FSSAI License Fees Structure 2026 (State vs Central vs Basic)

FSSAI compliance will still be a must for any Indian food business in 2026. But one mistake that many new businesses make is miscalculating their operating costs because they mix up Basic licensing with State licensing and Central licensing. The blog gives a full explanation of the current FSSAI license fees, which will help you choose the right license type and avoid extra costs and legal delays.

Problem Statement: Why FSSAI License Fees Confuse Food Business Owners in 2026

• Food founders at FSSAI select incorrect license categories because the organization established standardized fees for 2026. 

• The business suddenly requires more licensing, which results from unknown factors that include online delivery platforms and production scale, and expansion plans. 

• Many people believe that Basic registration suffices because they only need to show their business turnover. 

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and platforms create upgrade requirements that users must fulfill. 

• The process creates delays that require reapplications and result in additional costs.

>Helpful Guide:- Updated FSSAI Guidelines You Shouldn’t Miss as a Food Business (2026)

Why This Happens: Hidden Factors Affecting FSSAI License Fees in 2026

The licensing classification system in 2026 will require more than a business size assessment to evaluate companies because it functions as a complex risk evaluation system. Two small businesses face operational difficulties because their production capacities and jurisdictional limits create obstacles that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India uses for turnover-based evaluations.

Advanced Licensing Logic (2026)

• Capacity Over Turnover: A unit that produces more than 100 kilograms daily can obtain State licensing, which includes FSSAI registration fees India, more than ₹3,000 after licensing, which costs ₹100 despite having minimal revenue.

• The Special Premise Rule: Central Government locations, which include airports, railways, and seaports, require all operators to obtain a Central License, which applies to both large and small vendors.

• The E-commerce Lock-In: Digital platform sales require sellers to obtain higher licensing levels, which enable state-level product tracking.

• Kind of Business (KoB) Priority: Central authorities control all activities that involve import/export, large oil processing, or proprietary food production, regardless of business size.

FSSAI License Fees 2026: Basic vs State vs Central Explained

The three license categories must be understood completely as the fundamental requirement for estimating your actual FSSAI license fees. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India divides business operations into different categories according to their revenue generation and manufacturing capacity, and overall business operations.

1. Basic Registration (Small Businesses)

This regulation governs small food operations that operate with limited production capacity and all startup businesses.

Eligibility:

• The business generates yearly revenue that does not exceed ₹12 lakh.
• The business operates from small home kitchens and small manufacturing facilities.
• The production output of the facility exceeds 100 kg of products every day.

Government Fees:

• The FSSAI license fees for small business require payment of ₹100.
• The registration costs represent the most economical FSSAI registration option in India, which serves micro-level enterprises.

2. State License (Growing Businesses)

This license serves as the primary requirement for restaurants and cloud kitchens and food manufacturers, and storage facilities.

Eligibility:

• The business generates revenue between ₹12 lakh and ₹20 crore.
• The business needs to maintain its operations at its present production volume.
• It operates across one state.

Government Fees:

• The annual fee costs retailers and distributors, and storage facilities ₹2,000.
• The annual fee for manufacturers ranges from ₹3,000 to ₹5,000.
• Most food startups fall into this FSSAI state license fees bracket once they begin scaling operations.

3. fssai central license fees 2026 (Large or Multi-State Businesses)

Every large manufacturer and business with operations in more than one state needs this license for its business operations.

Eligibility:

• The business generates revenue that exceeds ₹20 crore.
• The business operates in international trade activities.
• E-commerce food brands distribute their products throughout the entire nation.
• The business operates across multiple states.

Government Fees:

• The annual fee requires payment of ₹7,500.
• The FSSAI license cost India reaches its highest point in this category, which businesses need for their national expansion plans.

Founder Pain Points

• The license category that needs to be applied is currently unknown to me. 
• The applicant experiences fear of rejection because of incorrect documentation. 
• The applicant cannot understand the difference between government fees and consultant charges. 
• The organization needs to handle multiple renewals while meeting various compliance deadlines.

Helpful Guide:- FSSAI Registration in India 2026: Application Process, Benefits & Legal Compliance

FSSAI License Fees Structure 2026: Risk Profile, Categories & Hidden Costs Explained

The FSSAI license fees structure, which started in 2026, operates based on your business Risk Profile instead of your business size. The two businesses, which both have a ₹15 lakh turnover, will pay different fees because one operates as a Retailer while the other functions as a Manufacturer.

Category	Primary Trigger	Annual Govt Fee	Advanced Logic (The Why)
Basic Registration	Turnover < ₹12L	₹100	For Petty operators. Limited to <100kg/day production.
State License (Retail)	Turnover ₹12L–₹20Cr	₹2,000	Applies to Retailers, Distributors, and Wholesalers.
State License (Service)	Turnover ₹12L–₹20Cr	₹2,000	Standard for Restaurants and Boarding Houses.
State License (Mfg)	101kg to 1MT/day	₹3,000	Production capacity triggers this, even if revenue is low.
State License (High Mfg)	1MT to 2MT/day	₹5,000	Higher risk manufacturing (e.g., Dairy, Meat processing).
Central License	Turnover > ₹20Cr	₹7,500	Mandatory for Importers, Exporters, and E-commerce.

What Actually Works: How to Reduce FSSAI License Fees and Choose the Right Category

• The 5-Year Lock: Always apply for the maximum 5-year term. FSSAI established Auto-Renewal functions in 2026, which require your documentation to have a Standardised format. You gain financial benefits through an upfront payment because it prevents the ₹100 per day late fee, which starts after your license becomes invalid.

• Capacity vs. Actuals: FSSAI inspectors now use Installed Capacity (what your machines could do) rather than your current sales. Your Basic Registration application will be denied because your small unit equipment exceeds the 100-kilogram-per-day per day processing limit. 

• The Digital Twin Requirement: All 2026 applications require Geo-tagged site photos. The system will reject your application because your GPS coordinates do not match the physical site within a 50-meter radius.

• E-commerce Mandatory Floor: The platforms require a State License from you when you start selling on Swiggy or Zomato, even if your annual income reaches ₹5 Lakhs. The Basic application cost of ₹100 will become more expensive when you need to change your registration to the State because it requires extra consultant costs, and your business will experience operational interruptions.

Conclusion

We are your trusted partner to apply FSSAI license without confusion. Our experts at Legal4sure handle three main tasks, which include reducing project delays and managing expenses while achieving legal obligations. Our mission is simple: correct license, faster approval, and long-term business security.

>Helpful Guide:- FSSAI Registration Online (2026): Fees, Process, Eligibility & Timeline