Opening a restaurant (Phase III): Construction Phase

While your design team is building the restaurant for you, there are a few minor tasks that need to be completed by you as a restaurant owner:

1. Apply for a business license and a fictitious business name.
2. Apply for an ABC license.
3. Get a Federal Employer ID number
4. Apply for a Health Operational Permit. (No blueprints are required for the operational permit. Just file an application and pay for the fees)
5. Contract or confirm the source for accounting service. (Most restaurant owners report their gross income monthly to their accountants to ensure a more accurate report at the end of the year. There are also property tax and license tax that need to be considered.)
6. Open a business bank account that will also handle employee checks and income tax calculation.
7. Find a good insurance package for your venue.
8. Obtain worker’s compensation insurance for your employees.
9. Call the telephone company to confirm type of service and date to start the phone line.
10. Find vendors for your Point of Sales system
11. Open a merchant and credit card account
12. Start interviewing and hiring your staff.
13. Conduct employee training.
14. Find vendors for uniform rental.
15. Contract a designer firm to design logos, menus, business cards, and most importantly, a website for your future restaurant.
16. Contract a sign company to fabricate the store front sign for you. Make sure your vendor is capable of designing the signage to code and make sure that he pulls a permit for the signage.