Commercial kitchen startup cost calculator
Estimate what it really costs to start your food business — permits and licenses in your state, LLC filing, insurance, commissary kitchen rent, and the sales you need to break even. Fees are researched per state from health-department and Secretary of State sources; everything is an estimate to confirm locally, not a quote.
One-time startup costs
Monthly fixed costs
Per-item economics
Break-even & profit
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Next steps most new food businesses take
Form your LLC online — most food businesses start here for liability protection.
ThimbleGeneral liability from ~$17/mo — by the month, day, or event. Popular for markets and pop-ups.
FLIP — Food Liability Insurance ProgramFood-specific liability insurance from $299/yr, built for small producers, caterers, and vendors.
SquareFree card reader and POS most farmers-market and food-truck sellers start with.
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Where these numbers come from
State permit and cottage-food fees are researched from state health department and agriculture department sources; LLC fees from Secretary of State fee schedules; kitchen rates from published shared-kitchen pricing. Where a fee varies by county we show an honest range. Every state result lists its sources. Data updated 2026-07-25. This is general information, not legal or financial advice — always confirm current fees with your local authorities.