Neighborhood doughnut shop

Commuters, local workers, families on weekends, and offices or schools placing dozen-box orders for meetings and events.

Sales of individual doughnuts, dozen boxes and drinks. Drinks usually carry a higher margin than doughnuts. Catering and preorder boxes add steady extra income.

• Baking or frying at volume
• Early-morning stamina
• Cost control and ordering
• Friendly customer service

• Health department plan review, food permit and inspections for your city or county
• Commercial kitchen requirements such as ventilation, a fryer hood and grease handling, which can add build-out costs
• General liability and property insurance, plus workers' compensation once you hire
• Local business license, sales tax registration and zoning for food use
• Early hours and thin margins on ingredients, rent and labor, so check your numbers before signing a lease

Startup costs are typically around $60,000 to $250,000, depending on your location, equipment and build-out. Commercial kitchen needs such as ventilation, a fryer hood and grease handling can add costs. These figures are estimates, not guarantees.

Monthly revenue is typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on your location, menu and opening hours. Margins on ingredients, rent and labor can be thin, so check your numbers before signing a lease. Expect at least about 40 hours a week.

Check health department plan review, food permit and inspections with your city or county. Look at commercial kitchen requirements, local business license, sales tax registration and zoning for food use. Also check general liability and property insurance, and workers' compensation once you hire.