How to start a dhaba or fast-food restaurant in Punjab (2026): investment, profit and licences
A dhaba or fast-food restaurant in Punjab needs about ₹3.1 lakh–₹49.4 lakh to set up, depending on the format. Run well in a city like Patiala, it typically nets ₹1.5 lakh–₹2.3 lakh a month. The numbers below are India-wide research rescaled to Punjab's own wages, shop rents, power tariffs and street prices.
How much investment do you need in Punjab?
- Cheapest start
Tin-shed dhaba
20–40 charpais under a tin roof, bhatti and tandoor. Cheapest start.
Setup cost₹3.1 lakhSuggested budget (with working capital): ₹3.6 lakh Fast-food joint / semi-permanent dhaba
15–40 seats, exhaust hood, fryer and griddle or a shed with truck parking.
Setup cost₹8.8 lakhSuggested budget (with working capital): ₹9.5 lakh
Family restaurant
60–100 AC seats, multi-cuisine, 15–20 staff. Big bills, big rent.
Setup cost₹49.4 lakhSuggested budget (with working capital): ₹51.1 lakh
How much profit can you make in Punjab?
A well-run dhaba or fast-food restaurant in Punjab typically nets ₹1.5 lakh–₹2.3 lakh a month in a mid-size city: about ₹2 lakh–₹3.2 lakh in the metro and ₹95,000–₹1.4 lakh in a small town. A casually run one can make far less or lose money.
| City | Net profit per week | Net profit per month |
|---|---|---|
| Ludhiana | ₹46,450–₹74,321 | ₹2 lakh–₹3.2 lakh |
| Patiala | ₹35,638–₹53,457 | ₹1.5 lakh–₹2.3 lakh |
| Mansa | ₹21,932–₹32,166 | ₹95,000–₹1.4 lakh |
Ranges are for a well-run business of the typical format in each city size, from public sources and estimates. Your results depend on location and how you run it.
What changes in Punjab
The researched local factors that move this business’s numbers.
| Here | India | vs India | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage, monthly | ₹13,486 | ₹12,500 | +8% |
| Unskilled day wage | ₹600 | ₹500 | +20% |
| Shop rent, metro (per sq ft/month) | ₹120Estimate | ₹150 | −20% |
| Shop rent, mid-size city | ₹60Estimate | ₹60 | ≈ |
| Shop rent, small town | ₹25Estimate | ₹25 | ≈ |
| Commercial power, per kWh | ₹6.6 | ₹9.5 | −31% |
| Commercial LPG cylinder | ₹2,919 | ₹2,810 | +4% |
| Petrol, per litre | ₹106 | ₹102 | +3% |
| Cup of tea / coffee | ₹15Estimate | ₹12 | +25% |
| Simple meal | ₹100Estimate | ₹80 | +25% |
| Men's haircut | ₹120Estimate | ₹100 | +20% |
| Milk, 1 litre | ₹65 | ₹60 | +8% |
| Bread loaf | ₹50Estimate | ₹45 | +11% |
| Factor | Typical value in India | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage, unskilled (all Punjab) | ₹13,486/month; semi-skilled ₹14,383, skilled ₹15,414, highly skilled ₹16,601 (from 1 May 2026) | employsome.com |
| Typical shop helper pay | Ludhiana ₹12,000–15,000; Patiala ₹10,000–13,000; small towns ₹8,000–11,000; many helpers are migrants from UP/BiharEstimate | Est.: national presets plus Punjab's r… |
| Casual daily labour rate (T2) | ₹600/dayEstimate | Est.: RBI Handbook rural non-farm wage… |
| Shop rent by tier | T1 Ludhiana ₹120; T2 Patiala ₹60; T3 Mansa ₹25 per sq ft/monthEstimate | outlookbusiness.com |
| Commercial electricity (PSERC 2026–27) | 7–20 kW: ₹6.10/unit up to 500 units, ₹7.10 above; commercial tariffs cut by 65–79 paise from 1 Apr 2026 | etvbharat.com |
| Effective small-shop rate used | about ₹6.6/kWh plus fixed chargesEstimate | Est.: midpoint of cited ₹6.10–7.10 sla… |
| Commercial LPG 19 kg (Punjab) | ₹2,918.50 (25 Oct 2026); domestic ₹983 | goodreturns.in |
| Punjab S&E Act no longer applies to shops with <20 workers | Amendment Act gazetted 29 Aug 2025; small shops file a notice of business (Sec 13-A) within six months; 20+ establishments get deemed registration if not processed in 24 h | khaitanco.com |
| 2025 amendment detail (hours, overtime) | Longer daily hours and overtime limits relaxed (overtime cap reported as 144 h/quarter) | knowledge.dlapiper.com |
| Municipal trade licence / tehbazari for vendors | Municipal corporations (Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar) charge trade licence and tehbazari (vending fee) of roughly ₹100–1,000/month for stallsEstimate | Est.: Punjab Municipal Corporation Act… |
| Punjab State Development Tax (PSDT) | ₹200/month (₹2,400/yr) for traders/professionals with taxable income above about ₹2.5 lakh; registration within 30 days of liability | calcguru.in |
| PSDT amendment 2025 | Lump-sum annual option and settlement of arrears added | tribuneindia.com |
| GST thresholds | National: goods ₹40 lakh, services ₹20 lakh | accountune.com |
| Liquor vends and dry days | Private vends via e-tender; dry days on Gurpurabs and electionsEstimate | Est.: Punjab excise policy 2026–27; dr… |
Festivals and demand
- Karva Chauth (29 Oct 2026) · salon/mehendi and sweets spike 3–5× for women's services; evening eateries busy after moonrise
- Diwali (Dhanteras 6 Nov, Lakshmi Puja 8 Nov, Bhai Dooj 11 Nov) (6–11 Nov 2026) · sweets, gifts, clothing, salon and kirana demand 1.5–3× in the run-up; most small shops shut or half-day on Diwali itself
- Gurpurab (Guru Nanak Jayanti) (about 24 Nov 2026) · langar, sweets and flowers up; markets close for processions
- Lohri (13 Jan 2027) · rewri, gajak, peanuts 3–5×
- Hola Mohalla (about 23–25 Mar 2027) · pilgrim surge at Anandpur Sahib
- Baisakhi (14 Apr 2027) · harvest fairs; rural spending peak
Licences and rules
Rules vary by state and city: confirm with your municipal office.
- FSSAI basic registration (₹100/year up to ₹1.5 crore turnover)
- Municipal health trade licence (fee tiered by seats)
- Fire NOC above about 50 seats
- Shops & Establishments registration
- GST at 5% for standalone restaurants
- Notice of business under Punjab S&E Act 1958, Sec 13-A (shops with <20 workers) · nil; within six months · Labour Department
- PSDT enrolment · ₹200/month · Excise & Taxation Department
- Municipal trade licence / tehbazari (vendors) · roughly ₹100–1,000/month for stalls (Est.) · Municipal corporation
Simulate a week before you invest
Run a dhaba or fast-food restaurant for a week in about 5 minutes. Choose your city, budget and location, set prices, order stock and handle real events. Then see how you compare with a skilled owner. The free simulator currently runs on India-wide numbers; a state preset is coming.
Play the simulator freeFrequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start a dhaba or fast-food restaurant in Punjab?
About ₹3.1 lakh–₹49.4 lakh, depending on the format. That is the India-wide setup cost rescaled to Punjab's rents and prices.
How much profit does a dhaba or fast-food restaurant make in Punjab?
A well-run one typically nets ₹1.5 lakh–₹2.3 lakh a month in a city like Patiala. Casual owners earn far less.
What licences does a dhaba or fast-food restaurant need in Punjab?
FSSAI basic registration (₹100/year up to ₹1.5 crore turnover), Municipal health trade licence (fee tiered by seats), Fire NOC above about 50 seats, Shops & Establishments registration, GST at 5% for standalone restaurants, Notice of business under Punjab S&E Act 1958, Sec 13-A (shops with <20 workers), PSDT enrolment, Municipal trade licence / tehbazari (vendors)
Which city in Punjab is best for a dhaba or fast-food restaurant?
Bigger cities bring more customers and higher bills but also higher rent and wages. The chart above compares metro, mid-size city and small town.