Starting a restaurant and seeing it grow is such a fantastic experience and a dream for many aspiring entrepreneurs. It’s often a rewarding journey when you understand how to not only perfect your operations but also stick to the set regulations. You need to adhere to the safety, health, and legal requirements by acquiring the necessary licenses and permits specific to your industry. This will make your operations legitimate and save you from legal battles that follow non-compliance.
Here are practical tips to perfect your efforts to acquire the necessary documentation.
Liquor License
If you are planning to serve alcoholic beverages at your resort, this license is mandatory and gives you the legal grounds to sell and serve these drinks on the premises. To acquire it, you need to go through both the state and local regulations and be specific with the type of liquor license you want. Think also about how consumers will enjoy the drinks, whether off-site or on-site.
In most states, there are specific restrictions on how close your premises should be to establishments such as schools, hospitals, worship centers, or residential areas. Before applying for a TABC liquor license, have a thorough understanding of eligibility. In a state such as Texas, you need to be twenty-one years or older, have no tier interference, and have a clean criminal record. In the application process, you must create an account on AIMS (Alcohol Industry Management System) and complete a TABC licensing course.
Related: Guide to Starting a Senior Living Facility or Assisted Living Facility for Entrepreneurs
Health Permit
In the food service industry, it’s your duty as a restaurant to ensure that your operations exhibit high hygienic standards. Through its relevant agencies, the government has strict measures on how food sourcing, handling, and preparations should be conducted. As a restaurant, it’s important to acquire a health permit as a way of certifying that your place meets the high safety and specific health standards. When obtaining health, you’ll undergo an inspection to ascertain how compliant your kitchen and facility are with the standards. Researching your local authorities to learn more about the health codes is prudent.
Fire Safety Permit
The safety of your customers and employees is everything, and safeguarding them from all risks, such as fires, is crucial. You need to have all the necessary measures to ensure that fire incidents don’t happen, and if they do, the impact will be minimal. Acquiring a fire safety permit shows your efforts in sticking to the fire regulations and codes.
Before applying for it, ensure well-maintained fire suppression systems, enough emergency exits, and well-planned evacuation protocols. It’s mandatory to also visit the State Fire Department and get your NOC (No Objection Certificate). Consider making the applications online via the state government website for more convenience.
Music License
Entertainment has a special place in a restaurant’s daily operations, and this means meeting all the necessary requirements regarding music playing is necessary. Before planning any recorded music or event with live performances, you need to be mindful of not running afoul of copyright laws.
Consider obtaining a music license, which gives you the right to have copyrighted musical compositions played without legal consequences. The only exception is where you have a small restaurant of less than 3,750 square feet of floor space. This is so long as you’re playing the music from your television or radio stations. Consider obtaining a license from the relevant performance rights organizations (PROs) such as Global Music Rights (GMR) and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).
Business License
This is a common requirement in many jurisdictions, and it’s mainly about your permission from the authority to operate in a specific area. The process of acquiring this license will vary from place to place, but in most cases, it entails applying to the relevant bodies and then paying a fee.
In some places, the licensing process involves a thorough inspection and background checks on your establishments. The average business license fee for a restaurant is around $50, but the whole cost structure will vary. Learn more about the renewal protocols and necessary documents.
Building Permit
Before constructing a restaurant or making renovations to the current designs, you need to adhere to the laws regarding such projects. Obtain a building permit from the local authorities to ensure that your actions are in line with the safety regulations and building codes. Consider submitting a well-detailed plan of the work, including the different materials and engineering plans to be applied.
Include all the site surveys, architectural drawings, and construction methods you’ll use. The amount of detail will depend on the scope and complexity of the project. It’s prudent to work with the best architects and engineers to ensure that the plan you develop matches the required standards.
A successful restaurant is one which sticks to the set requirements by the authorities. As a manager, you need to think carefully about the different areas such as the building codes and health permits. It’s prudent to have all the necessary documents and follow the right steps when doing the applications of licenses and permits.
