How to Start a Donut Shop
Since their introduction to the United States by Dutch immigrants, donuts have become an iconic part of American cuisine, associated with sweet treats, early mornings, and a hot cup of coffee. Donut shops can be profitable ventures, but when opening a donut shop, operators need the right equipment and business foundation to be successful.
In this guide, we will walk you through the essential equipment needed to start a donut shop, highlighting the features and price of each product.
What to Consider Before Buying Donut Equipment
Before starting your donut shop, you'll need to make some decisions about your business model. Consider the following tips to help determine equipment cost, labor needs, location, and menu offerings:
- Shop size: Small kiosks work better for quick service, but sit-down cafes easily draw people in
- Menu focus: Serve various donut types or emphasize a signature style, such as fried or baked, glazed or dipped, and cake or yeast
- Energy efficiency: Find equipment that's affordable to operate
- Equipment capacity: Predict how many donuts you expect to sell during peak hours
- Growth: Create growth goals and track your progress
What Equipment Do You Need to Open a Donut Shop?
Below, you'll find a comprehensive list of important equipment needed to start a donut shop, including back-of-house mixers and front-of-house displays. Here, you'll find information to help you manage your space, output, and supply needs.
Back-of-House Equipment:
Donut Fryers
Donut fryers use wide, shallow vats, similar to funnel cake fryers, in which the dough is fried to perfection on each side.
Features & Price
- Flat-bottom fryers for donuts or funnel cakes
- Automatic or manual use
- Adjustable temp
- Gas or electric power
- Average price: $1,000
Convection Ovens
For baked donuts, use a convection oven to achieve consistent results. Their controlled temperature and airflow help create fully cooked pastries without drying them out.
Features & Price
- Multi-purpose floor or countertop models
- Capacity: single or double ovens
- Power options: Gas or electric
- Average prices: $5,000-$15,000
Dough Mixers
Designed for efficient and thorough mixing, these machines can handle hundreds of quarts of tough product. They easily mix without damaging the dough.
Features & Price
- Available models: spiral or planetary mixers
- Capacity: 5-400+ quarts
- Average prices: $5,000-$20,000
Dough Sheeters and Donut Cutters
Dough sheeters eliminate the need for a rolling pin, ensuring consistent thickness for cutting out yeast donuts. Cake donut batter is dropped directly into the cooking oil after being mixed with special donut-shaping droppers.
Features & Price
- Sheeters can produce hundreds of sheets per hour
- Donut droppers yield precise donut shapes
- Average sheeter price: $10,000
- Average cutter price: $600
Proofing Cabinets
Proofing cabinets maintain steady temperature and humidity so yeast donuts can rise properly before frying. Models come with reach-in or pass-thru access. Full-sized proofers can hold up to 30 pans.
Features & Price
- Insulated or non-insulated options
- Electric power
- Use for undercounter, countertop, or standalone applications
- Average prices: $5,000-$10,000
Refrigeration Units
Commercial refrigerators, like reach-in or walk-in coolers, provide ample cold storage for dough ingredients, frosting, and toppings. Open-air coolers enable operators to merchandize cold drinks and other perishable items that complement fresh donuts.
Features & Price
- Reach-ins hold bulk ingredients
- Merchandisers display cold products
- Energy-efficient models
- Average prices: vary by item
Icing and Filling Tools
Pastry decorating equipment, such as icing spatulas or pastry bags, helps bakers create custom donut designs.
Features & Price
- Icing spatulas are designed for spreading and shaping icing
- Pastry tubes need decorating tips for filling donuts
- Average price: $10 per unit
Prep Tables and Workstations
These tables provide areas for preparing ingredients and decorating fresh donuts. Workstations feature flat, sanitary surfaces for handling dough, while prep tables offer refrigerated bases and rails for ample ingredient or topping storage.
Features & Price
- Undercounter storage with refrigerated base or open shelving
- Work surface options: steel, polymer, or wood
- Average prices: $500-$5,000
Storage Shelving and Ingredient Bins
Shelving and storage help keep donut bakeries' back-of-house areas clean and organized, ensuring efficient workflow and food safety.
Features & Price
- Ingredient bins hold up to 44 gallons
- Shelving options: wire, polymer, or dunnage racks
- Average shelving prices: $100-$600
- Average bin prices: $100-$400
Sinks and Handwashing Stations
Dishwashing and mop sinks maintain a clean environment and protect equipment. Handwashing sinks are also necessary wherever employees work with food.
Features & Price
- 3-compartment sinks are designed for cleaning and sanitizing equipment
- Hand sinks maintain food safety requirements
- 3-compartment sink prices: $1,000-$5,000
- Hand sink prices: $200-$1,000
Cleaning Supplies and Sanitation Tools
Use cleaning supplies to ensure proper sanitation, avoid cross contamination, and pass health inspections.
Features & Price
- Floor cleaning: brooms, mops, and squeegees
- Spot cleaning: spray bottles, rags, and cleaning solutions
- PPE: gloves, masks, and face shields
- Product prices: vary by item
Front-of-House Equipment:
Display Cases
Display cases showcase your delicious donuts. Most donut shops use full-service models so employees can serve customers from behind the case, but you can also purchase self-service options for grab-and-go setups.
Features & Price
- Modern square or classic rounded display style
- Closed cabinets maintain donut freshness
- 1-4 rows for enhanced display
- Material options: glass, plastic, wood, or metal trim
- Product prices: $500-$2,000
Coffee and Beverage Equipment
Coffee and donuts are a classic combination. Whether you opt for a simple drip machine or a super automatic espresso maker, offering coffee is essentially an expectation at donut shops.
Features & Price
- Coffee machine styles: drip, percolator, and espresso
- Serving systems: airpot, decanter, and carafe
- Average prices: vary by item
POS System and Register
Every foodservice operation needs a point-of-sale system and register area to complete transactions. This will likely include an EMV system that eases checkout for your customers.
Features & Price
- Register stand styles: mobile or stationary
- Materials: plastic, stainless steel, or vinyl
- Average register prices: $1,000-$3,000
How Much Does It Cost to Open a Donut Shop?
Below is an overview of common fixed and variable costs of opening a donut bakery. These estimated averages may not reflect the actual cost of each operation, which varies based on location, menu, and size.
| Item | Type of Cost | Frequency | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortgage/Rent | Fixed | Monthly | $3,000–$10,000 |
| Kitchen Design | Fixed | One time | $3,000–$8,000 |
| Equipment | Fixed | One time & as needed | $10,000–$75,000 |
| Ingredients | Variable | Monthly & as needed | $1,000–$2,000 |
| Labor | Fixed & Variable | Monthly | $3,000–$7,000 |
| Permits & Licenses | Fixed | One time & as required | $3,000 |
| Insurance | Fixed | Monthly | $100–$300 |
| Marketing & Branding | Fixed | One time & monthly | $2,000–$5,000 |
| Packaging & Serving | Variable | Monthly & as needed | $300–$800 |
Ultimately, starting a donut shop can cost well over $100,000. If you're just starting out, opt for business models with lower start-up costs, such donut trucks, carts, or home bakeries, if allowed in your state. You can also find discounts on refurbished equipment at KaTom's Scratch and Dent Store. Learn more about how to open a donut shop with resources like a start up cost breakdown in our learning center.
Discover Donut Shop Equipment at KaTom
KaTom offers competitive prices on essential supplies from this donut shop equipment list. Shop KaTom to find supplies for outfitting or improving your donut shop, and fill your neighborhood with the welcoming smells of fresh donuts.
