Licences For Restaurants: A compact list of permits to open your dream venture

If you are an aspiring restaurateur, it is not breaking news that the venture you are pursuing requires a plethora of licenses. It is, indeed, not a cake walk. What does a new restaurateur think about at the initial phase?

She brainstorms to choose the perfect location, hire the right employees, and then acquire the food business license. Licences for restaurants are tough to obtain; hence, they deserve a fair share of concern as well. Without a business license, the other matters are futile. There are many areas that require a license much later.

To ensure that your restaurant sets off with a good start, do check the following list of licences for restaurants that you need to get:

1. Occupancy Certificate

A certificate of occupancy certifies the building's safety for employees and customers. The city or the town council/municipality issues this certificate only after a thorough investigation. The majority of restaurants open their doors to the general public only after they get their eatery certified.

2. Restaurant Business License

This permit is also issued by the town or city council/municipality, which grants the business authorisation to conduct its business within that local jurisdiction. The acquisition of this license involves completing substantial paperwork to register the business name, along with payment of application fees.

3. Getting the Employee Identification Number

The employee identification number (EIN) informs the government of one's employment status. It is also a tax identification number obtained from the website after filling out a form and paying the required fees. It can also be applied by phone or mail. The EIN also lets the employee file taxes every year.

4. Food Service License

It is impossible for a restaurant to operate without a food service license. The acquisition of this permit involves a thorough inspection by the city or country's health department officials, who ensure that the restaurant is safe & eligible to serve food by complying with all food safety standards, laws, and regulations. In many cases, employees are required to complete a safety training program in addition to obtaining a food handler's certificate.

5. Music Permit

If you are planning to include live music sessions in your restaurant, then you must abide by the copyright law protecting the music you choose to play. Yes. You have to get formal permission from the authorities before you choose to play music in your restaurant. In case you are thinking of hiring a creative artist to play original scores, then you have to get the entertainment permit as well to pay the entertainment tax. The companies that hold performance rights will get the business owner's permission to perform copyrighted musical creations. Without such licenses, the owner is liable to hefty fines along the way. This is an optional inclusion in this list of licences for restaurants.

6. Liquor license

Planning to sell liquor at your eatery? Then obviously, a liquor license is the permit you need for it. Liquor laws vary from state to state and country to country. The authorities restrict from 'anyone' to sell liquor, so there are some liquor laws that are relatively strict. The liquor law specifies the time of and place of serving alcohol, along with its tariff. Depending on the restaurant's location, the owner must obtain beer, wine, and liquor licenses; all three are required to serve them. Apply for a liquor license early if you want to serve it on time, as the licenses may take up to a year to obtain. The application fees range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, with extra charges for their annual renewal.

7. Sign Permit

You will always need new signage to attract your restaurant's target audience. Before advertising it, you must obtain a sign permit from the licensing authorities. This will allow you to run your marketing campaign without any hindrance, regardless of the size or location of your signs.

8. Food Handler’s Permit

A food handler's permit is a legal necessity. This guarantees the restaurant's compliance with the food protection, sanitation, storage and preparation norms. Employees must obtain the license by passing the food handler's course and purchasing it. The cost of the permit varies by country and must be renewed every 3 to 5 years. A mandatory inclusion in this list of licences for restaurants. Conclusion This list of licenses and permits needed to open a restaurant is just the basics; your country might require more or fewer permissions. In all this mayhem, never forget to purchase and install a robust restaurant and kitchen management software that will be the ultimate digital assistant for you by streamlining all functions of the business for faster and better output. From managing stock to making payments to engineering menu to providing analytical reports, the one-stop solution of software is the solution you can root for to work for you regularly to fetch the desired results you have always wanted.