Buy a Liquor License
As you may know, certain types of "general" licenses are limited in California and can't be purchased directly from the Dept. of ABC. These include Type 47, 48, 21, 75 and sometimes the 20.
We have an extensive network of brokers and clients and can just about always find the license you are looking for. We have good intel on license values as well, so you can be assured you are getting your license for a fair price.
What Kind of License Do You Need?
Your type of license will depend on a couple of things:
• What kind of establishment you have
• The kind of alcohol you sell and what time of day you sell it
• Whether you’re planning to let customers roll BYOB-style or serving and selling alcohol
• Where drinking occurs
The two major types of licenses are an on-premise, where the liquor or alcoholic beverages you sell will be consumed on the premises, like a bar or restaurant. The other is an off-premise, which you need if you’re planning to have the liquor you sell be consumed off the premises, like a grocery store or drug store, or even a liquor store. There might be different qualifications for a catering company or special events.
You’ll be applying for a specific class of license. The most common classes of liquor licenses include a full-service restaurant license, which is for restaurants that serve both alcohol and food, but liquor only makes up about 50% of their sales; a beer and wine license, where you can only sell “soft” liquors but not hard liquor, like spirits; or a restaurant license, where the license could specify that only a certain percentage of earnings can come from the alcohol sales.
What Does a Liquor License Application Require?
Some states have a limited number of liquor licenses, so you should check availability for your state, county, or city level depending on where you’re located. But no worries—even if your county technically has no new liquor licenses available, businesses in your area could be interested in selling their licenses.
For a liquor license application, you’ll need business documents in place before you enter the application process, like employer identification numbers, zoning permits, building permits, health permits, signage permits, or leases.
You’ll file your application with your state’s ABC, so in addition to the forms your local authority or state government requires, you will be required to pay a processing fee, complete a background check, and submit a financial verification sheet, a copy of a food handler’s permit or license, a lease, or a certificate of good standing from the Secretary of State.
Because states only want to provide responsible business owners with liquor licenses, offering up detailed information on your ownership and business finances is part of the deal—in some states, that even includes undergoing and passing different inspections from city departments. Since we know getting a liquor license is a lengthy process, we suggest getting as much together as you can ahead of time!
How Long Does An Application Take?
Liquor license application processing can take a while—it varies based on state and license type, but typically it takes 90 days to five or six months. Starting the process with plenty of buffer time between applying for a liquor license and your opening is crucial. The costs of a liquor license—once all aspects of the application process are added up—can range from several hundred dollars to millions of dollars depending on your state liquor laws, type of liquor, and type of license.