The agencies state $7,455 in initial fees across 4 of the 10 items; 2 are free; 4 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 cocktail bar in Louisiana?
$7,455 in state fees the agencies state, across 4 of the 10 licenses, permits and registrations; 2 are free; 4 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top.
What the state publishes for a cocktail bar in Louisiana
Every row checked against its agency’s page; the latest on Oct 21, 2026.
- Stated state fees
- $7,455initial fees across 4 of 10 items
- Free items
- 2no fee as the agency publishes it
- Set elsewhere
- 4by 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 Articles of organization (LLC) and the annual report Louisiana Secretary of State Premium only Trade name registration (DBA) Louisiana Secretary of State Premium only Employer Identification Number (EIN) Internal Revenue Service Free Register for tax
Item Agency Fee State sales tax and withholding accounts (LaTAP), plus the parish sales tax account (Parish E-File) Louisiana Department of Revenue Free Occupational license tax (the parish or city business license) Your parish or city tax collector Premium only Approve the space
Item Agency Fee Zoning approval and certificate of occupancy Your parish or city planning and building departments Premium only Get the permits for your kind of business
Item Agency Fee Retail food establishment permit and plan review Louisiana Department of Health Premium only Food safety certificate (certified food safety manager) Louisiana Department of Health Premium only Alcohol permits
Item Agency Fee Class A-General or Class A-Restaurant retail permit (liquor and beer), plus the parish or city permit Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control Premium only Before the first hire
Item Agency Fee Unemployment insurance account, new hire reporting and workers’ compensation Louisiana Workforce Commission 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
Secretary of State forms and fee schedule page and the fee change notice effective October 1, 2026 (Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Session); Secretary of State trade name registration pages and fee schedule (R.S. 51:281 and following); IRS EIN page; Department of Revenue LaTAP and business registration pages; Parish E-File; R.S. 47:341 to 47:363 (occupational license tax); Louisiana Municipal Association occupational license tax manual; parish and city ordinances; Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code (R.S. 40:1730.21 and following); parish and city zoning ordinances; LDH retail food for new businesses page; LDH retail food permit fee schedule; R.S. 40:31.37; Sanitary Code, LAC 51:XXIII; LDH food safety manager certification FAQ; Sanitary Code, LAC 51:XXIII.305; ATC Class A-General permit application; 2026 ATC lawbook (R.S. 26:71, 26:271 and 26:271.2); R.S. 26:931 and following (Responsible Vendor Program); Louisiana Workforce Commission 2026 unemployment insurance contribution rate table; Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration employer coverage pages; DCFS New Hire Registry. Fees are as published by each agency on the date checked; cities and counties add their own.