $515K – $737K | $40K | 6.0% | 143 |
| MCDONALD'S | $1.5M – $2.6M | $45K | N/A | 12,772 |
| AFC | $45K – $151K | $6K | 9.5% | 3,572 |
| SONIC DRIVE-IN | $1.7M – $3.1M | $15K | 5.0% | 3,441 |
| JIMMY JOHN'S | $366K – $728K | $35K | 6.0% | 2,647 |
| ARBY'S | $645K – $2.5M | $38K | 4.0% | 2,316 |
Fast Food Average 126 franchises | $594K – $1.5M | $35K | 6.1% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 126 Fast Food franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2024)
Outlets by state across the United States
+15 more states
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for DUCK DONUTS franchisees (2016 – 2025)
Loans by Year
SBA 7(a) loan activity over time
* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.
Franchisee Contacts
169 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
| Name | SBA Loan |
|---|---|
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
169 Contacts Available
Unlock all DUCK DONUTS franchisee contacts with verified contact information
Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Frequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a DUCK DONUTS franchise ranges from $514,650 to $736,800. This includes a franchise fee of $40,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 6.0% of gross sales.
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