The agencies state $10,140 in initial fees across 5 of the 10 items; 1 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 restaurant in Indiana?
$10,140 in state fees the agencies state, across 5 of the 10 licenses, permits and registrations; 1 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 restaurant in Indiana
Every row checked against its agency’s page; the latest on Oct 21, 2026.
- Stated state fees
- $10,140initial fees across 5 of 10 items
- Free items
- 1no 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 business entity report Indiana Secretary of State Premium only Certificate of assumed business name (DBA) Indiana Secretary of State Premium only Employer Identification Number (EIN) Internal Revenue Service Free Register for tax
Item Agency Fee Business tax application (BT-1): registered retail merchant certificate, withholding account Indiana Department of Revenue Premium only Local business license Your city or town clerk Premium only Approve the space
Item Agency Fee Zoning approval, state construction design release and certificate of occupancy Your city or county planning and building departments Premium only Get the permits for your kind of business
Item Agency Fee Retail food establishment license Your county or city health department Premium only Certified food handler (certified food protection manager) Local health department Premium only Alcohol permits
Item Agency Fee Retailer permit: beer, wine or liquor (one-way, two-way or three-way) Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission Premium only Before the first hire
Item Agency Fee Unemployment insurance account, new hire reporting and workers’ compensation Indiana Department of 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
INBiz business entity report page and State Form 48725 (revised January 2026); Secretary of State filing fee pages; INBiz fee calculator; Indiana Code 23-0.5-3-4 (assumed business names); IRS EIN page; Department of Revenue INTIME business guide and new and small business handbook; form BT-1; Indiana Code 6-2.5-8-1; IN.gov business guide; municipal ordinances; Indiana Code 22-15-3 and 675 IAC 12-6 (construction design release); Indiana Building Code; locality ordinances; Indiana Department of Health food protection program; 410 IAC 7-24 (Retail Food Establishment Sanitation Requirements); county health department fee ordinances; 410 IAC 7-22 (Certification of Food Handler Requirements), section 15; Indiana Code 7.1-4-4.1-9 (retailer permit fees), 7.1-3-22 (quotas) and 7.1-3-20-16 (non-quota restaurant permits); Alcohol and Tobacco Commission permit pages and 2026 fee schedule; Department of Workforce Development employer pages (2026 new employer rate and wage base); Indiana Code 22-3-2 (Worker’s Compensation Act); Indiana New Hire Reporting Center. Fees are as published by each agency on the date checked; cities and counties add their own.