To open a coffee shop in West Virginia, secure your Business Registration Certificate from the WV State Tax Department ($30 via MyTax) and confirm local zoning/occupancy approval before signing a lease. Form your entity or DBA with the WV Secretary of State (One Stop Portal), get an EIN, and register for sales tax, withholding, and unemployment (WorkForce WV). For the food operation, submit a plan review to your county health department for a Food Establishment Permit: floor plan, equipment spec sheets (NSF/ANSI), menu, plumbing and finish schedule, hot-water capacity, ventilation, and grease interceptor details; allow 10–30 days, then pass a pre-opening inspection. Maintain at least one ANSI-accredited Certified Food Protection Manager and a knowledgeable Person-in-Charge on every shift; have employee health policies, temperature logs, sanitizing test strips, probe thermometers, and allergen procedures. Arrange fire and building inspections; hood/suppression may be required for roasting or cooking equipment. If selling beer or wine, apply to WV ABCA for the appropriate on-premises permits and verify distance/zoning limits and server training. Register scales with Weights & Measures if selling beans by weight. Budget county health fees of $150–$500 annually; timelines tighten by submitting complete plans and scheduling utilities, backflow, and grease trap approvals early.
