I am starting a coffee roasting company/espresso bar and need to know the type of licenses you need to operate the business, i.e food and general business licenses

What types of licenses that you will need to have will depend on the laws concerning businesses in the location where the business will be in operation. Since it's more than likely that you will need to be applying for some, if not all of the types of licenses that you will be needing in person, then it would be best if you go to the place from which you will be obtaining the licenses. If your business is to be located in a city, then I would think that you can get the information the you need from City Hall or whatever place where the city government is run.

To just find the information without having to do the legwork, you could call the city government.

Also, really good places to check for information about small businesses would be http://www.sba.gov/ and http://www.sba.gov/ They do have some information concerning the licensing of businesses.

Check out your states Tax commission, They generally have booklets you can print to help you establish you new business, for free. Also check with your City Hall for local licenses. Just go on line and Put in your state --____Tax commission.com Or check with you states Department of Commerce, this is the state agency that assists small and startup businesses in most states. And then you can check with your States-- Secretary of State, Business filing department, to obtain income, sales and use taz and othe misc. business tax forms and information. Another big help is the U.S. Small Business Administration if your talking about a business in the States.