Starting a restaurant
Opening a restaurant: a checklist before you start
Want to start a restaurant or café? Get an overview of premises, serveringsbevilling, Etablererprøven (Restaurant operator exam), Mattilsynet and skjenkebevilling if applicable.
By TestPrep · 3 min read
What do you need to open a restaurant?
Starting a restaurant involves more than registering a business. You need to clarify requirements for the premises, serveringsbevilling, food safety and, if applicable, skjenkebevilling. Which requirements apply depends on your concept and premises. Use this checklist as a starting point, not as comprehensive approval of your business.
1. Describe the concept and clarify premises requirements
Write down what you plan to serve, whether guests will eat on the premises, whether you want to serve alcohol and whether you need outdoor seating. Ask the municipality’s building department whether the premises can be used as you intend. Converting a shop into a restaurant may require approval for a change of use. Clarify ventilation, fire safety and other requirements before signing a binding lease or renovating.
2. Register the business and apply for serveringsbevilling
Choose a legal structure and register your business through the official registration systems. As a general rule, food and drink establishments that provide facilities for eating or drinking on the premises need a serveringsbevilling. The municipality processes the application and assesses, among other things, the requirements for operating the business and good character. Use the municipality’s list of required attachments for your business.
3. Have the general manager take Etablererprøven (Restaurant operator exam)
The general manager of an establishment that requires a serveringsbevilling must normally have passed Etablererprøven for serveringsvirksomhet (Restaurant operator exam). The exam covers operating rules, including serveringsloven, finances and employment matters. You can practise with TestPrep, but registration and the official exam are handled by the municipality. A course does not in itself give you permission to open.
4. Register the food business with Mattilsynet
A new restaurant must be registered with Mattilsynet before opening. You must have procedures that ensure food safety, including cleaning, temperature control, handling ingredients and providing allergen information. Registration is not the same as advance approval of every aspect of your operations. The starter pack from Mattilsynet explains what you need to know.
5. Clarify alcohol service requirements and complete a final check before opening
If guests will be drinking alcohol on the premises, you must also clarify the requirements for skjenkebevilling, styrer and stedfortreder. As a general rule, they must pass Kunnskapsprøven for skjenking (Alcohol law exam for on-premises service). Before opening, check that the necessary permits have been obtained, registrations have been completed and procedures are in place. Ask the municipality about the requirements that apply to your specific restaurant.
Assign tasks before you open
Create a simple task list showing each task, the person responsible and the documentation: confirmation of permitted use of the premises, business registration, the general manager’s exam certificate, serveringsbevilling and registration with Mattilsynet. Add skjenkebevilling and responsible roles if you plan to serve alcohol. The order depends on the concept and local clarifications; a completed list is not official approval.
Example: a small restaurant without alcohol
A new restaurant will have seating and serve food, but not alcohol. The operator must clarify the requirements for serveringsbevilling, a general manager and Etablererprøven, registration with Mattilsynet, and whether the premises may be used as a restaurant. Kunnskapsprøven for serving alcohol is not required simply because the restaurant serves food. This example is simplified; the municipality and Mattilsynet must clarify the actual requirements.
Taking over is not the same as receiving a new permit
If you buy a restaurant that is already operating, you must still check which permits apply to the new operator. Do not assume that the seller’s licences can be used unchanged. Ask the municipality about a new application, change of ownership and any transitional arrangements before taking over. Also clarify food business registration with Mattilsynet when the operator changes.
Sources and official information
The information is based on official sources. Information from Oslo is used as local examples. Always check current requirements, fees and application procedures with your own municipality and the relevant authority.