6 guides · 5 categories
Guides, explainers and analysis
Written for operators doing this for the first time. Every guide is dated, attributed, and links back to the jurisdiction pages its claims come from.
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- Opening & expandingStep-by-step walkthroughs for opening a site, adding a location and crossing a jurisdiction line — written for operators doing it for the first time.2 guides
- Permits explainedWhat a single permit type actually is, who needs one, what it costs, and how the process really works.1 guide
- Inspections & enforcementWhat inspectors check, what happens when you fail, and what enforcement looks like in practice.1 guide
- Jurisdiction spotlightsHow one city or county's permitting differs from its neighbours, and why that difference matters.1 guide
- Data & researchFindings drawn from our own requirements database — fees, timelines and how they change.1 guide
Latest
- 2026-08-11What permit fees actually cost, measured across our databaseHeadline permit fees are a poor guide to what an opening costs. The variance sits in plan review, re-inspection and signage.Data & research5 min read
- 2026-08-04Preparing for a health inspection you did not scheduleRoutine inspections are usually unannounced. The preparation that matters is the paperwork you can produce in under a minute.Inspections & enforcement6 min read
- 2026-07-30The certificate of occupancy, explained without the jargonIt is the document that says a building may legally be used for what you intend to use it for — and it gates almost everything else.Permits explained7 min read
- 2026-07-21Austin vs Houston: the same business, two very different openingsTwo Texas cities, one business type, and a materially different permit path — starting with the fact that Houston has no zoning ordinance.Jurisdiction spotlights7 min read
- 2026-07-14Opening a second location: what changes, and what does notYour second site is not a copy of your first. Entity registration usually carries over; every premises-bound permit starts again from zero.Opening & expanding8 min read
- 2026-06-28What happens when a permit lapsesMost jurisdictions send no reminder, and many boards can revoke on the expiry date with no grace period. Here is what actually follows.Opening & expanding6 min read