Restaurant licenses
in Indianapolis, Indiana
Start with the main licenses and permits below. For a checklist based on your own business, tell us what you’re opening and how it will operate.
Researched Sep 2026
About this example
The business is a restaurant located in Indianapolis, Indiana, serving food to customers both in-person and online, with W-2 employees. It operates in Marion County, which has specific health and safety regulations for food establishments. Legal structure is not specified in this example; entity formation applies only if that structure is chosen.
Requirement labels below refer to this setup. Conditional items depend on additional details.
Authorities researched
Details to confirm before you apply
- What is the exact fee for the food establishment license?
- Does the restaurant need a certified food protection manager certificate?
- What are the specific requirements for the fire inspection?
- Is there a need for a grease trap or sewer utility permit?
- What is the renewal cycle for the food establishment license?
- Does the restaurant's specific location require any zoning variances?
- Confirm the legal structure before using entity-formation instructions or including entity-specific fees in the startup budget.
- Confirm with the responsible agencies whether additional requirements apply in these areas: Federal employer obligations; New-hire reporting; Food-handler training rules; Food-manager certification and presence rules; City business license or tax registration; Business personal-property filing or exemption; Construction permits for the commercial premises. These areas remain unresolved in this guide.
The main licenses and permits
6 of 13- 01Retail Food Establishment LicenseMarion County Public Health Department · County
The restaurant prepares and serves food to the public at a physical location.
RequiredNot published - 02Registered Retail Merchant Certificate (RRMC)Indiana Department of Revenue · Indiana
The restaurant sells tangible personal property (meals) at retail in Indiana.
RequiredAutomatic - 03Food and Beverage Tax (FAB) registrationIndiana Department of Revenue · Indiana
Marion County imposes a 2% food and beverage tax on prepared food.
RequiredN/A - 04Indiana Withholding Tax Account (WH-1)Indiana Department of Revenue · Indiana
The restaurant has employees working in Indiana.
RequiredFile WH-1 each period and WH-3 annually. - 05Employer Identification Number (EIN)Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Federal
The restaurant will have W-2 employees, must pay sales/excise taxes, and will be a formal entity.
RequiredNone (one-time number) - 06Unemployment Insurance (UI) Employer RegistrationIndiana Department of Workforce Development · Indiana
The restaurant will pay wages to W-2 employees.
RequiredN/A
This example includes 7 other potential requirements. A report based on your business explains which apply, how to file, published fees and timing, and what to complete first.
Make the checklist yours
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Questions people ask
What city business licenses or registrations should a restaurant in Indianapolis check?
This guide does not establish whether Indianapolis requires a stand-alone general business license or registration. Confirm that question with the city, in addition to reviewing the industry permits and registrations below.
How much do licenses and permits cost for a restaurant in Indianapolis?
About $25 in published fixed fees, plus variable fees. Several items have fees that depend on your entity type, square footage, or payroll, so the full report lists each fee as the agency publishes it.
What should I do first?
Review Employer Identification Number (EIN) (Internal Revenue Service (IRS)), then LLC Articles of Organization (if applicable) (Indiana Secretary of State), then Certificate of Assumed Business Name (DBA) (if applicable) (Indiana Secretary of State). Confirm each item's applicability and prerequisites before applying; the report provides a suggested order for the full checklist.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a research summary of public requirements published by government agencies, each linked to its official page. Confirm with the issuing agency before filing.
Related guides
Researched from official government sources on September 2, 2026 for a typical restaurant. Requirements change and depend on your facts; this page is not legal advice. Confirm with the issuing agency before filing.