What are the legal requirements for starting a coffee shop?

Answer 1

Running a coffee house, café or restaurant will definitely require becoming more than familiar with certain regulations, legislation and taxation. At some point you will be subjected to a health and safety inspection, as well as grounds safety and fire risk assessments, so you must make sure that you are able to both understand and implement these regulations.

You will also have to acquire knowledge of food safety - this can be quite complicated and involved, but there are ways to obtain food safety and hygiene certificates with relative ease.

There is also the issue of licensing - this is particularly pertinent in regards to serving and selling alcoholic drinks. The British Institute of Innkeepers can point you to relevant courses and offer advice relevant to your hospitality venture.

Setting up a restaurant, bar or coffee house may seem a daunting task - but if you have the passion and motivation to make it work, as well as a healthy dose of business acumen, then the chances are that your business venture will succeed!