Boston, Massachusetts — Startup Costs
Opening a restaurant in Boston typically costs $300,000–$700,000 (beer-and-wine); add $250,000–$600,000+ for a secondary-market full-liquor license. Here is the full breakdown — lease deposits, equipment, build-out, permits, inventory, and pre-opening costs — with real dollar ranges based on Boston market data.
| Cost item | Low | High | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lease deposit + first months' rent | $15,000 | $45,000 | Seaport ~$84/sqft annualized; neighborhood corridors far lower |
| Kitchen equipment | $45,000 | $90,000 | — |
| Build-out / tenant improvements | $70,000 | $200,000 | New England construction and older building stock raise renovation costs |
| Beer & wine liquor license (fee) | $1,900 | $3,500 | Full-alcohol secondary market is $250,000–$600,000+ due to the state cap |
| Dramshop liability insurance (year 1) | $4,000 | $10,000 | Often exceeds the annual license fee itself |
| Initial inventory & smallwares | $9,000 | $16,000 | — |
| Permits, licenses & health inspection | $2,000 | $5,000 | — |
| Pre-opening labor & training | $8,000 | $16,000 | — |
| Marketing & grand opening | $5,000 | $15,000 | — |
| Total estimated range | $159,900 | $400,500 | 4–7 months from lease signing. Boston Licensing Board and health permitting add time, and acquiring a capped full-liquor license on the secondary market can take months of its own. Beer-and-wine licenses are faster and cheaper — many operators open on one and pursue full alcohol later. |
4–7 months from lease signing. Boston Licensing Board and health permitting add time, and acquiring a capped full-liquor license on the secondary market can take months of its own. Beer-and-wine licenses are faster and cheaper — many operators open on one and pursue full alcohol later.
Boston restaurant startup costs are in the middle range, with the primary differentiator being local commercial rent and wage levels. For comparison, see our national restaurant profit margin benchmarks and restaurant profit calculator.
Use our break-even calculator to model your startup costs and find out how long it takes to recover your investment.
Calculate break-even →Last updated: 2026-07-17. Data drawn from: