Navigating Licensing and Permits: What New Owners Need to Know

Opening a restaurant is exciting, but between construction timelines and staff onboarding, one of the main areas that can trip up new owners is licensing and permitting.

At The Point Pub & Grill, we’ve been through this process many times, and we work closely with our franchisees to help them get it right the first time. The truth is: complications with permits can be one of the most common delays to your entire opening, and in some cases, cost you a big chunk of your rent abatement period or hard-earned cash before you’ve even served your first guest.

Here’s what new owners should know when it comes to navigating local and state requirements.

1. Start Early, Permits Take Time

Depending on your city or state, licenses can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to process. Don’t wait until your build-out is nearly complete. As soon as your location is confirmed, begin researching or applying for:

• Business license
• Food service or restaurant license
• Health department permits
• Fire and safety inspections
• Liquor license
• And more!

At The Point, we build a timeline into your onboarding process to help you prepare and stay on track for each required document, and our Franchise Support team is there through every step to help.

2. Understand What’s Required Locally

Licensing is hyper-local. What’s required in one county or city may not be in another. You may also need additional approvals like:

• Grease trap permits
• Music licenses (if you’re playing music in the restaurant)
• Signage permits
• Sidewalk seating or outdoor dining permits

We help franchisees identify what’s needed based on their city, county, and state, so nothing gets missed.

3. Inspections Don’t Always Go as Planned

Even with a great general contractor and top-tier equipment vendors, final inspections can still reveal small issues that delay approval.

We recommend having key vendors and service providers on standby during health and safety inspections in case quick fixes or clarifications are needed. This can save days (or even weeks) during the final push toward opening.

Submit an Inquiry to learn how The Point coordinates directly with health departments, equipment providers, local officials, and contractors to smooth the process as much as possible.

4. Keep Copies and Track Renewals

Most permits need to be renewed annually or biannually, and the last thing you want is an interruption in operations due to an expired license.

We recommend keeping digital and physical copies organized and setting up automated reminders for renewals. As a franchisee, we can help establish those systems early so you’re set up for long-term compliance.

5. Use Your Rent Abatement Wisely

If you have a few months of free rent (common during build-out), make sure that time is used wisely, and not eaten up waiting for paperwork to clear. We always advise starting your license applications as soon as you’re under lease, and we’ll help you map out the steps so you can hit the ground running.

At The Point, our Franchise Support team, led by our experienced Real Estate professionals, works closely with you during lease negotiations to help secure strong lease terms, including the highest possible rent abatement.

Final Thoughts

Licensing and permits aren’t the most glamorous part of opening a restaurant, but they’re an absolutely essential, and often intimidating, aspect of business operations. The good news? You don’t have to figure it out alone.

At The Point Pub & Grill, we guide our new owners every step of the way, from pre-opening checklists to post-inspection prep. When you join our team, you’re not just getting a brand, you’re getting a partner who knows how to get things done.

Thinking about opening a franchise with The Point?
Submit an Inquiry and learn more about our support systems and how we set owners up for a successful launch, paperwork and all.