Dallas, Texas — Startup Costs
Opening a restaurant in Dallas typically costs $160,000–$500,000 (full-service); $70,000–$120,000 (fast-casual/counter service). Here is the full breakdown — lease deposits, equipment, build-out, permits, inventory, and pre-opening costs — with real dollar ranges based on Dallas market data.
| Cost item | Low | High | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lease deposit + first 3 months rent | $12,000 | $35,000 | 1,500 sqft: $22/sqft Bishop Arts to $50/sqft Uptown |
| Kitchen equipment | $40,000 | $80,000 | — |
| Build-out / tenant improvements | $60,000 | $160,000 | Second-gen spaces save 30–50% |
| TABC liquor license | $1,000 | $6,000 | — |
| Initial inventory & smallwares | $8,000 | $16,000 | — |
| Permits, licenses & health inspection | $1,500 | $3,000 | — |
| Pre-opening labor & training | $8,000 | $16,000 | — |
| Marketing & grand opening | $5,000 | $15,000 | — |
| Total estimated range | $135,500 | $331,000 | 3–5 months from lease signing. TABC processing: 30–60 days. Dallas County Health: 2–3 weeks. Second-gen spaces in Uptown and Deep Ellum open 4–6 weeks faster than shell spaces. Target a September opening to catch the corporate-dining ramp-up after summer. |
3–5 months from lease signing. TABC processing: 30–60 days. Dallas County Health: 2–3 weeks. Second-gen spaces in Uptown and Deep Ellum open 4–6 weeks faster than shell spaces. Target a September opening to catch the corporate-dining ramp-up after summer.
Dallas 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: 2026-07-02. Data drawn from: