From Donut Shop Owner to Donut Coach

The Donut Coach Story

In 2002, TR Laughlin opened his first donut shop, The Royal Donut Company, in Fayetteville, Arkansas—just two miles from where he first started working at age 14. What began as a teenager’s part-time job became a lifelong passion, shaped by a family legacy of early mornings, hand-cut dough, and the joy of serving a community.

That passion grew into multiple ventures. Within a few years, TR launched Hwy. 62 Daylight Donuts in Rogers, Arkansas, which later became the iconic Red Barn Donuts. For more than 14 years, the Red Barn was a community staple—and a training ground where TR built and refined systems that ensured quality at scale, supported multi-site operations, and delivered consistency no matter who was behind the fryer.

By the time he exited Red Barn Donuts in a nearly $1 million sale, his systems had already proven their worth. The new owners took what was in place and, within four years, expanded the brand into three successful locations.

From Shop Owner to Coach

As the business grew, TR started getting calls from other owner-operated shops. Some needed help troubleshooting dough issues, others wanted guidance on hiring or marketing, and still others were wrestling with the big question of how to expand.

“I’ve always loved talking through problems with someone,” TR says. “Sometimes I can share advice, and sometimes we figure it out together. There’s nothing like that lightbulb moment when you see a hard-working owner’s life is about to get easier—or their business more profitable.”

TR became the local go-to for solving donut shop questions, and word spread fast. Through Facebook groups, referrals, and personal connections, he started consulting for shops across the U.S.—helping negotiate leases, broker shop sales, secure vendor agreements, and even evaluate new site locations.

Going Global

It wasn’t long before the calls came from out of state—and then from overseas.

“I’ll never forget walking through my first expansion call with an operator ready to launch a second shop,” TR recalls. “He already had a strong first location but needed clarity on how to delegate and scale. Being part of that moment—that’s what fires me up.”

Soon after, he was working with new owners starting from scratch, helping them lay a foundation that could become a family legacy. Then came international requests—consultations from as far away as Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

That’s when it became clear: there was a real need in this niche community of donut entrepreneurs. So TR took Donut Coach online, turning decades of hands-on experience, proven systems, and one-on-one problem-solving into a platform designed to help donut shop owners everywhere start, grow, and scale their dream.