The agencies state $45,325 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 New Jersey?
$45,325 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 New Jersey
Every row checked against its agency’s page; the latest on Oct 21, 2026.
- Stated state fees
- $45,325initial 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 New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services Premium only Alternate name registration (DBA) New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services Premium only Employer Identification Number (EIN) Internal Revenue Service Free Register for tax
Item Agency Fee Business registration (NJ-REG): sales tax certificate of authority, employer accounts New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services Free Mercantile or business license Your municipality Premium only Approve the space
Item Agency Fee Zoning approval and certificate of occupancy Your municipality’s zoning officer and construction office Premium only Get the permits for your kind of business
Item Agency Fee Retail food establishment license Your local health department Premium only Certified food protection manager Local health department Premium only Alcohol permits
Item Agency Fee Plenary retail consumption license Your municipality Premium only Before the first hire
Item Agency Fee Unemployment, disability and family leave accounts, new hire reporting and workers’ compensation New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development 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
Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services business formation pages and fee schedule; Division of Revenue alternate name registration (form C-150G); IRS EIN page; Division of Revenue getting registered pages; form NJ-REG; Business.NJ.gov local requirements guidance; municipal ordinances; Department of Community Affairs Division of Codes and Standards; municipal ordinances; Department of Health retail food program; municipal retail food license ordinances; State food code manager certification rule; municipal ordinances; N.J.S.A. 33:1-12 and 33:1-12.14; municipal license fee ordinances; Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control; Department of Labor employer rate information (2026 wage bases); Division of Workers’ Compensation employer pages. Fees are as published by each agency on the date checked; cities and counties add their own.