In Belarus, there is no standalone “coffee shop license”; to open a café legally you must register a business (IP or LLC) with OKED 56.10 (public catering), pass sanitary and fire clearances, register the outlet in the State Trade/Public Catering Register, and fiscalize your cash register. Practical sequence: secure a lease with compliant utilities, develop a layout meeting SanPiN, then obtain a sanitary-epidemiological conclusion from the local Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology (HACCP-based production control, water/ventilation, zones, pest control, waste contracts, staff medical books). In parallel, complete a fire safety audit with the Ministry for Emergency Situations, install certified equipment, and prepare evacuation logs. Before opening, register the facility in the Trade Register via the local executive committee, register a cash register from the State Register with the tax inspectorate, enable card acceptance, and post mandatory information (owner details, hours, complaint book). Selling alcohol requires a separate retail license; roasting/packaging coffee triggers EAEU TR CU 021/2011 (HACCP) and 022/2011 (labeling) compliance. Expect 3–6 weeks from fit-out to opening; budget state fees in base units (sanitary/fire/Trade Register) and a few hundred BYN for inspections, excluding buildout. Common pitfalls: missing HACCP documents, noncompliant ventilation, unregistered cash equipment, and skipped Trade Register entry.
