The agencies state $46,255 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 restaurant in Minnesota?
$46,255 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 restaurant in Minnesota
Drafted from the agencies’ own pages; some rows still wait to be confirmed. Open the official page before you pay anything.
- Stated state fees
- $46,255initial 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 Articles of organization (LLC) and the annual renewal Minnesota Secretary of State Premium only Certificate of assumed name (DBA) Minnesota Secretary of State Premium only Employer Identification Number (EIN) Internal Revenue Service Free Register for tax
Item Agency Fee Minnesota tax ID number: sales and use tax account, withholding tax Minnesota Department of Revenue Free City business license, where the city requires one Your city clerk or licensing office Premium only Approve the space
Item Agency Fee Zoning approval and certificate of occupancy Your city’s planning and building departments Premium only Get the permits for your kind of business
Item Agency Fee Food and beverage service establishment license Minnesota Department of Health Premium only Certified food protection manager Minnesota Department of Health Premium only Alcohol permits
Item Agency Fee On-sale intoxicating liquor license, or on-sale wine license Your city council Premium only Before the first hire
Item Agency Fee Unemployment insurance account, Paid Leave premiums, new hire reporting and workers’ compensation Minnesota Unemployment Insurance 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 articles of organization form and fee notes (Minn. Stat. 322C.0201 and 5.14 expedited service); Secretary of State certificate of assumed name form (Minn. Stat. 333.01 to 333.06); IRS EIN page; Department of Revenue Minnesota tax ID and sales and use tax registration pages; Minnesota eLicense directory of state licenses; city ordinances (Minneapolis Licenses and Consumer Services, 612-673-2080); Department of Labor and Industry state building code pages; city ordinances; Minn. Stat. 157.16 (license fees); Department of Health Food, Pools and Lodging Services license pages; Minn. Rules chapter 4626 (food code); Minnesota food code certified food protection manager requirement; Department of Health CFPM pages; Minn. Stat. 340A.404 (on-sale licenses), 340A.408 (retail license fees) and 340A.413 (number of licenses); city liquor ordinances; Minnesota Unemployment Insurance tax rate page (2026 taxable wage base); Minnesota Paid Leave premium rate page; Department of Labor and Industry workers’ compensation pages (Minn. Stat. 176.021 and 176.181). Fees are as published by each agency on the date checked; cities and counties add their own.