Minneapolis, Minnesota — Startup Costs
Restaurant Startup Costs in Minneapolis
Opening a restaurant in Minneapolis typically costs $140,000–$380,000 (neighborhood), $160,000–$450,000 (downtown/skyway). Here is the full breakdown — lease deposits, equipment, build-out, permits, inventory, and pre-opening costs — with real dollar ranges based on Minneapolis market data.
Startup cost breakdown
| Cost item | Low | High | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lease deposit + first 3 months rent | $6,000 | $16,000 | 1,500 sqft at $18–25/sqft/year |
| Kitchen equipment | $35,000 | $65,000 | — |
| Build-out / tenant improvements | $55,000 | $130,000 | — |
| Minneapolis liquor license | $500 | $2,000 | — |
| Initial inventory | $7,000 | $12,000 | — |
| Permits (Hennepin County health + city business) | $500 | $1,200 | — |
| Pre-opening labor & training | $8,000 | $18,000 | — |
| Marketing & grand opening | $6,000 | $15,000 | — |
| Total estimated range | $118,000 | $259,200 | 3–6 months from lease signing. Minneapolis liquor license: 45–60 days. Hennepin County health: 2–4 weeks. Avoid winter construction (Dec–Feb) when frozen ground and snow delays are common. Target a spring opening (April–May) to capture the start of patio season. |
Timeline to launch
3–6 months from lease signing. Minneapolis liquor license: 45–60 days. Hennepin County health: 2–4 weeks. Avoid winter construction (Dec–Feb) when frozen ground and snow delays are common. Target a spring opening (April–May) to capture the start of patio season.
How Minneapolis compares
Minneapolis 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.
Plan your Minneapolis restaurant
Use our break-even calculator to model your startup costs and find out how long it takes to recover your investment.
Calculate break-even →