Boston restaurant HR & payroll
The best Boston restaurant industry resources
By Dan MurphyUpdated 5 min read
Where can Boston restaurant owners get help?
Boston restaurant owners can get permit and licensing help from the Boston Office of Small Business, Inspectional Services and the Licensing Board. Advice and funding come from the Massachusetts SBDC Network and SBA. The Workforce Training Fund pays for training, and MassHire and Boston culinary training programs such as Community Servings, NECAT and iCater Boston help with hiring.
Boston restaurant owners have more free help available than most realize: city permit guidance, state advising, training grants and culinary training programs that also supply trained staff. These are the ones worth bookmarking, with what each one actually does.
How we chose
- Public agencies, associations and nonprofits that serve Boston restaurants, checked on their own websites.
- Free or low-cost help first.
- What each one does, from its own site.
The list at a glance
| # | Name | Type | Run by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Office of Small Business | City office | City of Boston |
| 2 | Boston Inspectional Services: food service permits | City permitting | City of Boston |
| 3 | Boston Licensing Board | City licensing | City of Boston |
| 4 | Boston Main Streets | Neighborhood business districts | City of Boston |
| 5 | Massachusetts Restaurant Association | Industry association | Statewide |
| 6 | Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network | Free business advising | Statewide |
| 7 | SBA Massachusetts District Office | Federal agency | Statewide |
| 8 | Workforce Training Fund Express Program | State training grant | Statewide |
| 9 | MassHire Career Centers | State hiring help | Statewide |
| 10 | Community Servings Teaching Kitchen | Culinary job training nonprofit | Boston |
| 11 | NECAT | Culinary job training nonprofit | Boston |
| 12 | iCater Boston | Culinary job training nonprofit | Boston |
1.Boston Office of Small Business
City office · City of Boston
The city's small business office helps with permits and licensing, and runs restaurant-focused programs including a restaurant finance workshop series, a catering accelerator and the outdoor dining program.
Best for: anyone opening a restaurant or expanding one in the city.
Worth knowing: program offerings change by season, so check what is running before you plan around one.
2.Boston Inspectional Services: food service permits
City permitting · City of Boston
Issues the Food Establishment Permit every Boston restaurant needs before serving food, and handles the inspections and plan reviews that go with it.
Best for: new openings, changes of ownership and renovations.
Worth knowing: some openings also need a plan review, which adds time. Start early.
3.Boston Licensing Board
City licensing · City of Boston
Grants and regulates alcohol and food licenses in Boston, and holds hearings on applications and violations.
Best for: anyone applying for or transferring a liquor license.
Worth knowing: hearings run on a fixed weekly schedule, so build that into your opening timeline.
4.Boston Main Streets
Neighborhood business districts · City of Boston
A network of independent nonprofit neighborhood district organizations, run through the Office of Small Business, that support local businesses in their districts.
Best for: restaurants that want a local contact and neighborhood promotion.
Worth knowing: what each district offers depends on the district.
5.Massachusetts Restaurant Association
Industry association · Statewide
The state's restaurant trade association. It advocates for the industry and offers ServSafe manager, allergen and alcohol training, plus member resources.
Best for: certification training and industry advocacy.
Worth knowing: some benefits and discounts are for members only.
6.Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network
Free business advising · Statewide
Free, confidential one-to-one business advising and training for Massachusetts small businesses.
Best for: financing plans, loan applications and business planning.
Worth knowing: general business advice rather than restaurant specialists.
7.SBA Massachusetts District Office
Federal agency · Statewide
The U.S. Small Business Administration's office for Massachusetts, covering SBA-backed funding, counseling and certifications.
Best for: owners looking at SBA-backed loans.
Worth knowing: the lending itself happens through participating lenders, not the office.
8.Workforce Training Fund Express Program
State training grant · Statewide
Grants that help Massachusetts employers pay for employee training courses, run by Commonwealth Corporation.
Best for: paying for manager or skills training you would otherwise fund yourself.
Worth knowing: training a company is legally required to provide is not eligible. Check the current guidelines, as eligibility was expanded in 2026.
9.MassHire Career Centers
State hiring help · Statewide
A statewide network of career centers that helps employers recruit, including through hiring events and the JobQuest job board.
Best for: free recruiting help, particularly for entry-level roles.
Worth knowing: the services on offer vary from one center to another.
10.Community Servings Teaching Kitchen
Culinary job training nonprofit · Boston
A free 12-week food service job training program in which trainees earn ServSafe food handler and allergen awareness certificates.
Best for: hiring kitchen staff who arrive already trained and certified.
Worth knowing: graduates come in cohorts, so ask about timing.
11.NECAT
Culinary job training nonprofit · Boston
A tuition-free 14-week culinary training program that places graduates in food service jobs.
Best for: back-of-house hiring pipelines.
Worth knowing: like any training program, placement is by cohort.
12.iCater Boston
Culinary job training nonprofit · Boston
A paid 24-week culinary job training program that includes ServSafe certification.
Best for: employers who want trainees with longer training behind them.
Worth knowing: a longer program means fewer graduates at any one time.
Where to start
Opening or expanding: start with the Office of Small Business and Inspectional Services. Hiring: MassHire and the culinary training programs. Training your existing team: the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and the Workforce Training Fund.
For the employment rules that come with the staff, see key Massachusetts restaurant labor laws.
Where to go next
- Boston restaurant HR & payroll: how BOHO works with Boston restaurants
- Key Massachusetts restaurant labor laws: the employment rules, with sources
- Best hiring platforms for restaurants: the commercial side of hiring
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