What site can I find legal requirements involving starting a restaurant in charleston, SC?

Answer 1

I'd start with the state health department. They'll have regulations about food handling and safety issues. If you're wanting to sell alcoholic beverages, the state alcoholic beverage commission. You'll want to check with the comptroller's office to see about collection of sales tax. Check with your state unemployment office to see about filing quarterly unemployment tax forms. The county will have DBA (doing business as) forms, so you can set up the name of the company, at the courthouse.

Also, you'll want to look into setting up a federal tax deposit account for taxes on employee wages, employer's portion of Social Security and Medicare taxes, and to deposit federal withholding collected. These ought to get you started.

Answer 2

Associations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links.

Research, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

* The Restaurant Business Start-up Guide by Paul Daniels
* Restaurants That Work: Case Studies of the Best in the Industry by Martin E. Dorf
* Restaurant Financial Basics by Raymond S. Schmidgall
* Opening a Restaurant or Other Food Business Starter Kit: How to Prepare a Restaurant Business Plan and Feasibility Study by Sharon Fullen
* Upstart Guide Owning & Managing a Restaurant by Roy S. Alonzo
* The Restaurant Managers Handbook: How to Set Up, Operate, and Manage a Financially Successful Food Service Operation by Douglas Robert Brown

There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 3

Check with the local small business development center ...

http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbdc/sbdclocator/SBDC_LOCATOR.html