How much does a Krispy Kreme franchise cost?
Opening a Krispy Kreme franchise takes a total initial investment of $2,015,000 to $4,330,000, according to the brand's 2022 Franchise Disclosure Document. That FDD makes no Item 19 financial performance representation, so it discloses no earnings figures at all.
Krispy Kreme franchises Hot Light Theater Shops and Fresh Shops. Category: Food & Beverage.
Item 7
What it costs to open a Krispy Kreme franchise
The franchisor's own estimated initial investment, as disclosed in its 2022 FDD. The total is $2,015,000 to $4,330,000. Each line below carries the FDD page it was read from.
Where the money goes
The largest costs are Construction Costs ($1,040,000 to $2,860,000), Equipment/Signage/Furniture/Fixtures ($350,000 to $550,000), and Production Equipment ($300,000 to $425,000). Together they make up about 89% of the high-end estimate.
The initial franchise fee is $25,000, about 1.2% of the low-end total.
Our arithmetic from the Item 7 table below.
| Expenditure | Low | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Development Fee2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 | $25,000 | $25,000 | 2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 |
| Initial Franchise Fee2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 | $25,000 | $25,000 | 2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 |
| Real Estate and Improvements – 3 Months2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 | $25,000 | $95,000 | 2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 |
| Construction Costs2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 | $1,040,000 | $2,860,000 | 2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 |
| Equipment/ | $350,000 | $550,000 | 2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 |
| Truck2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 | $25,000 | $50,000 | 2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 |
| Initial Inventory2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 | $40,000 | $50,000 | 2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 |
| Production Equipment2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 | $300,000 | $425,000 | 2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 |
| Grand Opening Marketing Program2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 | $25,000 | $45,000 | 2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 |
| Training Expenses2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 | $50,000 | $55,000 | 2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 |
| Security Deposits and Other Pre-Paids2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 | $10,000 | $25,000 | 2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 |
| Additional Funds – 3 Months2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 | $100,000 | $125,000 | 2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 |
| Total estimated initial investment2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 | $2,015,000 | $4,330,000 | 2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16 |
Source Krispy Kreme, 2022 FDD, Item 7, p. 16, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-14.
Item 19
What Krispy Kreme franchisees actually report earning
This brand's FDD publishes no Item 19.
We do not make any representations about a franchisee’s future financial performance or the past financial performance of company-owned or franchised outlets. We also do not authorize our employees or representatives to make any such representations either orally or in writing. If you are purchasing an existing outlet, however, we may provide you with the actual records of that outlet.
Source Krispy Kreme, 2022 FDD, Item 19, p. 47, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-14.
Item 20
How many Krispy Kreme outlets there are, and how many closed
Krispy Kreme ended 2021 with 123 franchised outlets and 245 company-owned outlets. In that year 2 franchised outlets opened and 15 left the system.
Three years at a glance
From 2019 through 2021, Krispy Kreme opened 15 franchised outlets and 97 outlets left the system. That is a net loss of 82, from 205 to 123 franchised outlets. Of the outlets that left, 85 were bought back by the franchisor and 12 closed for other reasons.
On average, about 18% of franchised outlets left the system each year, roughly 1 in 5.
Our arithmetic from the FDD's Item 20 table below. "Left the system" counts every outlet the franchisor reports as terminated, not renewed, bought back, or closed for other reasons.
| Year | Start | Opened | Terminated | Non-renewed | Reacquired | Ceased, other | End | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 136 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 123 | 2022 FDD, Item 20, p. 50 |
| 2020 | 187 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 6 | 136 | 2022 FDD, Item 20, p. 50 |
| 2019 | 205 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 3 | 187 | 2022 FDD, Item 20, p. 50 |
Source Krispy Kreme, 2022 FDD, Item 20, p. 48-52, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-14.
Compare
How Krispy Kreme compares with other Food & Beverage franchises
Measured against the 256 Food & Beverage franchises on this site, using each brand's own FDD.
- Cost to open. The middle of Krispy Kreme's estimated range is $3,172,500. It costs more to open than 96% of Food & Beverage franchises here.
- Outlets leaving each year. 18% for Krispy Kreme. That is higher than 93% of the 165 Food & Beverage franchises with at least 10 outlets.
- Three-year growth. Krispy Kreme's franchised system shrank 40%. The typical Food & Beverage franchise here grew 5.0%.
- Earnings disclosure. 152 of the 256 Food & Beverage franchises here publish earnings figures in Item 19. Krispy Kreme is not one of them.
Our arithmetic from each brand's Item 7 and Item 20. Growth and departure comparisons leave out brands with fewer than 10 outlets, where one opening or closure distorts the figures. See every Food & Beverage franchise side by side.
Alert me when Krispy Kreme files a new FDD
Franchisors reissue their FDD at least once a year, and the Item 7 and Item 19 figures move. Leave an email and we will send you Krispy Kreme's updated numbers when the next document is published, plus the brand-comparison worksheet.
You get a confirmation email right away, then one email per new filing for the brands you ask about, and nothing else. No sharing, no selling, unsubscribe any time.