Not long ago, the DonutNV franchise was the sizzling hot new concept, hyped by commissioned brokers who herded eager prospects into long lines for Franchise Fastlane Confirmation Day rallies. The awards have stopped, the interviews have ceased, the brokers have bailed and the Franchise Fastlane circus pulled up stakes in the middle of the night and left Alex & Amanda Gingold on their own. The good news for the Gingolds: Their many failed franchisees don’t have a bad – or good – word to say. by Sean Kelly
UPDATE 8/13/25 Every post on our site includes an invitation for corrections, clarifications, and/or rebuttals, which we consider on a priority basis. We rely on our readers to help us correct and fine-tune our discussions. This post was updated 8/13/25 to include new information which is also open to correction or clarification.
(UnhappyFranchisee.Com) Back in the 1800s, travelling circuses would pay advance teams to put up posters, spread tall tales of wonder, and build expectations and excitement prior to their arrival.
Once ticket sales peaked and the magic began to fade, they’d pull up stakes in the night and be gone… on their way to the next excited audience… nothing but a litter- and excrement-strewn field in their wakes…
Some good memories for a few, perhaps, and empty purses & snake oil bottles for others…
For those who know the game, the deletion of the DonutNV logo from Franchise Fastlane’s inventory of brands this month came as no surprise.
Some time ago, franchise broker group Franchise Sidekick dumped DonutNV like a box of week-old Munchkins.
According to new information we received, DonutNV Franchising, Inc. initiated the break with Franchise Fastlane. DonutNV founders had expressed unhappiness dwindling exposure (awards, interviews) etc. but neither DonutNV nor Fastlane have explained the reason for the split. [added 8/13/25]
Brokers and promoters who had signed DonutNV franchise agreements, either in earnest or to help close sales, have been trying to cash out and move on.
Franchise Sidekick broker Mike Flowers sold his DonutNV franchise early.
Franchise Fastlane’s Jake Hamburger & Jennifer Cain quietly sold their franchise.
FranChoice franchise broker Chrystal Bell quietly slid out of her agreement by reselling.
The Franchise Consulting Company Broker Dennis Stein has had his trailer and territory listed at a fire sale price on BizBuySell for a long, long time. His location is no longer listed in the website directory.
FranChoice broker Jeff Bruce’s fairy tale story of his son Jake’s plan to pay for college as semi-absentee DonutNV franchisee appears to have imploded. On LinkedIn, the Babson College wunderkind now lists himself as past owner* of the Natick, MA DonutNV franchise as of August, 2025. That same month, the (former?) college student founded Bruce Legacy Group, “a private investment holding company that seeks to dominate the fragmented and cottage death care industry…”
* Since this post was published, Jake Bruce changed his status back to “current” owner and responded to a request for clarification by blocking the author from accessing his public profile. [added 8/13/25]
In his origin story video, Alex Gingold states that he could probably sell any product,not just donuts.
Now that Franchise Fastlane has moved on, the third stage of the DonutNV story falls to Alex Gingold to create.
Taking back over the sales function in the wake of Franchise Fastlane will not be easy for Alex & Amanda Gingold.
DonutNV basically had no track record when Franchise Fastlane and their network of brokers brought the circus to town… and now there are many documented failures and remnants of discontent.
DonutNV Franchise Failures, Closures & Transfers: An Interactive List [UPDATED]
Franchise Fastlane’s big selling point – that DonutNV can be an easy-to-run, semi-absentee side hustle that doesn’t require full-time effort – has been seriously challenged if not completely disproven.
A source has informed us that Alex & Amanda Gingold will no longer be promoting the DonutNV franchise as a “semi-absentee” or “passive investment” franchise due to problems caused by that representation. [added 8/13/25]
So why do Amanda & Alex Gingold continue to publicly shoot themselves in the foot by trying to suppress the now-validated and very public complaints of franchisees who trusted them and DonutNV – and lost everything as a result?
As I said, 2025 is going to be the defining year for DonutNV.
So far, it’s not looking too good…
See: DonutNV is NOT a Franchise Success Story… And May Never Be
Are you familiar with the DonutNV franchise opportunity?
Are you familiar with Franchise Fastlane?
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Tags: DonutNV 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, DonutNV, DonutNV franchise, DonutNV franchise failures, DonutNV franchise turnover, Donut franchise, , Mobile Donut Franchise, Franchise Fastlane, Alex Gingold, Amanda Gingold, Jake Hamburger, Attorney Joe Ferris, Attorney Joseph Ferris, Attorney William C. Clements, Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg LLP
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