True cost — by format
Counter service, no table service, durable finishes. Bhumi 2026 index puts fast-casual construction at $200-$350/sq ft (table low $190); CloudKitchens puts renovation at $150-$300/sq ft. Drive-thru adds cost above this band.
| Line | Range |
|---|---|
| Typical size | 1,800–2,800 sq ft |
| Build-out (new build) | $190–$350 per sq ft |
| Equipment package | $50,000–$120,000 |
| Opening inventory | $8,000–$20,000 |
| Worked example — build-out at 2,300 sq ft | $437,000–$805,000 |
These ranges are the shell. Your real total adds the lines only a dataset can fill: your state's permit fees, your team's certificates, your liquor path and the dead rent while it processes. That is exactly what the calculator does.
Don't read the table — run your verdict. Your state + this format + your space and liquor plan — one labeled total.
Included in the $49 Opening Pack: the filled templates, trackers, calendars and worksheets for this door — built from the same dated datasets as the free checker above.
Sources: Bhumi Calculator — Restaurant Construction Cost Per Square Foot 2026; Chowbus — How Much Does It Cost to Open a Restaurant? (2026), 2026-02 — researched range, labeled as such; regulated lines come from the datasets. Dataset checked October 23, 2026. Where a fee or rule is set by a county or city, this page says so instead of guessing a number.