Build smarter, before you build.
What we tell owners across the table — costs, permits, timelines, and the traps hiding in lease listings — written down. From the team that builds restaurants and commercial kitchens across the DMV.
What does a restaurant buildout cost in the DMV?
Per-square-foot ranges for 2026, the five factors that swing budgets the most, and where owners actually save money.
Read the guideRestaurant permits in Washington, D.C.: the full process
DOB, DC Health, Certificate of Occupancy, liquor licensing — what you need, in what order, and how long each realistically takes.
Read the guideCommercial kitchen requirements: the checklist
Hoods, grease interceptors, the sinks inspectors count, finishes, and ventilation — what code actually requires in a DMV kitchen.
Read the guideHow long does a restaurant buildout take?
A phase-by-phase schedule from lease signing to opening day — and the four delays that blow it up.
Read the guideSecond-generation restaurant space: what to check before you sign
A former restaurant can save you $200k — or hide $200k in problems. The eight things to verify before signing the lease.
Read the guideRestaurant permits in Maryland: the county-by-county process
Maryland permits restaurants at the county level — here's how Montgomery, Prince George's, and their neighbors actually run the process.
Read the guideRestaurant permits in Northern Virginia: what to expect
Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, and Loudoun each permit differently — and Virginia ABC runs simpler than D.C. Here's the map.
Read the guideThe commercial kitchen maintenance schedule that prevents emergencies
Every 2 a.m. equipment failure was preventable weeks earlier. The maintenance calendar we recommend, system by system.
Read the guide