How to set up a Restaurant business in Bangladesh
We help restaurant owners, café chains, franchise brands and cloud kitchens with licensing, food-safety compliance, leases, franchise agreements and VAT.
A vibrant food scene with clear rules
Dhaka and other cities have a fast-growing restaurant, café and food-delivery market, including international franchise brands.
Restaurants need a licence under the Bangladesh Hotel and Restaurant Act, 2014 and must comply with food-safety, fire-safety, VAT and consumer-protection requirements.
Key steps to get started
Company Formation
Incorporate with RJSC and obtain a trade licence, e-TIN and BIN.
Premises & Lease
Commercial lease review and suitability of the premises.
Restaurant Licence
Registration and licence under the Hotel and Restaurant Act, 2014.
Food Safety
Compliance with Safe Food Act requirements and hygiene standards.
Fire & Safety
Fire licence and safety arrangements for kitchens and seating areas.
Franchise & Delivery
Franchise, supplier and food-delivery platform agreements.
What you are likely to need
Requirements depend on the scale, location and structure of your business. Common approvals include:
- RJSC incorporation & trade licence
- e-TIN & VAT/BIN registration
- Restaurant registration & licence
- Food-safety registration (BFSA)
- Fire licence
- VAT registration
- Signboard / trade permissions (city corporation)
- Trademark registration
Key laws & regulators
- Bangladesh Hotel and Restaurant Act, 2014
- Safe Food Act, 2013
- Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009
- Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012
- Fire Prevention and Extinction Act, 2003
- Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006
- Trademarks Act, 2009
- Regulators: BFSA, city corporations, NBR, DNCRP
Your legal partner from day one
We advise on the right structure — company, branch, liaison office or joint venture.
We handle name clearance, RJSC incorporation and constitutional documents.
We obtain sector licences, registrations and regulatory approvals.
We support ongoing filings, contracts, employment and disputes.
Frequently asked questions
What licences does a restaurant need?
Typically a trade licence, restaurant licence, food-safety compliance, fire licence and VAT registration.
Can I open a franchise of a foreign brand?
Yes. A franchise agreement will govern fees, standards, supply and territory, and should be reviewed under Bangladeshi law.
Do cloud kitchens need a restaurant licence?
Delivery-only kitchens still prepare food for the public and generally need food-safety and business licences. We confirm requirements for your model.
Speak with our legal team
Tell us about your matter. A Premier Law Services lawyer will review it and advise you on the right next step — in person at our Dhaka chamber or online.