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It’s time: You’re ready to open your own local java joint. But what licenses do you need to open a coffee shop? Where do you need to sign on the dotted line?
There’s more to running a successful coffee shop than just great coffee.
(Although trust us—great coffee really does help.)
If you’re in the beginning stages of opening a coffee shop, remember that, just like any other business, there’s some paperwork you have to do first—things like state and local permits, construction permits, business licenses, and more.
Here’s a jump start on what you’ll need to give your cafe or coffee shop the jolt it needs to get going.
Before you put pen to paper and sign a lease for your coffee shop, be sure to check that the space you intend to rent is zoned appropriately.
But have no fear if your dream location isn’t properly zoned—you’re not out of luck yet. If that little shop you’ve always had your eye on to roast coffee and provide eye-pleasing latte art but it’s not in the right zone, you still have some options:
And here’s another tip from your friendly neighborhood coffee shop business experts:
Make your business lease contingent on getting the proper zoning permissions.
A reasonable landlord will understand this kind of contingency, but if not, it’s wise to look elsewhere. Otherwise, you may be locked into a lease you can’t use.
What other factors can zoning laws regulate that may play into whether or not you really want that space? Considerations and restrictions for things like:
There may be other zoning factors at play depending on where you choose to offer up coffee brews. For example, if you are thinking about signing a lease for a property located in a historic district, you may have to contend with stricter zoning regulations—even as far as requesting permission to make small changes like paint color or light fixtures.
But don’t let these stipulations scare you away! Trust your gut: If you’ve got the perfect spot in mind for your new coffee shop, a few extra forms to complete or hoops to jump through may all be worth it for the appealing storefront you’ve always dreamed about—and the charming storefront your future customers are sure to love.
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You found the perfect spot to serve up flat whites and cold brews, but what’s next? Do you go ahead and get an architect to start making the changes to your location? What steps do you take to get started on your sweet little shop while also going through all the proper channels?
The truth of the matter is, getting your building ready for business will vary slightly based on where you’re located. Some states and municipalities have very specific guidelines and building codes to contend with, and there may be other factors like zoning requirements or historical building codes that you have to consider as well.
Unless you’re only planning to do really minor renovations, chances are pretty high that you will need at least one building on construction permit from your local government’s building ordinances and codes department. And it’s important to note here that you may need additional permits for things like:
A Note About Building Codes
It’s no well-kept secret that building codes change often—or that each of these updates asks more of a new building’s owner or tenant.
So, do a little research about your space’s building codes and what may need to change before it’s ready for move-in. Some municipalities exempt current or existing businesses from having to achieve compliance with new regulations. Just because there was a similar business (a cafe or brunch spot, perhaps) in your property before doesn’t necessarily mean it will be a cinch for you to get compliant with new codes. As the new tenant, there may be additional requirements at play.
What Are Your Building’s Unique Requirements?
When you’re ready to get started, remember that you don’t have to figure all of this out on your own. If you hire an experienced architect or contractor, they can help wade through all the red tape to figure out which building and safety codes apply to your space—as well as how much it might cost to get your space ready and ensure you’re compliant.
And, if you’ve chosen a property or space with particularly complicated or confusing building codes, you might want to consider reaching out to an attorney specializing in property law to navigate it all.
You’ve got your business plan all ready to go, and you’ve picked a winning coffee distributor (Hey, that’s us!) that’s sure to keep customers coming back time and time again. While you may be fully caffeinated and ready to go, your business may not be there just yet. Here’s a checklist of the kinds of licenses you might need to apply for when opening a coffee shop:
Depending on where you live, you may need to apply for additional coffee shop licenses and permits including:
(Psst! This is also a great time to mention that at Dilworth, we offer all kinds of custom-tailored services to get coffee shops up and running, including a full licensing program. You know, since we’ve done all this a time or two…or literally hundreds of times.)
At Dilworth Coffee, we ascribe to the idea that it takes a village to do anything—and that’s why we have all kinds of support and services in place to help eager coffee connoisseurs like yourself get off the ground.
But even as you’re gearing up, we are here to help with everything from what to offer on the menu to setting up a coffee branding program to filling out the proper paperwork for licensing and more.
We’re eager to be part of your village. Ready to see what we can do for you?
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