How much does a Duck Donuts Holdings, LLC franchise cost?

The FDD lists a total initial investment of about $394,150–$628,700, including a $40,000 initial franchise fee.

Is a Duck Donuts Holdings, LLC franchise worth it?

It depends on the numbers, not the pitch. Duck Donuts Holdings, LLC scores C on disclosure honesty, carries about 9% of sales in ongoing fees, and discloses 1 legal matters. Get the real owner take-home before you sign.

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The real numbers on owning a Duck Donuts Holdings, LLC franchise

Quick Service Restaurant - Donuts · FDD 2026 · from public state filings

CDisclosure honesty

This franchisor discloses earnings (Item 19) — but read how.

★★★☆☆ FranchiseValidate transparency rating: 3/5

Investment

$394,150–$628,700

Total fees

9% of sales

Outlets

146

Closure signals

14 ceased, 6 terminated

Lawsuits

Is Duck Donuts Holdings, LLC worth it? How it compares to 24 similar franchises

Ongoing fees	9% of sales	about average
Startup cost	from $394,150	about average (median $350,000)
Disclosure honesty	Grade C	typical for the category
Closure rate	9.6% of outlets	worse than 62% of peers
Disclosed lawsuits	1	more litigious than 71% of peers

Benchmarked against every coffee & donuts franchise we've graded from public FDDs — the context the franchisor's pitch never gives you.

What their own earnings claim actually says

2025 gross sales data for 105 franchised + 1 affiliate outlet open full year. Top 25%: $792,989; Middle 50%: $466,950; Bottom 25%: $306,498. Cherry-picking: excluded 42 outlets, 6 food trucks, 1 arena, 16 international.

Failure & turnover reality (Item 20)

14 ceased operations in 2025; 6 terminations; closure rate elevated.

Legal history (Item 3)

1 matters disclosed.

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The franchisor won't put real owner profit in writing. We do — reconstructed from their own FDD.

Franchisor's framing: 2025 gross sales data for 105 franchised + 1 affiliate outlet open full year. Top 25%: $792,989…

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Reconstructed owner P&L — net take-home after royalty, ad fund, rent, labor & debt
Break-even timeline + cash-on-cash ROI on your investment
Full fee stack + required-purchase markups
Decoded real failure / closure rate
How it ranks vs comparable franchises
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Duck Donuts Holdings, LLC franchise — frequently asked

How much does a Duck Donuts Holdings, LLC franchise cost?: The FDD lists a total initial investment of about $394,150–$628,700, including a $40,000 initial franchise fee.
How much do Duck Donuts Holdings, LLC franchise owners make?: 2025 gross sales data for 105 franchised + 1 affiliate outlet open full year. Top 25%: $792,989; Middle 50%: $466,950; Bottom 25%: $306,498. Cherry-picking: excluded 42 outlets, 6 food trucks, 1 arena, 16 international. We grade this disclosure C for honesty.
What is the Duck Donuts Holdings, LLC franchise failure rate?: 14 ceased operations in 2025; 6 terminations; closure rate elevated.
Is a Duck Donuts Holdings, LLC franchise worth it?: It depends on the numbers, not the pitch. Duck Donuts Holdings, LLC scores C on disclosure honesty, carries about 9% of sales in ongoing fees, and discloses 1 legal matters. Get the real owner take-home before you sign.

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Compare Duck Donuts Holdings, LLC to similar franchises

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Source: WI DFI Franchise Registration (2026). FranchiseValidate is independent and not affiliated with Duck Donuts Holdings, LLC or its franchisor. Figures are extracted from the franchisor's own public disclosure document; verify against the current FDD before any decision.