Winchell's Donut House

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Winchell's Donut House

Food & Beverage
Ice Cream

Winchell's Donut House Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Winchell's Donut House is a bakery-café franchise offering donuts, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and coffee, serving morning commuters and late-night guests, and known for classic selections, fresh bakes, and neighborhood convenience.

Founded in 1948 by Verne Winchell, Winchell’s Donut House opened its first location in Temple City, California. The company is headquartered in City of Industry, California, and is known as the “Home of the Warm ’n Fresh Donut.” Today, Winchell’s operates more than 170 locations across six U.S. states as well as in Guam and Saipan.

Winchell’s offers a wide selection of baked goods and beverages, featuring over 70 varieties of donuts, cinnamon rolls, bagels, croissants, muffins, sandwiches, and specialty coffee drinks. The brand began franchising decades ago, providing entrepreneurs with the opportunity to own and operate a store under a trusted and established name in the donut and coffeehouse market.

What sets Winchell’s apart from competitors is its strong West Coast heritage and commitment to freshness. Each location prepares baked goods throughout the day, ensuring customers enjoy warm, freshly made donuts at any time. The “Warm ’n Fresh” guarantee has become a key part of its identity, appealing to loyal customers who value quality and consistency.

Initial investment

Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $2,500 to $20,000
Initial Inventory (supplies, foodstuffs, and small equipment) $0 to $2,000
Security Deposits for Utilities $625 to $20,000
Insurance - Worker's Compensation $50 to $1,000
Licenses, Permits None
Security Deposit $0 to $17,000
Equipment, Fixtures, Leasehold Improvements Rental $100 to $5,000 per week
Uniforms $100 to $200
Insurance - Property and Liability $25 to $100 per week
Premises Rent $0 to $5,400 weekly + taxes, insurance & common area charges
Additional Funds - First 3 Months of Operation $0
Total $3,400 to $71,700
Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $2,500 to $20,000
Initial Inventory (supplies, foodstuffs, and small equipment) $0 to $2,000
Security Deposits for Utilities $625 to $20,000
Insurance - Worker's Compensation $50 to $1,000
Licenses, Permits None
Security Deposit $0 to $17,000
Equipment, Fixtures, Leasehold Improvements Rental $100 to $5,000 per week
Uniforms $100 to $200
Insurance - Property and Liability $25 to $100 per week
Premises Rent $0 to $5,400 weekly + taxes, insurance & common area charges
Additional Funds - First 3 Months of Operation $0
Total $3,400 to $71,700

Winchell's Donut House

2024

Franchise Disclosure Document

Number of units

Training

Winchell’s Donut House offers its franchisees a structured training program:

  1. Initial Franchisee Training Program
    New franchisees participate in a comprehensive training session, typically held at the corporate training facility. The standard duration is about two weeks and covers essential operations such as product preparation, store setup, equipment use, standard operating procedures, and customer service standards.
  2. Operations Manual and Systems Support
    Franchisees receive a detailed operations manual that outlines the brand’s systems and best practices. They also gain ongoing access to the franchisor’s proprietary business systems, guidance on equipment, supply chain management, and store workflow processes.
  3. Refresher and Ongoing Training Support
    The franchisor provides refresher training programs and field visits by regional consultants to monitor performance and ensure quality. This support includes operational check-ins, updates to processes, and assistance with implementing new procedures or menu items.
  4. Pre-Opening and Launch Assistance
    Training also covers the pre-opening phase, offering support with store build-out, equipment installation, staff recruitment, and preparation for the grand opening. The franchisor’s team helps franchisees transition smoothly into full operation.

Territory Protection

Winchell’s Donut House does not guarantee exclusive territory protection to its franchisees.

The franchise agreement specifies that being granted a franchise does not constitute the right to operate in an exclusive area or prevent the franchisor from opening additional locations nearby.

Franchisees may therefore face potential competition from other Winchell’s Donut House outlets within their market area.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Started franchising
2004
Franchisees

?

105
+
0%
0%
Franchise fee

?

$0
Investment

?

$3,000 - $72,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed
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$0

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

Upgrade

n.a.

Home based

?

Upgrade
Passive investment

?

Upgrade
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Competitors

Below are some of

Winchell's Donut House

key competitors in the

Ice Cream

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Initial fee
Total investment
Revenue
Upgrade
Gross Profit
Upgrade
EBITDA
Upgrade

105

New
+
0%
0%

$0

$3,000

$72,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

49

New
+
4%
4%

$15,000

$86,000

$930,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

59

New
+
-8%
-8%

$35,000

$285,000

$663,000

n.a.

$664,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

260

New
+
9%
9%

$35,000

$79,000

$399,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

194

New
+
-3%
-3%

$40,000

$232,000

$637,000

n.a.

$855,000

$xxx,xxx

70.3%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

112

New
+
8%
8%

$34,500

$528,000

$1,223,000

n.a.

$576,000

$xxx,xxx

72.1%

xx%

n.a.

20.0%

xx%

n.a.

14

New
+
133%
133%

$30,000

$147,000

$162,000

n.a.

$164,000

$xxx,xxx

79.3%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

61

New
+
-13%
-13%

$30,000

$107,000

$606,000

n.a.

$516,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

992

New
+
9%
9%

$27,000

$121,000

$655,000

n.a.

$587,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

38

New
+
27%
27%

$20,000

$173,000

$185,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

601

New
+
2%
2%

$7,500

$264,000

$314,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

3

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$30,000

$162,000

$473,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

514

New
+
20%
20%

$35,000

$786,000

$2,754,000

n.a.

$1,834,000

$xxx,xxx

68.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

152

New
+
-2%
-2%

$39,500

$157,000

$551,000

n.a.

$612,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

4

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$32,500

$65,000

$485,000

n.a.

$302,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

5

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$35,000

$351,000

$595,000

n.a.

$251,000

$xxx,xxx

76.4%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

206

New
+
-7%
-7%

$30,000

$111,000

$659,000

n.a.

$491,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

336

New
+
2%
2%

$30,500

$39,000

$1,100,000

n.a.

$481,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

117

New
+
77%
77%

$50,000

$311,000

$936,000

n.a.

$959,000

$xxx,xxx

64.4%

xx%

n.a.

16.4%

xx%

n.a.

4

New
+
0%
0%

$40,000

$581,000

$1,503,000

n.a.

$1,238,000

$xxx,xxx

68.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

25

New
+
-4%
-4%

$20,000

$110,000

$612,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

78

New
+
609%
609%

$30,000

$103,000

$696,000

n.a.

$532,000

$xxx,xxx

78.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

15

New
+
-21%
-21%

$35,000

$217,000

$461,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

108

New
+
83%
83%

$37,500

$60,000

$101,000

n.a.

$119,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

168

New
+
16%
16%

$40,000

$295,000

$880,000

n.a.

$802,000

$xxx,xxx

72.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

24

New
+
20%
20%

$37,000

$494,000

$1,796,000

n.a.

$334,000

$xxx,xxx

74.2%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

125

New
+
-26%
-26%

$35,000

$135,000

$699,000

n.a.

$397,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

37

New
+
-12%
-12%

$35,000

$110,000

$284,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

5

New
+
67%
67%

$25,000

$234,000

$434,000

n.a.

$341,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

26

New
+
160%
160%

$36,000

$84,000

$173,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

252

New
+
9%
9%

$25,000

$333,000

$514,000

n.a.

$251,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

296

New
+
-8%
-8%

$40,000

$165,000

$425,000

n.a.

$461,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

1

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$30,000

$224,000

$452,000

n.a.

$654,000

$xxx,xxx

83.0%

xx%

n.a.

8.8%

xx%

n.a.

9

New
+
200%
200%

$47,500

$500,000

$676,000

n.a.

$508,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

2

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$45,000

$224,000

$348,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

205

New
+
10%
10%

$40,000

$409,000

$2,644,000

n.a.

$673,000

$xxx,xxx

76.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

29

New
+
0%
0%

$30,000

$243,000

$645,000

n.a.

$631,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

1816

New
+
22%
22%

$15,000

$179,000

$227,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

6

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$40,000

$138,000

$3,214,000

n.a.

$219,000

$xxx,xxx

79.7%

xx%

n.a.

28.3%

xx%

n.a.

57

New
+
-20%
-20%

$25,000

$419,000

$630,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

2

New
+
0%
0%

$30,000

$160,000

$274,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

207

New
+
0%
0%

$30,000

$15,000

$568,000

n.a.

$612,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

4

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$60,000

$510,000

$773,000

n.a.

$655,000

$xxx,xxx

69.1%

xx%

n.a.

14.3%

xx%

n.a.

18

New
+
0%
0%

$30,000

$271,000

$931,000

n.a.

$289,000

$xxx,xxx

74.7%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

28

New
+
-3%
-3%

$25,000

$90,000

$223,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

24

New
+
0%
0%

$35,000

$171,000

$716,000

n.a.

$744,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

564

New
+
7%
7%

$35,000

$22,000

$906,000

n.a.

$349,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

976

New
+
-2%
-2%

$25,000

$307,000

$623,000

n.a.

$521,000

$xxx,xxx

71.5%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

1969

New
+
0%
0%

$45,000

$1,516,000

$2,543,000

n.a.

$1,355,000

$xxx,xxx

69.3%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

199

New
+
10%
10%

$20,000

$71,000

$210,000

n.a.

$135,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

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3
+
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$162,000 - $473,000
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Investment

?

$232,000 - $637,000
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MILLIE’S HOMEMADE

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Franchisees

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+
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Winchell's Donut House

Winchell's Donut House is a bakery-café franchise offering donuts, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and coffee, serving morning commuters and late-night guests, and known for classic selections, fresh bakes, and neighborhood convenience.

Franchisees

?

105
+
0%
0%
Investment

?

$3,000 - $72,000
Food & Beverage
Ice Cream
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