Nashville, Tennessee — Startup Costs
Restaurant Startup Costs in Nashville
Opening a restaurant in Nashville typically costs $150,000–$400,000 (neighborhood), $500,000–$2,000,000+ (Lower Broadway). Here is the full breakdown — lease deposits, equipment, build-out, permits, inventory, and pre-opening costs — with real dollar ranges based on Nashville market data.
Startup cost breakdown
| Cost item | Low | High | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lease deposit + first 3 months rent | $6,000 | $15,000 | 1,500 sqft at $18–25/sqft/year |
| Kitchen equipment | $35,000 | $70,000 | — |
| Build-out / tenant improvements | $50,000 | $130,000 | — |
| TABC liquor license | $1,000 | $3,000 | — |
| Initial inventory | $6,000 | $12,000 | — |
| Permits (county health + city business) | $400 | $1,000 | — |
| Pre-opening labor & training | $7,000 | $12,000 | — |
| Marketing & opening | $5,000 | $15,000 | — |
| Total estimated range | $110,400 | $258,000 | 3–5 months from lease signing. TABC license: 45–60 days. Health department: 2–3 weeks. Lower Broadway build-outs: 6–12 months due to historic preservation requirements. |
Timeline to launch
3–5 months from lease signing. TABC license: 45–60 days. Health department: 2–3 weeks. Lower Broadway build-outs: 6–12 months due to historic preservation requirements.
How Nashville compares
Nashville restaurant startup costs are at the lower end of the pilot cities due to lower commercial rent and no local minimum wage premium (for kitchen staff at legal minimum). For comparison, see our national restaurant profit margin benchmarks and restaurant profit calculator.
Plan your Nashville restaurant
Use our break-even calculator to model your startup costs and find out how long it takes to recover your investment.
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