To open a restaurant in India, several licenses are required including: 1. FSSAI Food Safety License which ensures food safety standards are met. 2. Liquor License if serving alcohol which is obtained from the local excise commissioner. 3. Health/Trade License from the local municipal corporation for public health. 4. Eating House License from the police commissioner where the outlet is located. 5. Shop and Establishment Act registration within 30 days of opening under this act. 6. GST Registration with documents proving ownership, partnership and bank/address details.

1. LICENSES REQUIRED TO OPEN A RESTAURANT IN INDIA.

2. 1.FSSAI Food Safety and Standards Authority License.
2.Liquor License.
3.Health/Trade License.
4.Eating House License.
5.Shop and Establishment Act.
6.GST Registration.
7.Lift Clearance.
8.Music License.
9.Certificate Of Environmental Clearance.
10.Signage License.

3. 1. FSSAI Food Safety and Standards Authority License
• The FSSAI license, also known as the Food License is one of the most
important licenses required to open a restaurant and is obtained from
the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standard Authority Of India). This license is
not merely a license, on the contrary, it also serves as an approval by the
authority and ensures the customers that the food of that particular
restaurant affirms to the food safety standards of India. This license is
essentially a unique 14 digit registration number that is given to
manufactures, traders, and restaurants which should mandatorily be
printed on food packages. This confirms your consumers that they are

4. • Documents Required for the FSSAI License.
we have mentioned below the list of documents that are needed to apply for the FSSAI License.
• Id Proof and Address Proof
• Valid Email Id
• Phone Number
• Declaration Of Food Safety Management Plan
• Kitchen Layout Plan
• List Of Food Category
• Water Testing Report from ISI approved Facility
• No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the owner or the partner
• Medical Certificates of Employees

5. How to Obtain the FSSAI License for Your Restaurant.
• Once you have these documents in place, you can apply for the license which
would approximately cost you around Rs.2000 per year for a new license. The
application process is rather simple, you can log in to the FSSAI website,
complete the sign-up process by creating a username for the registration.
Then sign in to your account and fill up the online application with all the
required documents. Submit the printout of the filled up online application
form to the Regional/State Authority with all the supportive documents within
15 days from the date of making the online submission, to ensure that your
application is considered. Here is the complete guide that would help you in

6. 2. Liquor License.
• If your restaurant serves liquor, then procuring the Liquor License is a must.
This can be obtained from the Local Excise Commissioner and the forms are
available at the respective State Government websites. Having this license is
extremely crucial since if you sell liquor without the above-said license, you
can incur a huge penalty and also be forced to shut down the premises
permanently.

7. • Documents Required for the Liquor License
List of documents required for getting the Liquor License for a restaurant and bar.
• Documentary proof regarding the legal status of the restaurant or the hotel, that is, whether it is a
company, partnership firm or any other type of setup.
• Whether the restaurant or the hotel is in legal possession of the plot.
• A certificate that validates the completion of the restaurant or the hotel building
• Trade License from the Local authority, that is, MCD/NDMC or such other authorities
• Certificate of registration of Eating house license issued by the DCP.
• Documentary proof regarding applicant being an Income Tax Assesse and Sales Tax-Assesse.
• A complete layout plan of the establishment, site plan of the license outlets and the liquor stores
• NOC from the state Fire Service

8. How to Obtain the Liquor License for Your Restaurant & Bar.
• Once the documents are served the concerned Excise Officer inspects the restaurant or the
hotel premises and he then submits a report to the liquor granting authority. After the
approval, the applicant has to submit the fees as per the guidelines and then the license is
issued. The fee guideline goes like this: you will have to pay Rs, 5,000 at the time submission
of the documents and an additional Rs 50,000 is required for each additional spirits brand, like
whiskey, rum, gin, brandy, vodka and the like. It is a known fact that obtaining a liquor license
for your restaurant is by far the most difficult one since the government verifies all the details
with an eagle’s eye.
• Delhi
• Mumbai
• Kolkata

9. 3. Health/Trade License.
• To begin with, it should be mentioned that the 11the schedule of
the Municipal Corporation Act (1957) is about Health Trade License.
This is generated from the concern that public health must be given
the supreme importance. This license is generated by the local civil
authorities like the State’s Municipal Corporation or the Health
Department.

10. Documents Required for the Health/Trade License.
• Sanction and Completion (Includes Ownership proof, Rent Agreement or NOC
from landlord)
• 3 copies of site plan and layout
• Indemnity bond for Rs.100
• Structural Stability Certificate signed by Structural Engineer
• Power and Water paid Bill
• Letter from Delhi police is also required for swimming pools, cinema halls and
hotels
• Water Testing Reports
• Plan of the Premises
• Proof of Property Tax

11. How to Obtain the Health/Trade License for Your Restaurant.
• The applying process of obtaining the Health/Trade License for restaurants is rather easy, and it will
cost you approximately around Rs.500-Rs.50,000. A restaurateur can apply for Health/Trade
License either at CSB or apply online for it. The forms are available at the State’s Municipal
Corporation website or at Zonal Citizen’s Service Bureaus. The license is generally issued within 60
days of submitting the application form. Municipal Corporations hold the power to shut down
restaurants which do not have this license.
• Links for the Health/Trade License for the major cities:
• Delhi
• Mumbai
• Kolkata
• Bangalore

12. 4. Eating House License.
• The Eating House License is provided by the Licensing Police Commissioner of that
city where you would want to open the outlet. The approximate cost required to issue
this license is Rs. 300 for three years.
Documents Required for the Eating House License.
• Documents to prove the legal occupancy of the place of Eating House and in the case
of tenancy, NOC from the landlord
• Site Plan containing details of the size of Eating House
• Photographs of the place showing its usage as an Eating House
• Photocopy of Valid NDMC/MCD/DCB/Airport Authority of India trade license and free
receipt.
• Residence proof of the applicant
• An affidavit on the stamp paper of Rs 10 duly attested by Notary Public
• Fire NOC, if seating capacity of the eating house is 50 or more
• Undertaken with regard to amusement activities

13. • How to Obtain the Eating House License.
• The applicant will have to first register himself or herself on the specific
website. After you are successfully registered you will receive a User ID and
Password for submission of forms. Using the user ID you can fill up the form,
upload all the necessary documents and fix an appointment. Self-attestation of
all the documents you place is a must since it will ensure validation.
• Links for the Eating House License for the major cities:
• Delhi
• Mumbai
• Kolkata

14. 5. Shop and Establishment Act.
• To run a food business in India you must register your restaurant under the
Shops and Establishment Act, be it a Food Truck or a Fine Dine restaurant. You
need to register your restaurant within 30 days of the commencement of your
business. This license is city specific. The total cost you would incur for this
license amounts to Rs.200 to Rs.4,000 per year. However, the cost is relative
as it depends on the number of the employees and the location of the
restaurant.
Documents Required for the Shop and
Establishment Act License
Pan Card
Identity Proof
Address proof of the proprietor, partner or the
company
Details of the employees

15. How to Obtain the Shop and Establishment Act License.
• Once you have arranged all the above-mentioned documents, you can submit these
with the application form mentioning the name of the shop, the postal address of the
establishment and the proof of ownership such as the Rent Agreement or Shop Lease
Papers to the Local Chief Inspector of the shop or other Inspectors. Once the
government officials verify all the documents he registers the restaurant in the
Register of Establishment and issues a registration certificate. This certificate must be
explicitly displayed at your restaurant and must always be renewed before its
expiration. You would roughly obtain this license within 7-10 working days. If you
wish to change any information, you must inform the Inspector within 15 days so that
he could then make the changes in the register of the establishment and issue a fresh
registration certificate. It is also mandatory to inform the local inspector regarding
the closure of the business within 15 working days
Links for the Shop Establishment License for the major cities:
• Delhi
• Mumbai
• Kolkata
• Bangalore

16. 6. GST Registration.
• GST that came into force since 1st of July, 2017, has kept everyone hitched to
it with this frequent changes. Both the restaurant industry and the government
has been in loggerhead for long. Even then registering in GST is one of the
major things that your restaurants must do, that will ensure that your
restaurant runs seamlessly.
Documents Required for the GST Registration of Your Restaurant.
• For the proof of Ownership/Tenancy rights of the business premises:
• Allotment and possession letter from Authority / Transfer Memorandum.

17. For Rent Agreement and Electricity Bill of the owner of property:
• Copy of Pan Card of Proprietor/Partnership Firm.
• Copy of the Partnership Deed
• Copy of Aadhar Card of Proprietor/all partners
• 1 passport size-photo of proprietor/all partner.
• Mail ID and Mobile No. to receive OTP & Verification links of all partners
• Latest Bank Statement containing Name, Address and IFSC Code of Branch of
Bank.
• List of Item to be traded ( if you want to sell stuff over the counter also)
• List of Item to be traded/manufactured
• Digital Signatures of authorized partners
• Authority Letter in favour of dealing partner

18. How to Get the GST Registration of Your Restaurant.
• Yes if you are thinking to take a big bite or leap of faith, it is easier to start
your own billing and business now because GST registration is a simple
process wherein Individual, Partnership firm or Registered Company can obtain
by filing basic documents online at www.gst.gov.in .
• The confusion regarding GST has been going around for quite some time now.
With the increasing changes, both the restaurant owners and the diners are
living in this constant apprehension of further changes that might be
incorporated. However, there are several channels that are trying to make

19. 6. Fire Department.
• The restaurant’s ulterior motive must be to protect their customers from all things
injurious, be it food products or hazards such as fire. A No Objection
Certificate(NOC) from the fire department is also required to run a restaurant.
How to Get a No Objection Certificate from the Fire Department.
• For this, a restaurant needs to register for NOC from the State Fire Department
before the building construction starts. Applications can be found online on the state
government website. After having all the safety equipment in place you must invite
the Chief Fire Officer for inspection and get the NOC. There is no fee required for
NOC as of now.
Links to the Fire Department License for the major cities :
• Delhi
• Mumbai
• Kolkata
• Bangalore

20. 7.Lift Clearance.
• In case you want to install a lift in your multi-storey restaurant, you need to
get clearance from an inspector from the electricity department as well as the
Labour Commissioner of that specific city. This license is issued by the
Electrical Inspector from the office of the Labour Commissioner after verifying
installation of life, layout, safety gears and the like. State wise applications are
available for obtaining lift clearance.
How to Get the Lift Clearance for Your Restaurant.
• Links for the Lift Clearance for the major cities:
• Delhi
• Mumbai
• Kolkata
• Bangalore

21. 8. Music License.
• Don’t you as a restaurant owner love to play the trending songs at your
restaurant? It is not only you, but the customers love it too. But, in order to play
music at your restaurant, you need to obtain a restaurant music license. Under
the Copyright Act of 1957, those who play pre-recorded music in any non-
private, commercial or non- commercial establishments must obtain a music
license issued by Phonographic Performance Limited(PPL). If a restaurant plays
music and operates without the said license they will have to face legal penalties

22. 9. Certificate Of Environmental Clearance.
• The restaurant is not only responsible for ensuring the health of the customers, they
are also legally and morally bound to ensure that its operations must not negatively
harm the nature of the mother earth. Hence, restaurants are also expected to apply for
Certificate Of Environmental Clearance.
How to Get the Certificate of Environmental Clearance for Your Restaurant.
• Acquiring the certificate also involves screening, scoping and evaluation of the project
to examine its impact on the environment. You will have to submit a number of
documents to obtain CEC along with the application, they are, The Environmental
Impact Assessment Report (EIA) or the Environment Management Plan (EMP), details
of public hearing and NOC granted by state regulators.

23. 10. Signage License.
• You need to market your product well that will ensure that your business helps
you garner the maximum profit. However, if you want to market your
restaurant either through word of mouth, logos, posters, pictures and
symbols, you are required to obtain a legal permit which is the signage license.
You can obtain this license from local civil authorities like the Municipal
corporations.
• These are the licenses that will legally permit you to carry on with your
restaurant business in India without getting involved in the legal hindrances.
Follow this guide, visit the pages and apply for the licenses if you haven’t yet
already!

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