Line up the permissions before you sign the lease: an FSSAI registration or licence (registration up to Rs 1.5 crore turnover since 1 April 2026), a municipal trade or health licence, fire safety clearance, pollution consent, Shops and Establishment registration, a signage licence, music licences if you play recorded music, and a liquor licence from the state if you serve alcohol. A standalone restaurant pays GST at 5% with no input credit, so GST on rent, fit-out and equipment is a cost; registration is due past Rs 20 lakh of turnover. Delhi abolished its police eating-house licence in June 2025 and FSSAI licences no longer need renewal, so older checklists overstate the work. List on Swiggy and Zomato with your FSSAI number, PAN and bank details. What kills most restaurants is rent and fit-out sized for a dream rather than proven demand, so test the menu from a small counter or a delivery kitchen first.
An August 2026 guide to the restaurant licence stack: FSSAI on the new turnover slabs, a trade or health licence, fire clearance, pollution consent, Shops and Establishment, liquor, music and signage licences, and why a standalone restaurant pays 5% GST with no input credit. Notes that Delhi abolished the police eating-house licence in June 2025.
FSSAI's own order setting the food licence tiers in force from 1 April 2026: Registration up to Rs 1.5 crore turnover, State Licence above Rs 1.5 crore and up to Rs 50 crore, Central Licence above Rs 50 crore. It supersedes the old Rs 12 lakh and Rs 20 crore limits most guides still quote.
An August 2026 guide to running a counter food outlet: a standalone outlet pays 5% GST with no input credit, so the 18% paid on rent, fit-out and app commission is a cost, plus the FSSAI, trade licence and delivery app setup.
The official front door for the most common sector licence founders need, food, plus a reminder that regulated sectors each have their own primary regulator. For fintech, the RBI regulatory sandbox and payment-aggregator authorisation are the legitimate paths (see note); for food, FoSCoS is where you actually apply.
Zomato's own sign-up page for restaurants and home kitchens, listing what you need to go live: PAN, GST number if applicable, FSSAI licence, bank details and your menu.
