Breadsmith vs Lamar's Donuts
Breadsmith vs Lamar's Donuts: Breadsmith costs $101K to $506K to open; Lamar's Donuts costs $100K to $227K. Breadsmith has 32 units, Lamar's Donuts has 9. SBA loan history: Breadsmith = 34 loans (5.9% default); Lamar's Donuts = 11 loans (9.1% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Breadsmith vs Lamar's Donuts: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Lamar's Donuts requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($100K vs $101K for Breadsmith), a 1% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $49K for Breadsmith versus $29K for Lamar's Donuts, Lamar's Donuts has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 7% for Breadsmith and 5% for Lamar's Donuts, giving Lamar's Donuts the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Breadsmith operates 32 units to Lamar's Donuts's 9, roughly 4× the system size. Lamar's Donuts has been operating 66 years (founded 1960) versus 33 for Breadsmith (founded 1993), a 33-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Breadsmith has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 34 7(a) approvals compared with 11 for Lamar's Donuts. Breadsmith's peak SBA year was 1996 (7 loans); Lamar's Donuts's peak was 2002 (3 loans). Lamar's Donuts's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Breadsmith has the most SBA funded units in WI, with 13. Lamar's Donuts leads in CO, with 5. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Breadsmith deals is $153K vs $265K for Lamar's Donuts, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 5.9% for Breadsmith and 9.1% for Lamar's Donuts, Breadsmith has the cleaner SBA loss record by 3.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 52 (Moderate) for Breadsmith and 34 (Fair) for Lamar's Donuts, giving Breadsmith the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 52/100 | 34/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 34 | 11 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 5.9% | 9.1% |
Peer Tier | established | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $101K to $506K | $100K to $227K |
Franchise Fee | $49K | $29K |
Royalty Rate | 7% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 32 | 9 |
Franchised Units | 28 | 9 |
Company Owned | 4 | – |
Term Length | 15 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1993 | 1960 |
Franchising Since | 1993 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 33 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | APPLETON, WI | SPRINGFIELD, MO |
Category | Retail Bakeries | Retail Bakeries |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Breadsmith or Lamar's Donuts?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Breadsmith: $101K starting · Lamar's Donuts: $100K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Breadsmith
Breadsmith: 34 SBA loans · Lamar's Donuts: 11 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Breadsmith
Breadsmith: 5.9% · Lamar's Donuts: 9.1%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Breadsmith: 32 units · Lamar's Donuts: 9 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Lamar's Donuts
Breadsmith: 7% · Lamar's Donuts: 5%
More lender financing options
Breadsmith
Breadsmith: 20 unique lenders · Lamar's Donuts: 9 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
Breadsmith vs Lamar's Donuts: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Breadsmith and Lamar's Donuts is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $100K to $506K.
Breadsmith has 34 SBA loans on record and Lamar's Donuts has 11. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Breadsmith vs Lamar's Donuts, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Breadsmith or Lamar's Donuts?
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Which has a lower SBA default rate, Breadsmith or Lamar's Donuts?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
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