In some states the licence is an asset
Restaurant & Hospitality Setup in the United States
In several states a liquor licence is capped in number and bought from an existing holder at market price.
GCC business setup specialists
The licence can cost more than the fit-out
Alcohol licensing is a state matter, and a number of states limit the number of licences available. Where that applies, you do not simply apply — you buy a licence from a current holder, at whatever the market demands, and that figure can exceed the cost of building the restaurant. Everything else is local: a health permit from the county, food handler certification, and zoning approval for the specific use.
- Liquor licensing position established for your state before anything else
- Health, zoning and certification requirements mapped locally
- Honest about the cost where a licence must be purchased
20+
Mainland, free zone and offshore jurisdictions we file in — so the recommendation is based on your activity, not on which authority we happen to be registered with.
7,000+
Companies successfully established.
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What you need
Approvals for a US food business
State for alcohol, local for everything else.
| Requirement | Level | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Liquor licence | State | Capped in number in some states |
| Health permit | County or city | Plan review before construction |
| Food handler certification | State or local | Per staff member |
| Zoning or conditional use | City or county | Specific to the use and site |
| Building and fire approvals | City | Kitchen, extraction and occupancy |
| Music licensing | Private bodies | Separate agreements for recorded music |
Alcohol licensing regimes, quota systems, health permitting and zoning requirements differ by state, county and city and change. Yours are checked for the specific state and site.
How it works
From site to opening
Licence availability, then zoning, then build.
01
Check licence availability
Whether your state issues liquor licences on application or caps them, and if capped, what acquiring one actually costs.
02
Confirm the site
Zoning or conditional use permission for a restaurant at that location, and health department plan review before construction starts.
03
Build and open
Building and fire approvals obtained, staff certified, payroll and state registrations completed and inspections passed.
- The state and city of the site
- The concept and menu
- Covers planned
- Whether alcohol will be served
- Whether beer and wine only, or spirits
- Site identified and its current zoning
- Whether a change of use is needed
- Kitchen layout and extraction plan
- Whether the premises was previously a restaurant
- Staff headcount
- Whether live or recorded music is planned
- Target opening date
Scope
What is included, and what is not
Stated plainly, so nothing is added once the engagement starts.
Included in the service fee
- Liquor licensing position for your state
- Guidance where a licence must be purchased
- Zoning and conditional use review
- Health permit application and plan review co-ordination
- Food handler certification guidance
- Building and fire approval co-ordination
- Entity formation, payroll and state registrations
- Guidance on music licensing agreements
Not included, quoted separately
- Licence and permit fees, paid at cost
- Purchase price of a liquor licence
- Premises rent, purchase and fit-out
- Kitchen equipment and extraction works
- Zoning hearings and land use counsel
- Music licensing fees
- Insurance premiums
- US legal and tax advice
Verify independently
Relevant US authorities
We file directly with these bodies on your behalf.
US Customs and Border ProtectionFederal Trade CommissionOccupational Safety and Health AdministrationState alcoholic beverage control boardsCounty assessors and recordersState attorneys general
Questions
US restaurant setup — FAQs
Can I just apply for a liquor licence?
In some states yes. In others the number is capped and you must buy one from an existing holder at market price, which can be a very large number.
What is health department plan review?
Review of your kitchen and premises plans before construction. Building first and seeking approval afterwards is an expensive mistake.
What is conditional use permission?
Zoning approval for a specific use at a specific site, sometimes requiring a public hearing. It is not guaranteed, so confirm before signing a lease.
Do staff need certification?
Food handler certification is required in most places, per staff member, and alcohol service training is required in many.
Is music licensing really separate?
Yes. Playing recorded music generally requires agreements with performing rights organisations, which are private bodies rather than regulators.
Go deeper
More United States services
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