How long does it take to open a restaurant?
For a full-service restaurant with a ground-up build-out, plan on roughly 6–12 months from signed lease to opening; a turnkey space that needs little construction can be 3–5 months. The biggest variables are plan review and permitting, construction, equipment lead times and — if you serve alcohol — the liquor license, which can take 2–6+ months on its own. Treat every figure as a range and confirm current timelines with your local building and health departments.
What should I do first when opening a restaurant?
Start with the concept and a realistic budget, then register the business (entity, EIN, licenses, insurance) and secure a site whose zoning and use allow a commercial kitchen. Apply for anything with a long lead time — especially a liquor license — as early as possible, in parallel with design and plan review. Ordering equipment early also matters, because lead times are a common hidden delay.
What takes the longest when opening a restaurant?
Usually three things: the liquor license (2–6+ months and highly variable), construction/build-out (6–16 weeks and prone to overruns), and equipment lead times. Plan review and permitting can also stall a project because construction can’t begin until plans are approved. Running the long-pole items in parallel — rather than one after another — is the single best way to shorten the timeline.
Is this timeline exact?
No — it’s a planning aid built from typical ranges, and real timelines vary widely by city, project and season. Permitting and inspection schedules in particular are set locally. Always confirm current requirements and timelines with your building, fire and health departments (your AHJ).