Opening A Restaurant in USA Full Time

Opening a restaurant is not that easy but is not difficult either. In order to open a restaurant in the USA, it is necessary to understand the following steps and terms of the USA govt. For this, read the following:

Steps to start a restaurant in USA

1. Make a business plan

• Choose a type of restaurant, such as a food truck, fine dining, casual dining, or fast food.
• Select a cuisine and an original idea.
• Examine the demand for your location and your competitors.
• Make a thorough business plan that includes the menu, prices, target market, and budget.

2. Legal and Registration Requirements

• Business Structure: Register as a sole proprietorship, corporation, or limited liability company.
• Employer identification numbers, or EINs, are required for both employees and taxes.
• Your state or city will issue your business license.
• The local health department requires a food service license.
• If serving alcohol, obtaining a liquor license can be expensive and time-consuming.
• If you are performing music, sign your permit and music license.

3. Location and Configuration

• Choose a well-lit area with lots of traffic.
• Purchase real estate or negotiate a lease.
• Update the area to comply with health and safety regulations.
• Invest in décor, POS systems, furniture, and kitchen appliances.

4. Employ Employees

• Employ managers, cashiers, servers, cooks, chefs, and dishwashers.
• Give instruction in customer service and food safety.
• To ensure employee compliance, register with the Department of Labor.

5. Safety and Health

• Pass health examinations.
• Comply with OSHA and FDA safety regulations.
• Provide food handling certification training to employees.

6. Promotion & Marketing

• Create a Google Business profile and a website.
• Make use of social media (Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok).
• Provide local flyers, opening discounts, and collaborations with food delivery apps (such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub).

Investment you need

Starting any type of business includes investment; without input, you will never get output. Minimum to maximum investments are discussed below:

Type of Restaurant

1. Food Truck/Small Café

• Initial Expense: $50,000 to $150,000
• Includes marketing, equipment, licenses, initial inventory, and the lease of a truck or small space.
• Ideal for low-risk entry and beginners.

2. Quick Service Restaurants and Fast Food (QSR)

• Initial Expense: $150,000 to $350,000
• Covers the following topics: working capital, licenses, staff, kitchen setup, lease, and POS system.
• Frequently focuses on delivery and takeout.

3. Restaurant for Casual Dining

• Initial Expense: $250,000 to $500,000.
• Covers include more space, seating, décor, a commercial kitchen, several employees, marketing, and permits.

4. Luxurious Dining Establishment

• Startup Cost: $750,000 to at least $1.5 million
• Covers include branding, extensive marketing, professional chefs, a liquor license (sometimes worth over $100,000 in large cities), a prime location, and opulent décor.

Key Expense Types

• Monthly rent or property: $2,000 to $20,000, depending on the city.
• Interior design and renovation: $50,000 to $300,000.
• Kitchenware: between $30,000 and $200,000.
• $5,000 to $30,000 in licenses and permits (more if alcohol is involved).
• Initial Stock Inventory: $5,000 to $25,000.
• $10,000 to $50,000 for marketing and branding.
• Salary range for staff (first three months reserved): $30,000 to $100,000.
• Working capital (six-month buffer): $50,000 to $100,000 is advised.

✅ Starting a food truck in the USA requires a minimum investment of roughly $50,000.

✅ The average investment for a regular restaurant is between $250,000 and $500,000.

✅ The maximum investment for luxury dining in large cities is $1 million or more.

Permissions and licenses you should have before starting a business:

If you don’t want any type of risk in your startup, then it is necessary to get permissions and licenses from the USA government.

🏛️ US Government Licenses & Permissions for Restaurants

1. License for Business

• Issued by your county or city.
• Necessary for the lawful operation of any business.

2. The EIN, or Employer Identification Number

• From the federal government’s IRS.
• Required to open a business bank account, hire employees, and pay taxes.

3. License for Food Service

• The local health department issued it.
• Verifies that your restaurant complies with food safety regulations.
• Requires hygienic storage and a kitchen inspection.

4. Occupancy Certificate

• Provided by the city’s zoning and building department.
• Verifies that the location of your restaurant is secure and permitted for commercial food service.

5. A liquor license, if alcohol is being served

• Among the most costly and time-consuming permits.
• Issued by the Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) agency of the state.
• It can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $300,000 in some cities.

6. Permits for Food Handlers and Employee Health

• Food safety training must be completed by employees who handle food.
• The state health department’s certificates.

7. Permit to Sign

• Your city’s zoning department must grant you permission to erect an outdoor sign.

8. Music License (if background music is being played)

• Required if you perform music that is protected by copyright.
• From groups such as SESAC, ASCAP, or BMI.

9. Additional Local Permits (state/city specific)

• Permits to dispose of grease.
• Clearance from the fire department.
• Permits for waste management.

✅ State Permission: Alcohol license, food handler certification; Federal Permission: EIN (from IRS).
✅ Local/City Permission: Occupancy certificate, health permit, business license.

PROFIT YOU GET IN FIRST 6 MONTHS 

Due to high startup costs, restaurants in the USA typically make little profit in the first six months.

In six months, a food truck or small café can make between $12K and $60K.

Fast food and QSR make between $30K and $90K in six months.

Casual Dining → $60K to $180K in six months

Fine Dining → a six-month profit of $120,000 to $300,000.

Real profits begin to appear after a year, as many new restaurants barely break even in the first six months.

Your time will also change with the help of your God. First thing first, health is wealth. First, maintain your health then the wealth will get automated. Be patient. DO YOUR BEST.