Article · 20 min read

How to start a restaurant in India: licences, GST and tax

CalcGuru · calcguru.in Free Intermediate India

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.

  • A standalone restaurant is fixed at 5% GST without input credit.
  • The GST threshold for restaurant service is Rs 20 lakh, not Rs 40 lakh.
  • Licensing below FSSAI and GST is municipal and state: check your city's portal.
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The question it answers

  1. How do I start a restaurant in India?

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