To set up a coffee shop in Malta, secure premises with Class 4C/4D planning use, then fast-track licensing: register your entity with the Malta Business Registry, file for a PE and VAT number with the Commissioner for Revenue, and apply for the Malta Tourism Authority Catering Establishment licence (Coffee Shop/Snack Bar category) and Environmental Health Directorate food business registration with documented HACCP. Obtain Planning Authority clearance for change-of-use, extractor/grease management and signage; if placing tables on public land, get Lands Authority encroachment and Local Council permits. Fit out to Civil Protection fire safety standards and EHD specs (wash-hand basins, food-grade surfaces, pest-proofing, temperature logs), and equip a fiscal device integrated with your POS. Hire legally: register as an employer, enroll staff with Jobsplus, hold food-handler training certificates, and set rosters to Hospitality WRO rules. Typical timelines: 2–5 working days for company setup, 2–4 weeks for PA clearances (longer if change-of-use), and 2–6 weeks for MTA/EHD inspections. Budget guide: €20–€40/sqm/month rent in secondary locations (€60–€120 in Sliema/St Julian’s), €800–€1,500/sqm fit‑out, €6k–€15k espresso setup, plus licence/inspection fees. Most cafés register for VAT from day one to reclaim input tax and to onboard suppliers. Track waste contracts and grease disposal, ARMS utility transfers.
