How to Sell Donuts Online: 5 Steps and First Costs (2026)

On this page

1. Check your state rules before you take orders
2. Pick one way to take orders
3. Set your first menu and batch size
4. Set a price that covers the whole batch
5. Follow five steps from first post to first paid order
6. Mistakes that cost you money
7. What to do after your first order

The first order is the hard part. This guide shows how to sell donuts online without guessing at your costs or overbuilding before you know what your buyers want. You will see the steps, the money to watch, and the mistakes that eat a small batch profit.

Check your state rules before you take orders

Before you post a price, call your state cottage food office and your local health department. Ask what permit, label, and kitchen rules apply to donuts sold from home. Write down the answer and keep it with your order records. Ask them to confirm what applies to your donuts, because another seller’s setup may not match yours.

Keep a simple order sheet. Write the buyer name, the number of dozens, the pickup time, and what they paid. A paper sheet works. A phone note works. The point is to know what is owed and what is already paid before pickup day.

Pick one way to take orders

Choose one simple way to take orders first. You can run preorders for a Saturday pickup, or set one local delivery day. Put the cutoff time and the pickup address where buyers can see them. A short window keeps your batch small and your handoff calm.

You do not need a complicated setup. Brevl gives you a shop with your own web address, and it works on a computer and on a phone. You can take card payments through your own Stripe or Square account, plus Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, and cash. If you want to compare channels, read ways to sell baked goods online before you pick one.

Pickup is easier to control than delivery. If you deliver, set one route and one time window. Do not offer both on your first day. Tell buyers what to expect if they are late, and keep the same rule for everyone.

Set your first menu and batch size

Start with one plain and one filled donut. A short menu makes your prep, packing, and pickup easier to time. Add a flavor only after the first batch sells through. A small menu also makes your ingredient buying simpler.

Set a batch cap. Take preorders until the cap is hit, then close the list. A cap protects your day and keeps quality steady. If you sell out, tell buyers the next date and keep the same pickup window.

Set a price that covers the whole batch

Price one dozen, not one donut. Add the ingredient cost from your receipts. Add your labor at the hourly rate you pay yourself. Add a share of the $20 monthly Brevl fee. Brevl takes 0% of your sales, so the fee is the only Brevl cost in the dozen. The amount left after all three is your margin. Use the donut cost guide to check your numbers.

Here is a worked example you can copy. Take one dozen donuts. Write the ingredient cost from your receipts. Write your labor as your hourly rate times the hours you worked. Write overhead as a share of the $20 monthly Brevl fee. Subtract all three from the dozen price. The number left is your margin. If that number is zero or below, raise the price or cut the batch size.

Packaging belongs in the price. Count the box, the bag, and the sticker for each dozen. If you add a ribbon or a printed label, count that too. A box and a label add to your cost, and they can eat the margin you just built.

Do not set your price from a shop that buys in bulk. Set it from your own receipts. Your price can reflect your small batch and your set pickup time. Check the number again after your first batch, when you know your real hours.

Follow five steps from first post to first paid order

1. 1

   Check your state and local rules

   Ask your state cottage food office and local health department what you need before you sell donuts from home.

2. 2

   Set one pickup or delivery plan

   Choose one pickup window or one local delivery day. Put the cutoff time where buyers can see it.

3. 3

   Price one dozen with all three costs

   Add ingredients from receipts, your hourly pay, and a share of the $20 monthly Brevl fee. Set the price so a margin is left.

4. 4

   Open your shop and take preorders

   Put your photos, pickup details, and payment choices in one place. Take card payments through your own Stripe or Square account, plus Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, or cash.

5. 5

   Bake only paid orders and hand off

   Make the paid batch, pack it, and keep the pickup window short. Ask each buyer if they want the next batch.

Mistakes that cost you money

Another mistake is taking orders before you pick a cutoff. A long window turns into a long day. Set a clear order close time, then make only what was paid for. Keep one backup dozen for a no-show, not a full extra batch. If you sell at a market too, count your table fee and your travel time in the same price.

Do not add five flavors to your first menu. One plain and one filled donut is enough to test your packing and your pickup. Add a flavor only after the first batch sells through. The same small batch rule works for cake pops and other small bakes.

Do not promise a delivery time you cannot keep. A late handoff makes a bad pickup. If you are not sure, give a pickup window instead of an exact minute. Under promise the time and over deliver the box.

What to do after your first order

Ask each buyer if they want the next batch. Keep the same pickup window and the same order cutoff. Send a short thank you with the next date. A repeat buyer already knows your pickup plan, so make the next order easy to place.

Track what sold and what came back. If one flavor sells out and another sits, change the next batch. If you want to add a second product, start with cookies or cupcakes that use the same pickup plan. Keep your menu small until the pickup day runs without a rush.

Ask buyers what pickup time worked best. If most want after work, move your window later. If most want morning, keep it early. Let the orders tell you the schedule, not the other way around.

Keep a simple record of each batch. Write what you made, what sold, and what was left. Add your hours and your receipts. After three batches, you will see your real cost and your best pickup time.

Common questions

Can I sell donuts online from my home kitchen?

Ask your state cottage food office and local health department first. They will tell you what permit, label, and kitchen rules apply to donuts sold from home. Get the answer before you take orders. Another seller's setup may not match yours.

How do I take payment for a donut order?

Use your own Stripe or Square account for cards through Brevl. You can also take Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, and cash. Mark each order paid before you bake it. Keep the payment record with the pickup time so you are not chasing money on handoff day.

Should I offer pickup or delivery first?

Pickup is easier to control on your first sale. Set one window and one address. If you want to deliver, choose one route and one time block. Do not offer both at once. Add delivery only after pickup runs on time and your batch size feels steady.

How do I price a dozen donuts?

Add the ingredient cost from your receipts, your hourly pay for the hours worked, and a share of the $20 monthly Brevl fee. Brevl takes 0% commission. The amount left after all three is your margin. If the margin is too thin, raise the price or cut the batch.

General information, not legal or tax advice. Check your state cottage food rules and local health department before you sell.