Getting a Liquor License
If you’re looking to open a new business that is going to sell liquor you are going to need to obtain a liquor license. Applying for and obtaining a liquor license can be a tedious, and often long, process and can be overwhelming at times. There are many steps that need to take place to get your new business on the track to selling liquor. Below we have outlined five easy steps that you need to do in order to obtain a liquor license.
Step 1
Applying for a liquor license can be a lengthy process and could hold up the opening of your new business. Obtaining a new liquor license can often take up to a year to complete the process, you’ll need to account for this in your business plan before setting a launch date. The process can sometimes be quicker but be prepared for it to take a year.
Step 2
Contact the liquor licensing authority for your state. Each state has a different set of rules and processes that will need to be taken into account. Some factors will include the population of the city and the location.
Step 3
Contact city authorities to get local rules. Larger cities face different restrictions and regulations than smaller cities. Some locales have both state and local requirements so you’ll want to check with the cities local regulations before moving forward. This can save a lot of frustration in figuring out what is needed to get your business moving.
Step 4
Obtain applications and make sure that you understand the type of license that you are applying for. Types of license types include: bar, restaurant, club, pub, and beer and wine. Depending on what your business is going to serve will depend on the type of license that you’ll need. In some cases you may be required to have more than one license.
Step 5
Be prepared to offer business plans details when submitting fees and applications. Such as venue photos, seating, menu, hours of operation, anticipated liquor sales, and the types of alcohol you plant to sell.
Step 6
Consider buying a license from an existing establishment if your area is not issuing new licenses. If there is a business is on it’s way out you can purchase their license and use it as your own. Make sure and have solid legal advice before making a purchase. A license broker can help.
Step 7
Explore new licensing potential with authorities if the locale has experienced population growth. When the population increase in a certain location sometimes the town will allow the issuing of new liquor licenses. Go to the town’s government to find out if you can acquire a new license and find out the bidding process.
If this process seems confusing, don’t worry; here at the Liquor License Network we are here to help you along the way.
At Your Service Liquor License Network is California’s leading premier liquor licensing brokerage and consulting firm. We specialize in the sale, purchase, and facilitation of liquor licenses. Liquor License Network’s professional team of experts offers more than 12 years of liquor licensing experience to many satisfied clients. Our network of experts takes the difficult task off of your hands of locating, negotiating, and acquiring or selling a liquor license for you.
Extensive Inventory Liquor License Network leads the way in applying technology driven applications to the liquor license markets of today. We maintain a complete and extensive database of all recent liquor license sales within the state of California thereby enabling us to negotiate with the ease and viability available to us, ensuring that our clients are getting a fair and honest deal. In addition to the technology at our disposal, we are up-to-date in all the aspects of the processing of local and regional zoning applications and conditional use permits.
Contact us today and let us help you get your businesses liquor license.