To start a coffee business in Illinois, secure approvals in this order to open fast and clean: form an LLC with the Illinois Secretary of State, obtain an EIN, then register for an Illinois Business Tax (IBT) account and Retailers’ Occupation Tax via MyTax Illinois. Choose your model early—retail café, drive‑thru, mobile cart, or roastery—because licensing changes: cafés/mobile need local health department food establishment permits, plan review, and a Certified Food Protection Manager on shift; roasteries selling wholesale need an Illinois Department of Public Health food processing license and, if shipping across state lines, FDA facility registration. Verify zoning, parking, and signage; get building permits, hood/venting, grease management (even for dairy rinses), and a Certificate of Occupancy. In Chicago, expect separate BACP licensing and CDPH inspections. Configure your POS to collect state and local ROT; file via MyTax monthly or quarterly. Hire with I‑9s, IL new‑hire reporting, workers’ comp, unemployment insurance, and comply with the Illinois Paid Leave for All Workers Act and local tip/minimum‑wage rules. For roasting, assess Illinois EPA air permitting for natural‑gas roasters. Label packaged coffee with net weight, business name/address, and lot coding. Budget 60–120 days for permits; make your lease contingent on approvals and venting.
