The agencies state $13,420 in initial fees across 5 of the 10 items; 2 are free; 3 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top and depend on the space.
How much does it cost to open a bar in Maine?
$13,420 in state fees the agencies state, across 5 of the 10 licenses, permits and registrations; 2 are free; 3 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top.
What the state publishes for a bar in Maine
Every row checked against its agency’s page; the latest on Oct 21, 2026.
- Stated state fees
- $13,420initial fees across 5 of 10 items
- Free items
- 2no fee as the agency publishes it
- Set elsewhere
- 3by the city, the county or a provider
- Items in all
- 10in the order to get them
Initial fees as each agency states them, summed; renewals are not included. Where a fee depends on size or sales the range is the lowest to the highest stated. Members see each row’s fee, its renewal and the official page.
Set up the business
Item Agency Fee Certificate of formation (LLC) and the annual report Maine Secretary of State Premium only Statement of intention to transact business under an assumed name (DBA) Maine Secretary of State Premium only Employer Identification Number (EIN) Internal Revenue Service Free Register for tax
Item Agency Fee Sales tax and income tax withholding registration Maine Revenue Services Free Municipal business licenses Your town or city clerk Premium only Approve the space
Item Agency Fee Zoning approval, construction permits and certificate of occupancy Your municipality’s code enforcement officer Premium only Get the permits for your kind of business
Item Agency Fee Eating establishment license Maine DHHS Health Inspection Program Premium only Certified food protection manager Maine DHHS Health Inspection Program Premium only Alcohol permits
Item Agency Fee On-premises liquor license (Class I restaurant, Class XI restaurant and lounge, or malt and wine only) Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations Premium only Before the first hire
Item Agency Fee Unemployment insurance account, paid family and medical leave premiums, new hire reporting and workers’ compensation Maine Department of Labor Premium only
What comes on top of the fees
The state publishes its fees; the space sets the rest. These work it out from your own numbers.
- Rent the business can carryMonthly sales, or seats and average check, to the base rent that fits a healthy occupancy share.Rent-to-sales calculator
- The real cost of a NNN leaseBase rent plus CAM, property taxes and insurance, each month.NNN lease calculator
- The steps in orderThe same items as a walk-through you tick off, with progress saved to your account.How to open
Fees are shown to members as published. Create an account.
Sources and dates
31 M.R.S. 1680 (limited liability company filing fees); Secretary of State LLC forms; Secretary of State form MLLC-5 (statement of intention to transact business under an assumed or fictitious name); IRS EIN page; Maine Revenue Services business guide (December 2025); Maine Tax Portal registration; 30-A M.R.S. 3811 and 3812 (innkeepers and tavernkeepers; the victualer license was repealed by P.L. 1997, c. 446); municipal ordinances; 25 M.R.S. 2357-A (certificate of occupancy); 25 M.R.S. 2448 and 2450 (public building construction permits); municipal ordinances; Health Inspection Program eating and lodging application HHE-602 (revised June 2025) and fee schedule; 22 M.R.S. 2494; 10-144 C.M.R. chapter 201; Health Inspection Program certified food protection manager handout; Maine Food Code (10-144 C.M.R. chapter 200), person in charge sections; 28-A M.R.S. 1001 (Class I), 1005 (Class IV) and 1011-A (Class XI); 28-A M.R.S. 1065 (fee schedule); Bureau liquor licensing pages; Department of Labor 2026 unemployment contribution rate notice and employer FAQ; Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave employer pages (26 M.R.S. chapter 7, subchapter 7); DHHS new hire reporting FAQ; 39-A M.R.S. 401. Fees are as published by each agency on the date checked; cities and counties add their own.