How to Get a License for a Bar or Night Club

In order to legally operate a bar or night club, you must possess the proper license.

Professionals in the bar and night club industry may find lucrative careers as establishment owners. Most experienced bar workers and managers are knowledgeable enough about the industry to own and operate a bar or night club, but may not be sure of how to go about obtaining the proper licensing. Depending on where you live, it may just be a matter of cutting through some bureaucratic red tape to get a license for a bar or night club.

Instructions

1. Consult your local state, county or city governing agency to discover current prerequisites regarding liquor license issuance. Each state has its own perception of morality and acceptable behavior, and while many have little or no restrictions regarding who may hold a liquor license, others may have strict prohibitions and guidelines. In certain areas, you may be required to sell food in your bar or night club, and prove that your food sales represent a certain percentage of your gross revenue.

2. Contact your local zoning authority to determine if your location is eligible for a liquor license. In order to control the amount of bars and night clubs populating an area, some cities, counties and states only allow a certain amount of liquor licenses to exist in designated areas, if liquor sales are allowed at all. Your local zoning agency will be able to tell you what -- if any -- liquor licenses are available in your desired location of operation.

3. Decide which type of liquor license suits your business. There are several types of liquor licenses, each with different restrictions and permissions. Such types may include tavern, beer and wine, entertainment, brewpub and restaurant liquor licenses, and may have different names in different states. Your local liquor control department -- or a similar agency -- can inform you of the types of liquor licenses and permits that are available in your area.

4. Begin the application process. Once you have established your eligibility and zoning permissions, you may contact your state liquor commission or governing agency to obtain all the required applications. At this time, you will also be informed of any personal data required to accompany your application. This may include zoning permissions, business plans, state-issued identification, proof of citizenship and facility information.

5. Submit your application with all supportive documentation to your local liquor governing agency and pay all applicable fees. When you have gathered all required documentation of your personal statistics and completed your application, you must submit it to the agency from which you obtained it and fulfill any payment responsibilities. Sometimes you may be allowed to mail it in; otherwise, you must make your submission in person.

6. Wait for your application to be processed. You will receive a letter of acceptance or denial. Different states have different methods of deciding who receives a liquor license and who doesn't. Some states only allow a certain amount of licenses; if they are all taken, you may have to wait until another proprietor's license expires or is revoked. Other times, licenses will be issued to approved applicants in a lottery, or you may be able to purchase an existing liquor license from the owner of a closing establishment.

References

• Night Club Pros: Obtaining A Liquor License
• Wisconsin Department of Revenue: Alcohol Beverage Laws for Retailers Licenses
• Oregon Liquor Control Commission: How To Get A Liquor License

Resources

• Earth Bar: Steps to Open a Bar, Cocktail Lounge or Nightclub
• KayDeeElle: Bars and Nightclubs - a Guide to Opening