What type of license do i need to open a restaurant

You can also apply by mail or by phone. Your EIN is the number under which you file your business taxes each year. A new restaurant must have a certificate of occupancy to show that the building it is safe for employees and customers.

The town or city that your restaurant resides issues the certificate and usually requires a building inspection by local authorities. Most restaurants must have a certificate of occupancy before opening their doors to the public. No restaurant can operate without a food service license. This license usually involves and on site visit by city or county health department officials and ensures that your restaurant meets all food preparation, food storage and food safety regulations and laws.

With the right licenses and permits, you will get off to a flying start and a whole new culinary adventure. If you plan to sell liquor at your restaurant, then you need a liquor license. Liquor laws vary from state to state and sometimes from city to city. Local authorities do not want just anyone selling liquor, so most liquor laws are fairly strict and regulate everything from when and where to serve liquor to how much it costs. No matter what type of liquor license you need, apply for it early because it can take up to a year to receive it.

Application fees can range from a few hundred dollars to many thousands of dollars, and you must renew the license each year. Music in the background of any public eating establishment helps create atmosphere. This is assigned by the IRS. Another legal necessity is an employee health permit. This permit guarantees that your restaurant meets food sanitation, storage, protection, and preparation regulations.

Again, this will expire, usually after 3 to 5 years. Putting up an artfully designed restaurant sign? Sizing, location, and cost is determined by your city. Now that you know the costs and process involved with some of the permits required to open and operate a restaurant, as well as the potential detriments that can occur as a result of a missing or lost permit, you know opening a restaurant is not something to do on a whim.

And beyond permits and licenses, there are many more questions to ask and consider before pursuing a restaurateur career. Having a menu idea does not a restaurant make; the legal paperwork is as much a part of the business as the cuisine.

Your Email Address. Zip Code. Expert Takes. Use this checklist to navigate the legal process for opening a restaurant. December Jesse Noyes. Business License Before you become a restaurant owner, you need to obtain this government-issued license. Liquor License If you intend to serve alcohol at your establishment, you will need a liquor license.

Sign Permit Putting up an artfully designed restaurant sign? Sign permits may be required for:. For example, if you plan to have all the electrical work re-wired, the inspector will likely have to look at that before you can move on to the next phase of renovation. Sometimes also called a Sales Tax License, this allows you to legally collect sales tax in your state.

A Resale Permit allows you to purchase wholesale goods from your vendors tax-free. A Building Health Permit indicates that your restaurant building complies with sanitation and safety laws, and is generally only needed for new constructions, though some states or cities may require it for every business.

There may also be other permits and licenses needed for designating a curbside valet spot in front of your restaurant, so check with your state or city for local laws.

Food and Drug Administration so you have a jumping-off point on your journey to obtain all the restaurant licenses and permits you need. Support Login. Get your restaurant set up for success with Upserve! Share Tweet Pin 2. Step One Tell us about yourself.

Department of Health Food Protection Program. Department of Health Food Hygiene Program. Department of Health Sanitation Branch. Department of Health Retail Food Program. Department of Health Food Safety. Department of Health Food Safety Division.

Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce. Department of Agriculture Food Division.