To start a coffee business in North Carolina, choose your model—café, cart/truck, or roastery—because permits, timelines, and costs vary dramatically. Form an LLC with the NC Secretary of State, get an EIN, and open a business bank account; then register with the NC Department of Revenue for sales and use tax (and withholding if you’ll have employees). For cafés and mobile units, submit plans to your county Environmental Health at least 30 days before construction for a Retail Food Establishment permit; specify NSF equipment, three-compartment and hand sinks, grease interceptor, ventilation, and water filtration. A certified food protection manager (ANSI-accredited) must be on staff; mobile units also need a signed commissary agreement. Skip cold brew unless you have a validated process and HACCP—NC treats it as a high-risk TCS product. If roasting, confirm local fire code and contact NC Division of Air Quality; some roasters require permits and afterburners. Selling packaged beans? Register with NCDA&CS if wholesaling; label with statement of identity, net weight (US/metric), business name/address, ingredients, and allergens for flavored products. Secure certificate of occupancy, ABC permit if serving beer/wine, liability insurance, and workers’ comp (typically at 3+ employees). Typical budgets: café $150k–$400k, cart $20k–$60k, roastery $60k–$250k.
