Licenses and permits to open a hot pot restaurant in Cupertino

Opening a hot pot restaurant in Cupertino takes 12 filings with 9 agencies, starting with the Articles of Organization (California LLC) and ending with the LLC annual tax ($800). The fixed government fees add up to about $1,075, 5 fees are set by the space or the business and 3 filings are free. Build-out, insurance and adviser costs are on top.

Updated October 21, 202612 filingsSources: the agencies' own sitesSources checked October 21, 2026

Fees and timelines at a glance

Tabletop cooking adds questions for the build-out and fire review, so the plan for the space matters more than usual. The same filings as restaurants.

Filing	Agency	Government fee	How long	Renews
Articles of Organization (California LLC)	California Secretary of State	$70	Online filings are currently reviewed about 3 days after receipt (mail about 8 days), per the Oct 8, 2026 queue.	Statement of Information (LLC-12, $20) within 90 days, then every two years.
Statement of Information (California LLC)	California Secretary of State	$20	Not listed	Every two years, in the anniversary month of formation and the five months before it.
Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN)	Internal Revenue Service	Free	Fax: about 4 business days. Mail: about 4 to 5 weeks. Phone: issued on the call.	Not listed
Seller's permit	California Department of Tax and Fee Administration	Free	Often issued the same day.	Does not expire.
Certified food protection manager	California Retail Food Code, enforced by the county or city environmental health department	Varies	Not listed	Every 5 years.
Food handler cards for staff	California Retail Food Code, enforced by the county or city environmental health department	Varies	Not listed	Every 3 years.
City of Cupertino business license	City of Cupertino, Business License (administered by HdL)	$185	Not listed	Not listed
Registration Form for Commercial Employers	California Employment Development Department	Free	Mail-in registration takes about 10 to 14 days; online is faster.	Not listed
Food facility plan check	County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health	Varies	After payment, inspector review may take up to 20 business days.	Not listed
Building permit for the tenant improvement	City of Cupertino Building Division	Varies	Not listed	Not listed
Health permit to operate a food facility	County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health	Varies	The county's plan review can take up to 20 business days, and the invoice for the operating permit is sent after the final inspection passes.	Every year.
LLC annual tax ($800)	California Franchise Tax Board	$800	Paying the $800 LLC tax online through Web Pay is immediate; it's due by the 15th day of the 4th month of the LLC's tax year.	Every year, by the 15th day of the 4th month of the tax year.

Articles of Organization (California LLC)

California Secretary of StateCalifornia

Filed online in bizfile Online.

Fee
$70
Filed
Filed online
Takes
Online filings are currently reviewed about 3 days after receipt (mail about 8 days), per the Oct 8, 2026 queue.
Renews
Statement of Information (LLC-12, $20) within 90 days, then every two years.

File on the agency's site How to fill it
Statement of Information (California LLC)

California Secretary of StateCalifornia

Due within 90 days of forming or registering the LLC in California, then every two years. Filed in bizfile Online, or on the paper form by mail.

Fee
$20
Filed
Filed online
Renews
Every two years, in the anniversary month of formation and the five months before it.

File on the agency's site How to fill it
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.

File on the agency's site How to fill it
Seller's permit

California Department of Tax and Fee AdministrationCalifornia

Register online before your first sale; one permit for each location.

Fee
Free
Filed
Filed online
Takes
Often issued the same day.
Renews
Does not expire.

File on the agency's site How to fill it
Certified food protection manager

California Retail Food Code, enforced by the county or city environmental health departmentCalifornia

An owner or employee of a place that prepares, handles or serves unpackaged perishable food passes a food protection manager exam from an accredited organization. A new place, a new owner, or a place that loses its certified person has 60 days to have one, and one person can't be certified for two locations. Keep the certificate on file for the inspector.

Fee
Varies
Filed
Filed online
Renews
Every 5 years.

File on the agency's site How to fill it
Food handler cards for staff

California Retail Food Code, enforced by the county or city environmental health departmentCalifornia

Every employee who prepares, stores or handles food gets a California Food Handler Card from an accredited course within 30 days of hire; the card is good for 3 years. Anyone holding a valid food manager certificate is exempt.

Fee
Varies
Filed
Filed online
Renews
Every 3 years.

File on the agency's site How to fill it
City of Cupertino business license

City of Cupertino, Business License (administered by HdL)Cupertino

Business license services moved to HdL on September 22, 2025: apply at cupertino.hdlgov.com.

Fee
$185
Filed
Filed online

File on the agency's site How to fill it
Registration Form for Commercial Employers

California Employment Development DepartmentCalifornia

Register in e-Services for Business within 15 days of paying over $100 in wages.

Fee
Free
Filed
Filed online
Takes
Mail-in registration takes about 10 to 14 days; online is faster.

File on the agency's site How to fill it
Food facility plan check

County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental HealthSCC

Email the application, scaled plans, menu and equipment sheets to dehplancheck@deh.sccgov.org, then pay the invoiced review fee. The city needs the county's stamped plans before its own plan check.

Fee
Varies
Filed
Paper form, mailed
Takes
After payment, inspector review may take up to 20 business days.

File on the agency's site How to fill it
Building permit for the tenant improvement

City of Cupertino Building DivisionCupertino

Apply through the city's online permit portal; food facilities bring the county-approved plans.

Fee
Varies
Filed
Filed on the agency's portal

File on the agency's site How to fill it
Health permit to operate a food facility

County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental HealthSCC

Submit the permit application by email or in person at or before the final inspection; the operating fee is invoiced after the final.

Fee
Varies
Filed
Paper form, mailed
Takes
The county's plan review can take up to 20 business days, and the invoice for the operating permit is sent after the final inspection passes.
Renews
Every year.

File on the agency's site How to fill it
LLC annual tax ($800)

California Franchise Tax BoardCalifornia

Paid every year by every LLC registered or doing business in California.

Fee
$800
Filed
Filed online
Takes
Paying the $800 LLC tax online through Web Pay is immediate; it's due by the 15th day of the 4th month of the LLC's tax year.
Renews
Every year, by the 15th day of the 4th month of the tax year.

File on the agency's site How to fill it

Questions and answers

How much do the permits cost to open a hot pot restaurant in Cupertino?

The fixed government fees add up to about $1,075, 5 fees are set by the space or the business and 3 filings are free. The largest fixed fee is the LLC annual tax ($800), at $800. Build-out, insurance and adviser costs are on top.

How long do the permits take for a hot pot restaurant in Cupertino?

The times the agencies give. Articles of Organization (California LLC): Online filings are currently reviewed about 3 days after receipt (mail about 8 days), per the Oct 8, 2026 queue. Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN): Fax: about 4 business days. Mail: about 4 to 5 weeks. Phone: issued on the call. Seller's permit: Often issued the same day. Registration Form for Commercial Employers: Mail-in registration takes about 10 to 14 days; online is faster. Food facility plan check: After payment, inspector review may take up to 20 business days. Health permit to operate a food facility: The county's plan review can take up to 20 business days, and the invoice for the operating permit is sent after the final inspection passes. LLC annual tax ($800): Paying the $800 LLC tax online through Web Pay is immediate; it's due by the 15th day of the 4th month of the LLC's tax year.

Which agencies issue the permits for a hot pot restaurant in Cupertino?

The 12 filings go to 9 agencies: California Secretary of State, Internal Revenue Service, California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, California Retail Food Code, enforced by the county or city environmental health department, City of Cupertino, Business License (administered by HdL), California Employment Development Department, County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health, City of Cupertino Building Division and California Franchise Tax Board.

What is the first filing to open a hot pot restaurant in Cupertino?

The Articles of Organization (California LLC), with the California Secretary of State. Filed online in bizfile Online.

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<div class="placetta-checklist"><p><strong>Licenses and permits to open a hot pot restaurant in Cupertino</strong></p><ol><li>Articles of Organization (California LLC) (California Secretary of State)</li><li>Statement of Information (California LLC) (California Secretary of State)</li><li>Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN) (Internal Revenue Service)</li><li>Seller's permit (California Department of Tax and Fee Administration)</li><li>Certified food protection manager (California Retail Food Code, enforced by the county or city environmental health department)</li><li>Food handler cards for staff (California Retail Food Code, enforced by the county or city environmental health department)</li><li>City of Cupertino business license (City of Cupertino, Business License (administered by HdL))</li><li>Registration Form for Commercial Employers (California Employment Development Department)</li><li>Food facility plan check (County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health)</li><li>Building permit for the tenant improvement (City of Cupertino Building Division)</li><li>Health permit to operate a food facility (County of Santa Clara Department of Environmental Health)</li><li>LLC annual tax ($800) (California Franchise Tax Board)</li></ol><p>Source: <a href="https://www.placetta.com/guides/cupertino/hot-pot-restaurant.html">Placetta license guide</a></p></div>

Questions people ask

Other businesses in Cupertino

Every filing links to the agency's own page, and every fact comes from an official form or agency page. Agency requirements change; check the agency's page before you file. How we source and check these guides

Get the plan for your hot pot restaurant in Cupertino

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