Permits
Business license, food-handler's permit, state liquor license (if applicable), health department inspection, fire marshal sign-off. Each county is different — budget 8 weeks to clear.
Financing
Restaurant Revitalization Fund alternatives (the original program closed), SBA 7(a), and Liberty Bank's restaurant-loan vertical. Crowdfunding through Honeycomb Credit or Mainvest is common in the South for first restaurants.
Location
Strip mall second-generation spaces are 30–50% cheaper to build out than freestanding. Look for spaces where a previous restaurant closed — the hood, walk-in, and grease trap are already there.
Marketing
EatOkra listing, Yelp profile (claim it!), Google Business profile, and one strong Instagram. Pinky Cole launched Slutty Vegan from Instagram delivery orders.