English-speaking consulting · Portugal
Open a restaurant in Portugal — with the numbers straight.
We help foreign investors and entrepreneurs — and Portuguese living abroad — open and run hospitality businesses in Portugal: feasibility study, business plan, financing, licensing, HACCP and operations.
Why Portugal
An attractive market — and tougher than it looks.
Portugal combines strong tourism, a respected food culture and entry costs still below other European markets. But Portuguese hospitality runs on thin margins, has its own regulatory framework and fierce competition in the tourist areas. Entering without local knowledge is expensive.
Company setup & NIF
Guidance on company structure, the Portuguese tax number and the formal steps before trading.
Feasibility study
Investment, revenue, break-even and return — under Portuguese accounting and tax rules.
Financing
A file built for Portuguese banks: financing plan, amortisation schedule and DSCR.
Licensing & HACCP
Usage licence, food safety requirements and compliance before you open the doors.
Team & operations
Hiring, training, recipe costing, food cost control and day-to-day processes.
Choosing the location
Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve or inland — each market has different rents, customers and seasonality.
Disclaimer. This page is informational and is not legal or tax advice. Legal, corporate and tax requirements should always be validated with a Portuguese lawyer and a certified accountant (OCC) before making binding decisions.
FAQ
Opening in Portugal from abroad.
Can a foreigner open a restaurant in Portugal?
Yes. EU citizens can incorporate a company and operate in Portugal on terms equivalent to residents. You will need a Portuguese tax number (NIF) and, depending on the structure, to incorporate a company. Non-EU citizens face additional requirements. Always validate your specific situation with a Portuguese lawyer and a certified accountant.
Do I need to live in Portugal to own the business?
Residency is not required to be a shareholder, but running a restaurant demands day-to-day local presence. Most projects that work have an operating partner or a trusted local manager — this is one of the first things we assess with you.
How much does it cost to open a restaurant in Portugal?
It depends on the concept, size and location. A small take-away starts far below a seated restaurant in Lisbon. Our free simulator gives you an estimate in minutes, and the feasibility study breaks the investment down line by line.
Do you work in English?
Yes. We work in Portuguese, Spanish and English. All technical documentation (feasibility study, business plan) is delivered under Portuguese accounting and tax rules, which is what local banks and authorities require.
Can you help with financing from Portuguese banks?
We prepare the file with what Portuguese banks ask for: financing plan, amortisation schedule, DSCR and scenarios. The credit decision always rests with the bank — our job is to make the project defensible.
Let's talk about your project in Portugal.
45 minutes, free and with no commitment. You leave the call with three concrete next steps.