Lamar's Donuts vs Nothing Bundt Cakes
Lamar's Donuts vs Nothing Bundt Cakes: Lamar's Donuts costs $100K to $227K to open; Nothing Bundt Cakes costs $257K to $387K. Lamar's Donuts has 9 units, Nothing Bundt Cakes has 276. SBA loan history: Lamar's Donuts = 11 loans (9.1% default); Nothing Bundt Cakes = 318 loans (0.0% 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.
Lamar's Donuts vs Nothing Bundt Cakes: 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 $257K for Nothing Bundt Cakes), a 61% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $29K for Lamar's Donuts versus $35K for Nothing Bundt Cakes, Lamar's Donuts has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 5% for Lamar's Donuts and 6% for Nothing Bundt Cakes, giving Lamar's Donuts the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Nothing Bundt Cakes operates 276 units to Lamar's Donuts's 9, roughly 31× the system size. Lamar's Donuts has been operating 66 years (founded 1960) versus 29 for Nothing Bundt Cakes (founded 1997), a 37-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Nothing Bundt Cakes has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 318 7(a) approvals compared with 11 for Lamar's Donuts. Lamar's Donuts's peak SBA year was 2002 (3 loans); Nothing Bundt Cakes's peak was 2021 (47 loans). Nothing Bundt Cakes's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Lamar's Donuts has the most SBA funded units in CO, with 5. Nothing Bundt Cakes leads in TX, with 37. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Lamar's Donuts deals is $265K vs $480K for Nothing Bundt Cakes, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 9.1% for Lamar's Donuts and 0.0% for Nothing Bundt Cakes, Nothing Bundt Cakes has the cleaner SBA loss record by 9.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 34 (Fair) for Lamar's Donuts and 71 (Strong) for Nothing Bundt Cakes, giving Nothing Bundt Cakes the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 34/100 | 71/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 11 | 318 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 9.1% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | growing | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $100K to $227K | $257K to $387K |
Franchise Fee | $29K | $35K |
Royalty Rate | 5% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 5% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $150K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $600K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 9 | 276 |
Franchised Units | 9 | 276 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1960 | 1997 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 1960 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | SPRINGFIELD, MO | RIVERSIDE, CA |
Category | Retail Bakeries | Retail Bakeries |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Lamar's Donuts or Nothing Bundt Cakes?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Lamar's Donuts: $100K starting · Nothing Bundt Cakes: $257K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Lamar's Donuts: 11 SBA loans · Nothing Bundt Cakes: 318 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Lamar's Donuts: 9.1% · Nothing Bundt Cakes: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Lamar's Donuts: 9 units · Nothing Bundt Cakes: 276 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Lamar's Donuts
Lamar's Donuts: 5% · Nothing Bundt Cakes: 6%
More lender financing options
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Lamar's Donuts: 9 unique lenders · Nothing Bundt Cakes: 79 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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Lamar's Donuts vs Nothing Bundt Cakes: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Lamar's Donuts and Nothing Bundt Cakes is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $100K to $387K.
Lamar's Donuts has 11 SBA loans on record and Nothing Bundt Cakes has 318. 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.
Lamar's Donuts vs Nothing Bundt Cakes, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Lamar's Donuts or Nothing Bundt Cakes?
How much does a Lamar's Donuts franchise cost compared to Nothing Bundt Cakes?
Can I finance Lamar's Donuts or Nothing Bundt Cakes with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Lamar's Donuts or Nothing Bundt Cakes?
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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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