Brand overview · September 2026
The Mini Donut Company
Small-footprint mini donut shops with catering options. West Coast franchising focus; founded ~2019.
Overview
The Mini Donut Company is a San Diego-based mini donut concept that has operated since 2019. Its shops sell mini donuts in rotating weekly flavors for walk-up orders, pickup, delivery, and catering.
As of September 2026, the company's website lists three locations: Liberty Public Market and Petco Park in San Diego, and Windmill Food Hall in Carlsbad. The site also mentions a vintage food cart used alongside the shops.
The franchise page says the company is currently franchising on the West Coast while it learns other states' franchise requirements, and it still invites inquiries from other regions.
Photos
A look at The Mini Donut Company.
Key figures
Same fields as the comparison table, from public sources as of September 2026. TBD means not published in the sources reviewed. Always verify against the current FDD.
- Franchise fee
- $29,900 – $30,000Public FDD summaries
- Total investment
- $69,000 – $126,000Storefront; marketing often cites starting under $60K — verify current FDD
- Royalty
- 5%Of gross sales
- Marketing / ad fund
- 1%Of gross sales
- Tech fees
- ~$100/mo tech (up to $500); POS ~$125/mo
- Term
- 10 years + renewal
- Veteran discount
- Not published in sources reviewed
- Format
- Storefront, catering
- Footprint
- Typically under 400 sq ft
Format & footprint
- The franchisor says its current stores are all under 400 square feet, which points to small in-line or food-hall spaces rather than full restaurant build-outs.
- Besides in-store sales, the franchise page lists office, wedding, and party catering, kiosks and satellite locations, farmers markets, and wholesale accounts as additional channels.
- Training is described as about a week in the company's San Diego stores, followed by grand-opening support and an operations manual.
- Marketing materials say it is possible to start for under $60,000, while public FDD summaries show a higher storefront range. Use the current FDD for planning.
Who it may fit
Considerations to weigh, not recommendations. Your own finances, market, and goals matter more than any list.
- Budgets toward the lower end of the brands on this site, based on published storefront figures.
- A preference for a small fixed location, such as a food hall stall or compact retail space.
- Interest in adding catering and events on top of counter sales.
- Candidates in West Coast states, where the franchisor says it is currently franchising.
Questions to ask the franchisor
Brand-specific due-diligence questions to bring to calls with The Mini Donut Company and its current franchisees.
- Which states are you currently registered in, and what is the timeline for others?
- How does the published investment range compare with the under-$60K figure in your marketing, and what does that figure exclude?
- Which site types (food halls, kiosks, in-line retail) have you approved, and who leads site selection?
- How are catering, wholesale, and satellite locations handled within a territory?
- What do the monthly tech fee and POS fee cover, and can they change?
Common questions
- How much does a The Mini Donut Company franchise cost?
- As of September 2026, public sources list the following for The Mini Donut Company. Franchise fee: $29,900 – $30,000; public FDD summaries. Total investment: $69,000 – $126,000; storefront; marketing often cites starting under $60K — verify current FDD. Confirm current figures in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
- What royalty and ongoing fees does The Mini Donut Company charge?
- Royalty: 5%; of gross sales. Marketing or brand fund: 1%; of gross sales. Technology fees: ~$100/mo tech (up to $500); POS ~$125/mo. These reflect public sources as of September 2026. Confirm current figures in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
- What format does The Mini Donut Company franchise use?
- Small storefronts with catering. The franchisor says its current stores are all under 400 square feet and lists catering, kiosks, farmers markets, and wholesale as additional channels.
- Where does The Mini Donut Company operate?
- As of September 2026, the company's website lists three locations in the San Diego area (Liberty Public Market, Petco Park, and Windmill Food Hall in Carlsbad). It says it is franchising on the West Coast. Confirm available states with the franchisor.
Notes
- Transfer fee ~$15K; renewal ~$10K (public summaries).
- Additional revenue via catering and events.
Sources reviewed (September 2026): The Mini Donut Company website: getminidonuts.com (home and franchise pages); Public FDD summaries: as recorded in this site's comparison data. Company-reported figures such as unit counts are not independently verified.
Official website: getminidonuts.com


