Opening a restaurant, café, cloud kitchen or bakery?
We'll help you understand the registrations and licenses a food business may need — from FSSAI to trade license and shop registration.
What food businesses typically need
FSSAI Registration/License
Mandatory for food businesses; the exact type depends on your scale and turnover.
Trade License
Typically required for the physical premises your food business operates from.
Shops & Establishment
Registration for your commercial establishment, where applicable.
Business Structure
Deciding between proprietorship, partnership, LLP or a company for your food business.
Can I start a food business from home?
In many cases, yes — but the applicable permissions and registrations depend on the business activity, location and local rules. Cloud kitchens, home bakers and small food sellers often still need FSSAI registration at a minimum.
Who this is for
Anyone starting or running a restaurant, café, cloud kitchen, bakery, catering business, or home-based food business.
When you may need this
Before you start selling food to the public — even a home baker or small cloud kitchen typically needs at least basic FSSAI registration.
Typical documents
Exact requirements vary by case, but these are commonly needed:
- PAN and Aadhaar of the owner/partners
- Passport-size photographs
- Proof of premises (rent agreement/ownership + NOC, if rented)
- Water testing report, for certain FSSAI license categories
- List of food products/menu category
- Business registration proof, if you have one
How the process usually works
Fees & pricing guidance
There's no fixed one-size-fits-all price — the professional fee depends on the specific service, your business structure and how much documentation work is involved. Applicable government or statutory fees (where they exist) are set by the department, not by us, and are shown separately. We share the full breakdown over WhatsApp before you commit to anything.
We always separate our professional/assistance fee from any government or statutory fee, and confirm both in writing before you proceed.
Important limitations & conditions
- Onnmore is a private-sector business services company, not a government authority or department — we do not approve or reject government applications and cannot guarantee their outcome.
- Processing times depend on the relevant government portal or department and can vary; we can't promise a fixed turnaround.
- We can't guarantee approval — outcomes depend on the accuracy of the information/documents provided and the department's own review.
- Where a matter requires legal advice or representation, we will identify the applicable qualified legal professional or associated legal practice and explain the engagement before legal work begins.
- FSSAI category and applicable fees depend on your annual turnover — misclassifying this can lead to compliance issues, so accurate turnover information matters.
- Certain food categories or premises may require inspection or additional local approvals beyond FSSAI.
FAQs
I run a cloud kitchen with no dine-in seating — do I still need FSSAI?
Yes — FSSAI registration/license applies to anyone manufacturing, storing, selling or distributing food, regardless of whether customers dine in.
Can I start selling before my FSSAI is approved?
We'd advise against it — selling food without valid FSSAI registration can attract penalties. It's best to wait for approval or at least have the application filed and acknowledged.
Do I need a separate license for each outlet?
Generally, yes — FSSAI licensing is tied to specific premises, so multiple outlets usually need to be registered individually.