What it really costs to open a food truck, ghost kitchen, cafe, fast-casual, or full-service restaurant — with realistic line-by-line budgets you can adapt to your market.
The honest answer to "how much does it cost to open a restaurant?" is: it depends on the concept, the city, and how much of the buildout is already done. A food truck can open for under $60,000. A full-service restaurant with a liquor license in a build-to-suit space can run past $1.5 million. Below is a concept-by-concept breakdown using the same categories Atlas uses inside the budgeting and forecasting tools.
Every range assumes you're financing a mix of savings, an SBA loan, and possibly outside investors. Every range also includes working capital — the single line most first-time owners underestimate. Plan on three to six months of operating cash on top of buildout, or you'll run out before word-of-mouth catches up.
Lowest barrier to entry. Most of your budget goes into the truck itself; ongoing rent is replaced by fuel, commissary, and event fees.
| Line item | Typical range |
|---|---|
Truck (used, retrofitted) | $30,000 – $90,000 |
Kitchen equipment & install | $8,000 – $25,000 |
Permits, health, fire, business licenses | $1,500 – $6,000 |
Commissary kitchen deposit | $500 – $2,000/mo |
POS, payments, Wi-Fi hotspot | $1,500 – $3,500 |
Branding, wrap, menu boards | $3,000 – $8,000 |
Initial inventory + smallwares | $2,500 – $6,000 |
Insurance (auto + liability, 1st year) | $2,500 – $6,000 |
Working capital (3 months) Rule of thumb: 3× monthly operating costs. | $6,000 – $30,000 |
Delivery-only, no dining room. You rent a stall in a shared kitchen and run through DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Cheapest way to test a concept.
| Line item | Typical range |
|---|---|
Stall deposit + 1st month | $2,000 – $8,000 |
Smallwares & prep equipment | $3,000 – $10,000 |
Delivery packaging (starter stock) | $1,500 – $4,000 |
Permits + LLC formation | $800 – $3,000 |
POS + tablet for delivery apps | $500 – $1,500 |
Photography + menu design | $1,000 – $3,000 |
Initial ad spend on delivery apps | $2,000 – $8,000 |
Working capital (3 months) | $8,000 – $40,000 |
Espresso equipment is the big-ticket item. Location and buildout matter more than in a truck, but the menu stays tight.
| Line item | Typical range |
|---|---|
Lease deposit + 1st + last | $8,000 – $30,000 |
Buildout (light — counter, plumbing, HVAC) | $40,000 – $120,000 |
Espresso machine + grinders | $12,000 – $30,000 |
Refrigeration + pastry case | $6,000 – $18,000 |
Furniture (10 – 20 seats) | $4,000 – $15,000 |
POS + payments + Wi-Fi | $1,500 – $4,500 |
Permits, health, sign, ABC (if beer/wine) | $2,500 – $8,000 |
Branding, signage, website | $4,000 – $12,000 |
Opening inventory | $4,000 – $10,000 |
Working capital (3 months) | $13,000 – $60,000 |
Counter service, no full bar. Bigger kitchen line, faster tickets, higher volume assumptions. Buildout drives the range.
| Line item | Typical range |
|---|---|
Lease deposit + 1st + last | $12,000 – $50,000 |
Buildout (hood, grease trap, floors) | $120,000 – $400,000 |
Kitchen equipment package | $50,000 – $150,000 |
Furniture (30 – 60 seats) | $10,000 – $35,000 |
POS + KDS + payments | $4,000 – $12,000 |
Permits, health, fire, sign, ABC | $5,000 – $20,000 |
Branding, signage, website, launch marketing | $10,000 – $35,000 |
Opening inventory + smallwares | $8,000 – $25,000 |
Pre-opening payroll + training | $8,000 – $30,000 |
Working capital (3 – 6 months) | $50,000 – $180,000 |
Table service, full kitchen, often a bar. Buildout and liquor license drive most of the variance. Undercapitalization is the #1 reason concepts at this size fail in year one.
| Line item | Typical range |
|---|---|
Lease deposit + 1st + last (larger footprint) | $20,000 – $80,000 |
Buildout (kitchen, dining, restrooms, bar) | $180,000 – $700,000 |
Kitchen equipment (full line + walk-ins) | $80,000 – $250,000 |
Bar buildout + glassware | $25,000 – $90,000 |
Furniture (60 – 150 seats) | $25,000 – $80,000 |
POS + KDS + reservations + payments | $6,000 – $18,000 |
Liquor license State-dependent. In NJ, FL, and CA quota states this can be the single biggest line. | $3,000 – $400,000 |
Permits, health, fire, sign, music | $8,000 – $30,000 |
Branding, PR, launch marketing | $20,000 – $75,000 |
Opening inventory (food + bar) | $15,000 – $50,000 |
Pre-opening payroll + training | $25,000 – $90,000 |
Working capital (6 months) | $120,000 – $400,000 |
Atlas turns these ranges into a live budget you can edit, share with lenders, and track against real spending. Import quotes, tag every expense, and see remaining runway update as you go.
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