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The Global Insight

What are the startup costs for a restaurant?

Author

Christopher Davis

Updated on March 02, 2026

The average restaurant startup cost is $275,000 or $3,046 per seat for a leased building. Bump that up to $425,000 or $3,734 per seat—if you want to own the building. Our restaurant startup cost checklist breaks down all the costs you’ll need to consider to make your dream a reality.

How much does it cost to start a restaurant in Australia?

Research from Restaurant Startup and Growth magazine suggests that the average restaurant owner spends around AU$650,000 establishing a restaurant. Likewise, day-to-day running costs will depend on the unique expenses of the business.

What are startup costs IRS?

The IRS allows you to deduct $5,000 in business startup costs and $5,000 in organizational costs, but only if your total startup costs are $50,000 or less. The costs remaining after your deduction should be amortized (paid off over a period of time) annually in equal portions over the next 15 years.

How much does it cost to open a new restaurant?

It all may have started with a dream, but success requires a serious plan — reaching profitability needs to be a priority. What is the typical cost of opening a new restaurant? Restaurant startup costs typically range between $175,500 and $750,500, with the median cost at $375,500.

What are the main costs of running a restaurant?

Each cost of running a restaurant falls into one of two categories: fixed and variable costs. Fixed costs include rent, mortgage, salaries, loan payments, license fees, and insurance premiums. These costs are easier to budget for when opening a restaurant because they don’t fluctuate much each month.

How much does it cost to rent a restaurant?

Occupancy Costs: The amount you pay for rent can vary wildly depending on the location, the size of your space, and the concept of your restaurant. According to Restaurant Real Estate Advisors, your restaurant’s total occupancy cost should not exceed 6-10% of your gross sales.

What’s the difference between a restaurant and an expense?

Before we jump into restaurant startup costs and expenses, it’s important to clarify the difference between the two. A restaurant expense is a recurring payment like rent, food costs, payroll, marketing and utilities. A restaurant cost is any one-time expense for things like kitchen equipment, dishes or furniture.