Restaurant Licenses and Permits

So you want to open a restaurant. Well
you probably know that's a lot easier said than done.Depending on the kind of
restaurant, there are different licenses and permits you'll need to have before
you open your doors. Acquiring all the necessary food licenses and permits
involves a lot of paperwork and patience. It takes time for each and every one to
be approved.

It's not always fun, but it's absolutely necessary. I'm Sam from Toast, and today I'll be explaining some of the documentation you'll need to have in
your restaurant. Let's get started. Let's start with the business license.

This is
required to open and operate any business in the United States and
legitimizes new businesses as legal entities. To get a business license,
simply search for the name of your state and business license on Google and
locate your state's government site. Just follow the application procedures as
laid out online. Business licenses cost about $50 for registration while the
license can range from 25  to several thousand dollars.

Remember that sometimes you will need to renew your license annually or pay by certain deadlines. Next up is an employer identification
number or EIN. Like a business license, all businesses must also obtain an
employee identification number in order to operate in the US. EINs are assigned
by the IRS and in everyday terms is just a tax ID number.

Prepare to sit on this
one for a while. The IRS only issues one EIN per day. You
can apply for an EIN through the IRS. Website or by fax phone or mail, but the
good news it's free.

A certificate of occupancy certifies
that the building your restaurant operates in has been properly
constructed and maintained. Once your location has passed the final building
inspection the local building or zoning department in your city will issue the
certificate of occupancy. Getting the certificate varies for every area. Like
the business license, search for your state and certificate of occupancy and
just follow the steps under local governments website.

This certificate
isn't too pricey. It usually comes to $100 dollars. What's a restaurant without food?
Food service licenses are generally issued by the city or county health
department. The health department will make an in-person visit to your
establishment and if you're in accordance to all restaurant food safety
regulations you'll be able to obtain a food service license.

Just don't forget
that the process doesn't end there. The health department will continue to make
regular visits to inspect your restaurant, which means your food service license is always at the liberty of being lost if you violate them rules. The
license can cost from a hundred dollars to a thousand dollars and can be
obtained at a local health department. There's still plenty of certification
you'll need in your restaurant, like a signed permit and the liquor license.

To
see a full list of necessary restaurant licenses and permits, read our full blog
on the topic today. And if you're serious about opening a new restaurant make sure to download a free copy of Toast restaurant business plan template. We
give you the tips for developing an executive summary industry analysis and
marketing plan to make your restaurant stand out from the competition. To get
started on a more profitable future for your restaurant, get started on your
business plan today.

Thanks for watching, I'm Sam and we'll see you next time!  .