What licenses do I need to open a restaurant?
Almost every food business needs: a registered business entity and EIN, a general business license, a sales-tax permit, a food service establishment (health) permit, food-handler cards and a certified food manager, and general liability insurance. A fixed location usually adds plan review, a certificate of occupancy, building/sign permits, and — over grease cooking — a hood and fire-suppression permit. Serving alcohol adds a liquor license. Exact permits and fees are set locally, so confirm with your city and county.
What equipment do I need to open a cafe or coffee shop?
A cafe is beverage-forward: an espresso machine and grinder, a batch brewer, an undercounter refrigerator, an ice machine, a blender, and a display case, plus the required warewashing (a 3-compartment sink, hand sinks and a mop sink) and a commercial water heater. Many cafes with no grease cooking don't need a Type I hood, but your local authority has the final say. The planner lists the full checklist by station and scales it to your seats.
How many seats should my restaurant have?
Size seating to your space and concept, not the other way around. A rough planning figure is about 15 square feet per seat for the dining area and another 5-7 per seat for kitchen and support space, so a 60-seat dining room needs roughly 900 sq ft of dining plus 300-450 sq ft of kitchen. Full-service needs more room per seat than fast-casual. Confirm occupancy limits, restroom counts and exits with your building and fire officials.
Do I need a commissary for a food truck or catering business?
Usually yes. Most jurisdictions require food trucks and caterers to work from a licensed commissary or commercial kitchen for prep, potable-water fill, waste disposal and overnight parking, and they want a signed commissary agreement as part of your permit. A few areas allow self-sufficient trucks, but the rule varies widely — check your local health department before you buy a unit.
Does this tool sell products or recommend brands?
No. It's a vendor-neutral planning checklist that tells you which permits and equipment categories your concept needs and why, then links to buying guides and calculators. Nothing here is for sale and no brands are recommended. Product selection from a catalog is planned for the future.