DonutNV semi-absentee franchise
In videos, ads and lead-generation pages across the Internet, DonutNV Franchising, Inc., Franchise Fastlane & other truth-resistant promoters continue to push the troubled mini-donut franchise as a business that can be operated on a semi-absentee basis – requiring franchisees to devote only 5-10 hours per week to operate. Despite abundant evidence and opinion provided by current & former franchisees, the franchisor continues to promote (or at least allow) the debunked representation that likely accounts for its regrettable track record of closures and ownership transfers. Franchisee Chris Jones’ recent FB message is just one more indication of the misrepresentation. by Sean Kelly
Read our continuing reporting & analysis on DonutNV here: The DonutNV Franchise Report (Index)
(UnhappyFranchisee.Com) DonutNV franchise owner Chris Jones is publicly stating what many have confided both in private and in public:
That a key franchise sales representation that drove the aggressive franchise investment campaign is, in his opinion and in his experience, untrue.
We’ll add Chris Jones to our list of others who have put their businesses up for sale after finding out – the hard way – that DonutNV & Franchise Fastlane sold them a business that requires full-time effort:
DONUTNV Franchise Owners Selling at a Loss [UPDATED]
Chris Jones became a DonutNV franchisee one year and 8 months ago.
He is currently trying to sell his franchise and exit the system.
Like most others at the time he signed up, he would likely have been told by the sales representatives of Franchise Fastlane and DonutNV brokers that the franchise could be run on a semi-absentee basis, requiring a commitment of just 5-10 hours per week.
We imagine this would have been important to Chris Jones since he was Director, Operations of Pittsburgh-based FTI Consulting until August, 2024.
From September, 2024 to the present, he’s served as Chief Financial Officer or Overly Door according to his LinkedIn profile.
In a DonutNV recruitment video “Introduction to the DonutNV Franchise Opportunity” currently airing on YouTube, former Director of Development for DonutNV, Jake Hamburger, states that the DonutNV business can be run alongside a full-time job or other businesses.
He states that the franchise requires “very minimal hours for semi-absentee” franchisees.
Contrary to claims made by the franchisor and its representatives, Jones is clear that the business requires a full-time effort to be successful.
In multiple Facebook posts made this month, Jones explains why he is selling the business:
…So why are we selling
Our goal when we bought this business was to do this part-time as a family as a way to save and pay for college for our kids.
I work full-time and our kids are very active and while we love running this business, we have learned it needs full-time attention.
We took the chance most people never do and unfortunately this business just isn’t the right for us at this stage in our lives and we are missing out on great events and opportunities that a full-time owner/operator could capitalize on.
Chris Jones states that, over the past two years, his DonutNV has participated in “100+ events per year doing this mostly part-time on weekends.”
His presentation features three franchisees, two of whom have since left the system and one who put his franchise up for sale last year.
Even Jake Hamburger – and several other sales brokers – sold their DonutNV franchises and left the system.
Yet DonutNV, its commission-driven sales brokers, and advertising portals continue to promote the mini-donut franchise as a “semi-absentee” or “absentee-friendly” franchise, including:
Are you familiar with the DonutNV franchise opportunity?
Are you familiar with Franchise Fastlane?
Please leave a comment below or email us, in confidence, at UnhappyFranchisee[at]Gmail[dot]com.
Franchisors: The franchisor, its employees and agents are invited to submit correction, clarifications, rebuttals or other opinions for immediate consideration.
UnhappyFranchisee.com is not associated with this or other franchise company or seller.
Tags: DonutNV 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, DonutNV, DonutNV franchise, DonutNV franchise failures, DonutNV franchise turnover, Donut franchise, 2025 DonutNV FDD, 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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