Those who choose to open a restaurant in Hungary need to be very well informed about the country’s rules and regulations regarding establishments that store and sell food and/or alcoholic beverages for clients. These types of businesses need to make additional efforts to ensure food quality and safety.
Our company formation experts in Hungary can help you establish a legal entity that operates as a restaurant or catering company and observe all the requirements for these types of companies. Moreover, our partner lawyers in Hungary can give you detailed information about the guidelines presented in the Hungarian Foodstuff Code.
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Incorporation requirements
A restaurant must operate under one of the legal entities regulated by the Hungarian laws. With the help of our team, you can determine which is the most advantageous option (usually, businessmen opt for a limited company). Once this has been established, you need to draw and sign the company’s statutory documents and select a trading name.
The company must have a corporate bank account, a registered address, and the proper licensing. These are all part of the mandatory steps for company registration in Hungary, steps that can be completed by our team, provided that you grant us the power of attorney. Other obligations are (but not limited to):
- register for tax purposes;
- register for employment taxes;
- implement all the regulations available in the industry;
- sign employment contracts, etc.
Food safety in Hungary
Investors who want to open a restaurant in Hungary must operate according to the mandatory regulations of the Hungarian Foodstuff Code and engage in all and any required procedures for marketing or delivering foodstuffs. Restaurants will need to perform internal inspections and verifications, and they will need to comply with the requirements for inspections from relevant Hungarian authorities.
The Hungarian Food Codex is an important legislative document that presents the regulations for enforcing the quality control on foodstuffs. Any restaurant, cafe or fast-food place in Hungary must have adequate conditions for storing, preparing and selling foodstuffs and must also have the required permits and licenses for selling alcohol. Chefs in Hungary need to be accredited.
The Hungarian Food Safety Office works in accordance with the EU requirements and it is the partner institution of the European Food Safety Authority. The supervision of the food chain sector falls under the attributes of this regulatory agency.
Important matters for a successful Hungarian restaurant
If you want to open a Hungarian company in this sector you must have a solid business plan that can clarify all the matters that will appear prior to starting your business activity and after the operations are in place.
Luckily, our consultants in Hungarian company formation are here to provide the necessary support. With the help of our team, you can establish all the parameters of your business; some of these aspects are presented below:
- the business model of the Hungarian restaurant;
- the type of restaurant and the number of competitors (we will assess if there is room on the Hungarian consumer market for the type of restaurant you want to set up);
- the ideal location based on the profile of your future clients and based on the available budget;
- the team that will work in the restaurant (it is crucial to have a good chef, that has the necessary work experience and credentials).
The Hungarian restaurant and catering industry
Investors can open a company in Hungary as a restaurant, as the sector has good prospects, especially when we refer to the revenues and sales registered by the industry. In the list below, our specialists in company formation in Hungary have gathered a few data referring to this sector:
- the value of the industry is EUR 5,2 billion (estimates for 2025);
- there are more than 20,000 businesses in Hungary operating as restaurants, catering units, takeaways;
- between 2020 and 2025, the industry has been growing by 9.9%;
- the sector accounts for more than 97,000 employees.
Hungarian cuisine
Investors in Hungary can open an international restaurant but local investors will usually choose to honor the local cuisine and the famous Hungarian dishes. Goulash is perhaps the best known dish traditionally prepared with paprika and served as a stew or sometimes as a soup. The Hungarians mix a variety of meats and their cuisine is hearty and fulfilling.
If you are interested in opening a hotel in Hungary that has a restaurant you will also need to obtain the necessary permits for this type of establishment. Our company registration experts in Hungary can help you if you want to open a business in other areas like tourism or services.
After the registration process is completed and the restaurant starts operating, you can request the services of our accounting firm in Hungary, which can maintain all the financial documents of your business. Our accountants in Hungary will also be responsible with submitting income tax reports, submit VAT returns, calculate any tax minimization or deductions the company can be entitled to, etc.
We invite you to contact our specialists in company formation in Hungary for further information on the requirements that you may need to abide by if you want to open a restaurant in this country. We offer full support, tax and accounting assistance and full compliance services.