Restaurant startup cost calculator
Add up what it costs to open, see your cost per seat, and find out how much you need to borrow. The starting numbers are a sample $480,000 budget for a leased space. Replace them with your own quotes.
Your space
One-time costs
Cash cushion after opening
Paying for it
| Item | Amount | Share |
|---|
An estimate for planning, not a quote or financial advice. The SBA rate shown is the most a lender may charge on a variable-rate 7(a) loan of that size. Your rate can be lower.
Where the starting numbers come from
The default lines are the sample $480,000 leased-space budget Toast published in September 2026. Toast labels it as an example, not an average. It is a useful checklist of what to price, and the split shows where most of the money goes: about 38% to design and construction and 19% to kitchen equipment.
For a reality check, the last large survey of independent operators (RestaurantOwner.com, 350+ restaurants, 2018) found these median costs to open:
| Type of space | Median cost |
|---|---|
| Former restaurant (second-generation) | $275,500 |
| Non-restaurant space converted | $425,500 |
| New construction | $650,000 |
| All restaurants | $375,000, or $3,586 per seat and $113 per square foot |
Those are 2018 numbers. Construction and equipment cost more now, so treat them as a floor.
How the math works
- Cash cushion = monthly operating costs × months of cushion. Most guides suggest three to six months, because a new restaurant rarely covers its costs from day one.
- Total to open = every one-time cost + the cash cushion.
- Funding gap = total to open − the cash you have.
- SBA max rate = prime + the SBA's allowed spread for that loan size: +6.5 points up to $50,000, +6.0 up to $250,000, +4.5 up to $350,000, and +3.0 above $350,000.
- Monthly payment = a standard loan payment on the funding gap at that rate over your term.
Example: with the starting numbers, the total is $480,000 and the gap is $330,000. That falls in the $250,001 to $350,000 band, so the SBA cap is 7.00% + 4.5 = 11.5%. Over 10 years, the payment is about $4,640 a month.
Lines people forget
- Insurance before opening. Landlords and lenders want proof of coverage. Insureon's restaurant customers paid a median of $337 a month for a business owner's policy and $118 a month for workers' comp in 2026.
- Liquor license. In most states the fee is a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. In quota states, buying a license from another owner can cost far more. See liquor license cost by state.
- Certifications. ServSafe's online food handler course is $15. A certified food protection manager is required in many places.
- POS processing. Card fees start on day one. Check them with the processing fee calculator.
Sources
- Toast: How much does it cost to open a restaurant (sample budget, September 2026)
- AZ Big Media: RestaurantOwner.com cost to open survey results (2018)
- SBA: 7(a) terms, maximum interest rates
- Federal Reserve H.15: bank prime loan rate
- Insureon: restaurant insurance cost (median premiums)
- Resy: cost to open a restaurant (working capital of 3 to 6 months)
Compare POS quotes, free
How many POS stations do you need?
About a minute. No cost, no obligation.Next up
Read the full comparisons
Toast vs SpotOn
Prices, rates, contracts, hardware and support, with a worked cost example on real card volume.
Best POS for small restaurants
Our top 5 for one-location restaurants, ranked, with costs, contracts and who each one fits.
Toast pricing, explained
Plans, processing rates, hardware, add-ons and the card volume where the $0 plan stops being cheap.