Licenses and permits to open a coffee shop in Boston
A coffee shop that prepares drinks or food on site is a food service business, licensed and inspected like a restaurant. Here are the 9 filings, in the order they're made.
Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Internal Revenue ServiceUS federal
Owners with an SSN or ITIN apply online. A company whose responsible party has neither (most China-based owners) faxes or mails Form SS-4, or calls the IRS international line.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Paper form, faxed or mailed
- Takes
- Fax: about 4 business days. Mail: about 4 to 5 weeks. Phone: issued on the call.
LLC formation
Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations DivisionMA
Form the LLC or register a foreign company online.
- Fee
- $500
- Filed
- Filed online
Sales tax registration
Massachusetts Department of RevenueMA
Register for sales tax and withholding before trading.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- DOR doesn't publish how long registration takes; once approved, it mails a registration certificate for each location.
Certified food protection manager
Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Food Protection ProgramMA
At least one manager on staff passes a food protection manager exam from a nationally accredited provider that Massachusetts accepts; a backup person in charge covers when they're away. Boston asks for the certificate with the food service permit application.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Every 5 years.
Allergen awareness certificate
Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Food Protection ProgramMA
The person in charge, who must be on site whenever the place is open, and the backup who covers for them take an allergen awareness course and train the staff. Places that cook, prepare or serve food to eat right away need it; Boston asks for the certificate before the opening inspection.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Every 5 years.
Boston business certificate (DBA)
City of Boston, City ClerkBoston
Needed when the business trades under a name other than its legal name. Bring the notarized form, the signed lease and photo ID to City Hall, Room 601 (the clerk notarizes free), or mail them with a check; there is no online filing. An LLC or corporation registers with the Secretary of the Commonwealth first.
- Fee
- $65
- Filed
- Filed in person
- Takes
- Issued while you wait in person; 2 to 3 business days by mail.
- Renews
- Every 4 years from the first registration; the clerk mails a renewal letter.
Food establishment plan review
City of Boston Inspectional Services, Health DivisionBoston
Needed to build a new place, renovate, change the layout, or add equipment or processes the menu calls for. Book the in-person review with ISD Health (617-635-5326, ISDHealth@boston.gov) and bring the worksheet, two scaled floor plans, NSF or UL equipment specs and the menu; then take the stamped plans to ISD's Building Division for the building permits.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed in person
Common Victualler License
City of Boston Licensing BoardBoston
Needed to sell food made to order at a fixed place, seated or takeout. File on the Licensing Board's online form with the lease, a floor plan, each owner's personal information form and the wage theft form, once the Certificate of Occupancy is in hand. A new address, or hours outside 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., goes to a public hearing after the neighborhood process. ISD issues the food service permit only after this license.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- About 2 to 3 weeks; when a public hearing is needed, several weeks from filing to the hearing.
- Renews
- Every year, for the calendar year: renew online by October 31; a late renewal pays double.
Food service permit
City of Boston Inspectional Services, Health DivisionBoston
Email the application (with its workers' comp affidavit), the EIN and the food protection manager certificate to ISDHealth@boston.gov, or bring them to 1010 Massachusetts Ave, 4th floor. Before the opening inspection, which you book a few days ahead, have the allergen certificate, Certificate of Occupancy, Common Victualler License and paid fees ready.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Paper form, mailed
- Takes
- 1 to 2 business days when the space isn't changing; after a build-out, the inspection is usually done within 1 business day of proof of every other approval.
- Renews
- Every year: the permit runs January 1 to December 31, and the renewal bill comes around the second week of November.
More on opening in Boston
Questions people ask
Other businesses in Boston
Agency requirements change. Check each agency's page before you file.
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Get the plan for your coffee shop in Boston
This guide covers the city. Your exact address decides the county, the health district and the zoning. Placetta maps every filing for it, fills the official forms from your details, adds the deadlines and puts them up for your approval.
- The full list for your address, in filing order
- The official forms, filled line by line
- Renewal and inspection reminders