What permits do you need to open a coffee shop in Franklin County?

Vendor's License (County Vendor's License)

Any business with a fixed Franklin County location that is the situs of taxable retail sales of goods or many services — restaurants, coffee shops, food trucks with a base location, retail stores, salons selling retail product, auto-repair shops selling parts, and fitness studios selling merchandise or supplements — must register for this license before making sales. It is a state-mandated sales-tax registration administered locally by the county auditor, not a county-invented requirement: Ohio Revised Code 5739.17 sets the $50 fee (effective April 9, 2025, up from $25), split $25 to the state Organized Crime Commission Fund and $25 to Franklin County's general fund. It is a standing registration rather than an annually renewed license — the Auditor's own Licensing Types page states plainly that there is no annual renewal fee for either the county vendor's license or the transient vendor's license, and a relocation within the county transfers the license for no additional fee. Only a change in the business's ownership structure requires a brand-new license. Apply using Form ST-1 (Application for Vendor's License to Make Taxable Sales) online through the county's jotform portal, in person at the Auditor's office, or through the Ohio Business Gateway.

Manager Certification in Food Protection

Ohio charges nothing for this. The Department of Health neither teaches the course nor sells the certificate — it approves providers, who set their own tuition, and the official application form carries no fee field at all. Two tiers exist and the names have changed: what was Level One is now person-in-charge certification, required for at least one person per shift at any operation first licensed after 1 March 2010, and what was Level Two is manager certification, required at risk level III and IV operations and needing an accredited exam as well as the course. Temporary, mobile and low-risk operations are exempt from the manager tier. Ohio has no food handler card in the California sense. The often-repeated claim that the certification lasts five years appears in neither the rule, the statute nor any Department page — the five-year term belongs to the third-party exam certificate, not to the Ohio certification, so no expiry is published here.

Shared with other businesses in Franklin County

• Liquor Permits — State Division of Liquor Control (Franklin County) — Franklin County Board of Elections, No fee, not applicable — Ohio liquor permits are issued by the state Division of Liquor Control. Also required for restaurants and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Permanent Food Facility License (FCPH) — Franklin County Public Health, FY2023 FCPH cost-analysis calculated-maximum figures (board.myfcph.org 'Certification of Cost Analysis (M-2)'), the most recent available and closely matching FY2023 actual collected revenue: Level 1, under 25,000 sq ft: $216.00; Level 2, under 25,000 sq ft: $243.42; Level 3, under 25,000 sq ft: $466.02; Level 4, under 25,000 sq ft: $591.04; Level 1, 25,000 sq ft and over: $312.50; Level 2, 25,000 sq ft and over: $328.95; Level 3, 25,000 sq ft and over: $1,167.85; Level 4, 25,000 sq ft and over: $1,238.03. A separate vending-machine-location license under the same filing calculates to up to $16.56., annual; license year runs to February 28/29, renewal window opens February 1, expires March 1, with a 20% late fee on or after March 1. Also required for restaurants, retail stores and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Vendor's License — Ohio Department of Taxation, $50 one-time, per fixed location, no renewal — stays in effect until cancelled. Also required for restaurants, retail stores, salons and barbers, fitness studios, auto repair shops and veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
• Food Service Operation License — Ohio Department of Health, Food Safety Program, $28 state fee for a commercial operation ($14 non-commercial, $6 per vending machine location), plus a license fee set independently by the local board of health, 1 March to the last day of February. Also required for restaurants and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the restaurants page.