International Investors

Open Your Restaurant in Madrid from Any Country

We guide international entrepreneurs and investors through the entire process: visas, company formation, gastronomic concept, licenses, and opening. From your idea to a profitable restaurant in Madrid.

International Entrepreneur Diagnosis · From €1,650 · VAT not included
Request diagnosis →
Restaurant space in Madrid in planning phase with architectural plans and financial analysis
The context

Madrid: The Gastronomic Capital of International Investment

In 2024, Madrid captured 67% of all foreign direct investment in Spain — over €24.7 billion. The Spanish hospitality sector nears €31 billion, with the capital concentrating the highest density of openings. For an international investor, Madrid offers a mature market, sophisticated consumers, and a first-tier supplier ecosystem.

Latin American, Asian, and fusion cuisine is experiencing unprecedented expansion in Madrid. International groups like Makoto (Miami), Abya (Mexico), or Ceviche 103 (Lima) already operate in the city. If you have a differentiated gastronomic concept and capital to execute it, Madrid is the right market.

But opening a restaurant in Spain from abroad means navigating a regulatory, tax, and labor system different from your home country. ChefBusiness removes that complexity: you bring the gastronomic vision, we bring local knowledge and the methodology to execute.

Who is this for

Who Can Open a Restaurant in Spain?

First time with ChefBusiness? Everything starts with the Gastronomic Diagnosis Learn more →
What's included

Everything You Need to Open from Outside Spain

Duration: 4-9 months depending on complexity and immigration processes
Mode: Remote + in-person for key phases
Languages: Spanish, English

Process

From Your Country to Your Restaurant in Madrid

Documentation for opening a restaurant in Madrid: passport, business plan, blueprints and euros
IMG · INTERNATIONAL OPENING PROCESS
Foreign investors opening restaurant Madrid
01 Remote Diagnosis — We evaluate your concept, available capital, and viability in the Madrid market. No travel required.
02 Business Plan and Procedures — Complete financial model + coordination of entrepreneur visa and Spanish company formation.
03 Location and Concept — Site search in strategic zones, market adaptation of concept, and menu design with costing.
04 Licenses and Construction — Activity license, permits, space fit-out, and professional equipment.
05 Team and Launch — Team selection and training, opening marketing plan, and first service.
Why ChefBusiness

A Consultant Who Knows Both Markets

Chef John Guerrero is a Latin American gastronomic consultant based in Madrid. He knows firsthand the challenges of entrepreneurship in Spanish hospitality from an international perspective: the regulatory, fiscal, labor, and cultural differences that can cause a project to fail if not anticipated.

We are neither a gestoría nor a law firm. We are gastronomic consultants who understand your business from the kitchen to the profit and loss statement. We coordinate with the best legal and tax professionals in Madrid, but our value lies in operational knowledge of the Spanish hospitality sector.

Services

Other ChefBusiness Services

01
Full Consulting
Complete audit, cost control, KPIs, and continuous improvement plan for operating restaurants.
From €2,500/month
View service
 02
Concept & Opening
Concept development, viability, menu, business plan, and support through opening.
From €3,500 per project
View service
 03
Gastronomic Mentoring
Personalized mentoring for owners and chefs. In-person and video sessions.
From €450/month
View service
 04
Digital Transformation
AI, local SEO, digital marketing, and automation for restaurants seeking more visibility.
From €1,200/month
View service
 05
International Investors
End-to-end support for foreign entrepreneurs: visas, licenses, concept, and opening in Madrid.
Diagnosis from €1,650
View service
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a foreigner open a restaurant in Spain?
Yes. Both EU citizens and third-country nationals can open a restaurant in Spain. Non-EU citizens need an entrepreneur visa or residence with self-employment work authorization. ChefBusiness advises on the entire administrative and legal process.
How much does it cost to open a restaurant in Madrid as a foreigner?
Total investment varies between €80,000 and €350,000 depending on location, size, and concept. ChefBusiness consulting services start from €3,500 per project or €1,950/month. We prepare the complete business plan with a 3-year financial model so you know the exact investment before committing.
What visa do I need to open a restaurant in Spain?
The entrepreneur visa (Law 14/2013 on support for entrepreneurs) is the most direct path. It requires a viable business plan, sufficient investment, and that the project be of economic interest to Spain. Hospitality meets these requirements. An investor visa also exists for larger projects (>€500,000 in assets).
How long does the opening process take from abroad?
Between 4 and 9 months from the first consultation to first service. This includes: immigration procedures (1-3 months), Spanish company formation, location search and fit-out, license acquisition, and opening. We work in parallel to minimize timelines.
Do I need to be physically in Madrid throughout the process?
No. We start the process remotely: diagnosis, business plan, and location search. Your presence is required for notarized signature, NIE acquisition, and final opening phases. Many of our international clients travel to Madrid 2-3 times during the process.
Do you help with company formation in Spain?
Yes. We coordinate with law firms specializing in corporate and immigration law for company formation (SL), NIE acquisition, bank account opening, and all tax procedures. You focus on the gastronomic concept; we handle the bureaucracy.
Do you work with Latin American investors?
Yes, this is one of our main profiles. Chef John Guerrero knows both markets — Latin American and Spanish — and understands the cultural, regulatory, and operational differences. We have accompanied Mexican, Colombian, Peruvian, and Argentine kitchen projects in Madrid.
Modern restaurant in Madrid ready for opening with warm lighting and evening views

Ready to Bring Your Gastronomic Concept to Madrid?

Start with an Idea or Concept Diagnosis. We evaluate your project, your capital, and your viability in the Madrid market. From €1,250.

Request diagnosis →
The first step

Everything starts
with the diagnosis.

21 days of joint work. Profile, objectives, viability. We design exactly what your business needs.

✓ From €1,250 · Professional service
✓ Same consultant diagnoses and executes
✓ In-person in Spain · Online for LATAM
✓ We respond within 24h
Request your diagnosis or contact us

We respond within 24h · No commitment

Prices exclude VAT. Outside Spain, VAT does not apply.

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