Open a Restaurant

HACCP training, restaurant licence, town hall declaration: there are many steps to open a restaurant in France. Here are the key steps, documents, and contacts.

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Steps to Open Your Restaurant

  1. Food hygiene training (HACCP). 14 hours, mandatory for at least one person in the establishment. Exempt: 3 years' professional experience or level V diploma.
  2. Operating permit (if serving alcohol). 20-hour training (6 hours with 10 years' experience). Valid 10 years, renewable.
  3. Restaurant licence. Small restaurant licence (beer, wine, cider served with meals) or full restaurant licence (all authorised beverages, served with meals only).
  4. RCS business registration. Declaration to the business formalities centre (CFE) for commercial register registration.
  5. Town hall declaration (if serving alcohol). At least 15 days before opening. Cerfa form 11542*05, with operating permit and licence.
  6. Health declaration. Cerfa form 13984*03 to the DDPP.
Nationality and good character requirements (alcohol service)

The operator must be French, an EU/EEA national, or from a state with a reciprocity treaty with France. Certain criminal convictions prohibit operating a beverage establishment (articles L. 3332-3 and L. 3336-1 to L. 3336-3 of the Public Health Code).

Ongoing Obligations

Health standards (EC 852/2004), price display and "homemade" labelling, beef origin, allergen information, minor protection, smoking ban, music royalties (SACEM/SPRE).

Full obligation details
  • Health standards: Compliance with EU Regulation 852/2004 and the decree of 21 December 2009 (premises, equipment, temperature, waste).
  • Price display: Prices visible from outside for common beverages and food. Menus displayed from 11:30 AM (lunch) and 6:00 PM (dinner). "Homemade" labelling mandatory.
  • Beef origin: Mandatory indication of country of birth, raising, and slaughter.
  • Allergens: Written information on allergenic ingredients.
  • Minor protection: No alcohol sales to minors. At least 10 non-alcoholic beverages must be displayed.
  • Smoking ban: Total prohibition in enclosed spaces.
  • Music broadcasting: SACEM and SPRE authorisation and royalties required.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you need to open a restaurant in France?
You must register with the RCS, obtain food hygiene training (HACCP), and if serving alcohol, get an operating permit and declare your restaurant licence (category III or IV) at the town hall at least 15 days before opening.
What qualifications do you need to open a restaurant?
No specific diploma is required to open a restaurant. However, at least one person in the establishment must have completed food hygiene training (14 hours). Holders of certain level V professional diplomas are exempt.
Which restaurant licence is needed to serve alcohol?
The small restaurant licence (category III) allows serving fermented non-distilled beverages (beer, wine, cider) only during meals. The full restaurant licence (category IV) allows serving all authorised beverages during meals, including spirits.
How much does it cost to open a restaurant?
Administrative costs include: food hygiene training (approx. €200–400), operating permit (approx. €200–400), RCS registration, and town hall declaration (free). The main costs are fitting out the premises and equipment. The GetPermit guide costs €59 and covers all administrative steps.

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