How do you open a restaurant in NYC without any experience?
How do you open a restaurant in NYC without any experience?
New York Small Business Service can guide you through each step if you have a language barrier.
License & Permit
1. Register your LLC, file publication
2. File DBA form usually is your restaurant name
3. Apply sales tax certificate
4. Health Permit
5. Liquor License
6. Operating Agreement
7. Liability insurance, Work Compensation, Paid Family Leave
8. Open business checking and business credit card
Liquor License
1. Have the LOI signed, and hire an excellent attorney to prepare the application
2. Pay attention to the 200 feet and 500 feet rule. No church or school within 200 feet
3. It is best to lease a space that has an existing liquor license history
4. File a 30-day notice with the local community board and schedule the hearing asap
5. Gather information and documents, send it to the attorney
6. NY state is in legislation to pass a new law to speed up the time to process liquor license
Site selection
Find a broker who specializes in retail space and understands the local market.
1. Turn key vs. White box: Make sure you check the certificate of occupancy and any violation history on the Department of Buildings’ website.
2. I recommend 1st time operators lease turn-key space, less risk, and open sooner
3. White box space, I strongly recommend you engage experienced architect, Mechanical engineer, plumbing as early as possible
4. It will save you time, money and they will give you a good idea about how much it will cost to build the space, and you can use this info to negotiate TI (tenant improvement) with the Landlord
5. Hire the same Architect firm as your project manager and ask them to help you negotiate the contract with the GC.
6. Find a good GC
Software
1. POS System: Toast
2. Reservation Management: Resy/OpenTable/yelp
3. Inventory Management: Craftable
4. Bookkeeping: QuickBooks
5. Payroll: Toast Payroll or ADP
6. Website Design: Bento Box
7. Graphic Design: Canva
8. Scheduling: Sling
9. Spotify business music
Operation:
1. File quarterly sales tax
2. Annual health permit renewal
3. Fire system inspection
4. Make sure to buy trash bin for curb-side pick up, the new city rule
5. Apply for the outdoor dining program. The new rule, from March to Nov.
6. You need at least one person in the restaurant to have a food handler certificate.
7. Make sure you follow food safety guidance, Department of health will inspect you within 12months after you open.
Vendors
· Baldor
· Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits (liquor)
· Empire merchants (liquor)
· Pat Lafrieda (meat)
· Aquabest, Yama seafood, True World (seafood)
· JFC, MTC (Janpanese)
· ABC (Chinese)
· McDonald Paper & Restaurant Supplies
· https://www.webstaurantstore.com/cart/
· Amazon business
· other niche vendors depend on cuisine type