How much does it cost to open an ice cream shop in Mississippi?

$14,319 in state fees the agencies state, across 5 of the 9 licenses, permits and registrations; 2 are free; 2 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top.

What the state publishes for an ice cream shop in Mississippi

Every row checked against its agency’s page; the latest on Oct 21, 2026.

Stated state fees
$14,319initial fees across 5 of 9 items
Free items
2no fee as the agency publishes it
Set elsewhere
2by 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.

  1. Set up the business

    ItemAgencyFee
    Certificate of formation (LLC) and the annual reportMississippi Secretary of StatePremium only
    Fictitious business name registration (DBA)Mississippi Secretary of StatePremium only
    Employer Identification Number (EIN)Internal Revenue ServiceFree
  2. Register for tax

    ItemAgencyFee
    Sales tax permit and withholding account (TAP registration)Mississippi Department of RevenueFree
    Municipal privilege licenseYour city’s clerk or code officePremium only
  3. Approve the space

    ItemAgencyFee
    Zoning approval and certificate of occupancyYour city or county building official and fire chiefPremium only
  4. Get the permits for your kind of business

    ItemAgencyFee
    Food facility permit and plan reviewMississippi State Department of HealthPremium only
    Certified food protection managerMississippi State Department of HealthPremium only
  5. Before the first hire

    ItemAgencyFee
    Unemployment insurance account, new hire reporting and workers’ compensationMississippi Department of Employment SecurityPremium 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 services fee schedule and LLC formation pages; Fictitious Business Name Registration Act (Senate Bill 2003, 2010); Secretary of State fictitious business name filing; IRS EIN page; Department of Revenue business tax FAQ and Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) registration pages; Mississippi Code 27-17-5, 27-17-9 and 27-17-463; city privilege license pages (Bay St. Louis, Ridgeland, Batesville, Natchez); City building and use and occupancy permit pages (Byhalia, Wiggins); State Fire Marshal rules on local fire officials; State Department of Health food permits and fees page; Mississippi Code 41-3-18; State Department of Health food permit application requirements; Mississippi Food Code (FDA Food Code as adopted); MDES employer FAQ (taxable wage base and new employer rates); MDHS new hire reporting pages; Workers’ Compensation Commission facts for employers (Mississippi Code 71-3-5). Fees are as published by each agency on the date checked; cities and counties add their own.

Questions about the cost.