Capital Requirement Estimator
Format + city → kitchen equipment + interiors + deposit + licences + working capital. Real ranges by format and city tier — not generic 'around ₹25 lakh' guesses.
Typical Delhi casual-dining opening: ₹25,10,000–₹70,00,000. Adjust the format below to see ranges for QSR, cloud kitchen, café, fine dining, and more.
| Line item | Range (₹ lakhs) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen equipment | 8 – 22.4 | Tandoor, ranges, refrigeration, exhaust, dishwasher, food prep, dry storage. |
| Interiors & furniture | 9 – 25.2 | 1,400 sqft fit-out, false ceiling, lighting, seating, signage. |
| Property deposit | 3.5 – 9.8 | Typically 6-10 months of rent at ₹150-400/sqft (T1 Delhi). |
| Licences & approvals | 1.3 – 3.5 | FSSAI, GST, fire NOC, signage, music, professional tax — see /start/licences for the state-specific list. |
| Working capital (30-45 days) | 3.3 – 9.1 | Aggregator T+7 to T+14 settlement vs vendor cash terms. Bridge the gap or close on a Tuesday. |
- Estimate calibrated for Delhi (T1) and casual dining.
- Notable signal for this city: Navratri non-veg demand drops 35-50% across Delhi NCR.
- Rent + labour + interior depreciation are the big three.
Opening costs in Delhi — what drives the spread
Delhi is a T1 city with population around 33 million and an estimated per-capita out-of-home food spend of ₹3,700 per month. Prime QSR rents land between ₹150 and ₹400 per sqft, which is the single biggest driver of the capex range.
City-specific signal: Navratri non-veg demand drops 35-50% across Delhi NCR.
For a casual-dining restaurant in Delhi, here's what the typical opening looks like — equipment ₹8-22.4 L, interiors ₹9-25.2 L, deposit ₹3.5-9.8 L, licences ₹1.3-3.5 L, and working capital ₹3.3-9.1 L.
Use the calculator below for QSR / cloud kitchen / fine dining variants. Then check the Delhi cuisine heatmap for what to open, the licence checklist for the delhi state-specific list, and the 90-day playbook for what survivors run.
Related reading
- pre launchHow much does it actually cost to open a restaurant in Pune in 2026?
Most ‘restaurant cost’ blogs stop at ‘around ₹25 lakh’. Here is the line by line breakdown for a 60 seat casual dining restaurant on FC Road or Kothrud: equipment, interiors, deposits, licences, working capital, and the four numbers most owners forget.
- pre launchFSSAI licence in Maharashtra: cost, timeline, documents
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- pre launchCloud kitchen vs casual dining: real costs, real margins, India 2026
Cloud kitchen looks cheaper to open. Whether it actually earns more is a different question once aggregator commission, ad spend, and refund drag are layered in.
Common questions
How much does it cost to open a restaurant in Delhi?
For a casual-dining restaurant in Delhi (T1), expect ₹25.1-70 lakhs all-in. QSR formats typically run 50-60% of that; cloud kitchens 30-40%; fine dining 2-4x.
What is the typical rent for a QSR location in Delhi?
150-400 per sqft per month for prime QSR locations in Delhi. Premium high-street can be 1.5-2x that. Side-street and second-line can be 30-40% lower.
What's specific to Delhi?
Navratri non-veg demand drops 35-50% across Delhi NCR.
How long do licences take in Delhi?
Plan for 60-90 days from lease signing to opening. Liquor (if applicable) and fire NOC are the slow ones. See the full licence checklist for Delhi's state.
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