How to Apply for a License to Sell Alcohol

Getting a license to sell alcohol

Obtaining a liquor license can greatly increase your revenue, as the profit margin on alcohol sales is usually higher than food or non-alcoholic beverage prices. While every municipality has its own process for obtaining a license to sell alcohol, there are some common steps which are shared regardless of the location.

Instructions

1. Contact the Department of Revenue for your state. Ask them for the number and/or contact information for the governing body over alcohol licenses. Sometimes licensing authority resides at the city, village or town level.

2. Request an application and confirm the documents needed in order to apply for the license with the representative from the licensing board. Also confirm the fee amount, which must be submitted in order for the application to be reviewed. It is not unusual for the fee to be $10,000 to $25,000.

3. Meet the minimum qualifications. In general, applicants must be of legal age to drink (21) and reside in the state where they are applying for the license for at least 90 days.

4. Take a class in responsible beverage server training from a certified state class. In most cases you will be asked to take a certain number of hours of requisite training in order to apply for the license. The application instructions will specify the exact amount, if any.

5. Wait for a decision. In most cases the governing body will vote on your application and decide to either grant your application or deny your application. In most cases you will be informed of the decision within 30 business days after the application is filed with the clerk.

References

• Wisconsin Department of Revenue: Alcohol Beverage Laws for Retailers License
• Liquor License: Buy and Sell Liquor Licenses
• AZ Liquor: Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control