The agencies state $7,295 in initial fees across 5 of the 9 items; 3 are free; 1 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 coffee shop in Tennessee?
$7,295 in state fees the agencies state, across 5 of the 9 licenses, permits and registrations; 3 are free; 1 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top.
What the state publishes for a coffee shop in Tennessee
Every row checked against its agency’s page; the latest on Oct 21, 2026.
- Stated state fees
- $7,295initial fees across 5 of 9 items
- Free items
- 3no fee as the agency publishes it
- Set elsewhere
- 1by the city, the county or a provider
- Items in all
- 9in 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 Tennessee Secretary of State Premium only Assumed name registration (DBA) Tennessee Secretary of State Premium only Employer Identification Number (EIN) Internal Revenue Service Free Register for tax
Item Agency Fee Tax registration: sales and use tax, franchise and excise tax Tennessee Department of Revenue Free County and city business license and the business tax Your county clerk Premium only Approve the space
Item Agency Fee Zoning approval and certificate of occupancy Your city or county codes and zoning office Premium only Get the permits for your kind of business
Item Agency Fee Food service establishment permit Your county health department Premium only Person in charge and demonstration of knowledge Your county health department Free Before the first hire
Item Agency Fee Unemployment insurance account, new hire reporting and workers’ compensation Tennessee 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
Secretary of State business forms and fees page and filing fee FAQ (Tennessee Code 48-249-1007); annual report instructions; Secretary of State assumed name application (form SS-4402) and fee schedule; IRS EIN page; Department of Revenue registration pages; Tennessee business tax manual (June 2026); Department of Revenue business tax registration and licensing page; business tax manual (June 2026); BUS-15 and BUS-20 guidance; Department of Commerce and Insurance, State Fire Marshal’s Office codes enforcement pages; municipal ordinances; Department of Health rule 1200-23-01-.09 (permit fees, adopted to match Tennessee Code 68-14-713); Department of Health food service establishment rules; Department of Health demonstration of knowledge fact sheet (2026 rule change); rule 1200-23-01-.02; Department of Labor and Workforce Development UI tax rates page (2026 wage base and new employer rate); Bureau of Workers’ Compensation “Who must carry insurance” page. Fees are as published by each agency on the date checked; cities and counties add their own.