foodservicenerd
What you need to open

What You Need to Open a Food Business

Pick your concept for a practical checklist of the licenses, equipment, space and timeline — then tailor it with our free tools.

By business type

Open a Full-service restaurant
Licenses, equipment, space & timeline checklist
Open a Fast-casual / quick-service
Licenses, equipment, space & timeline checklist
Open a Cafe / coffee shop
Licenses, equipment, space & timeline checklist
Open a Bar / pub
Licenses, equipment, space & timeline checklist
Open a Pizzeria
Licenses, equipment, space & timeline checklist
Open a Bakery
Licenses, equipment, space & timeline checklist
Open a Juice / smoothie bar
Licenses, equipment, space & timeline checklist
Open a Ice cream / dessert shop
Licenses, equipment, space & timeline checklist
Open a Deli / sandwich shop
Licenses, equipment, space & timeline checklist
Open a Food truck / trailer
Licenses, equipment, space & timeline checklist
Open a Catering business
Licenses, equipment, space & timeline checklist
Open a Ghost / delivery kitchen
Licenses, equipment, space & timeline checklist

By cuisine

Same restaurant essentials, plus the equipment each cuisine depends on.

Open a Chinese Restaurant
Cuisine-specific equipment + permits checklist
Open a Italian Restaurant
Cuisine-specific equipment + permits checklist
Open a Mexican Restaurant
Cuisine-specific equipment + permits checklist
Open a Thai Restaurant
Cuisine-specific equipment + permits checklist
Open a Sushi Restaurant
Cuisine-specific equipment + permits checklist
Open a Indian Restaurant
Cuisine-specific equipment + permits checklist
Open a Korean Restaurant / KBBQ
Cuisine-specific equipment + permits checklist
Open a Vietnamese Restaurant
Cuisine-specific equipment + permits checklist
Open a Mediterranean Restaurant
Cuisine-specific equipment + permits checklist
Open a BBQ Restaurant / Smokehouse
Cuisine-specific equipment + permits checklist
Open a Seafood Restaurant
Cuisine-specific equipment + permits checklist
Open a Steakhouse
Cuisine-specific equipment + permits checklist
Open a Diner
Cuisine-specific equipment + permits checklist
Open a Ramen Shop
Cuisine-specific equipment + permits checklist
Open a Middle Eastern Restaurant
Cuisine-specific equipment + permits checklist
Prefer it interactive? The opening planner tailors all of this to your size, cuisine and ZIP, and the opening timeline shows the sequence.