How much does a liquor license cost?
So, you’re planning to get a liquor license.
Whether you’re a preexisting restaurant looking to add alcohol to your menu or a new bar or liquor store preparing to open up, a liquor license can be costly, anywhere from $300 to $14,000 depending on the state.
However, the sale of liquor can be highly profitable as well, with larger profit margins than most goods.
With that said, applying and being approved for a liquor license takes some work.
That’s why in this guide, we’ll walk you through every you need to obtain an alcohol license, no matter which of the 50 states you’re applying for it in (as well as individual resources for each state).
As well as:
- How to get a liquor license in all 50 states
- Obstacles to getting a liquor license
- How to prepare your liquor license application
- And What to include with your liquor license application
First, let’s break down the basic steps necessary for obtaining a liquor license to elucidate the process:
How to get a liquor license
Exactly what steps are required for you to get a liquor license depend on what state you’re operating in.
However, the steps are largely the same, so here’s a quick overview to give you a better idea of what the process will look like:
- Contact your state’s liquor board or governing body to determine what specific type of alcohol license you’ll need (most states have several different kinds)
- Submit your application along with the necessary paperwork
- Wait while your state’s ABC (Alcohol Beverage Control) board reviews your application (up to 6 months)
- Upon approval, pay your license fee to activate your license
- Renew your liquor license regularly, anywhere between annually to tri-annually depending on the state and license
Now that we’ve clarified the process, let’s talk a bit about some of the challenges involved in obtaining a liquor license.
The Challenges of obtaining an alcohol license
While the process we laid out above is pretty straightforward, there are several potential challenges along the way that may come up.
Knowing what these challenges are in advance can help you either avoid or plan for them, making the whole process faster and more pain-free.
The liquor business is highly regulated, as you might imagine. That’s where most of the challenges arise.
For example, in some states, certain types of alcohol licenses are restricted, meaning only a certain number of businesses may hold that liquor license.
That means if there are no available spots, you may have to go fishing around for a business that is willing to sell their license to you, adding a layer of difficulty to obtaining your license.
Another potential challenge is location-based. Some states have restrictions in place for offering liquor within a certain vicinity of schools. So, if you’re close to a nearby high school, you may need to consider another location or forgo the license altogether.
In addition to this, because liquor licenses take up to 6 months for approval, if an issue arises in your application it could mean more delays and a very long wait to finally obtain your license.
These challenges aside, getting a liquor license is relatively straightforward, provided you know where to go to obtain information for obtaining a license in your state.
How to Get a Liquor License in All 50 States
While obtaining a liquor license is a bit of a difficult process, it can prove to be worth the wait and effort for many businesses.
The only thing left to do at that point is to find out how to obtain a liquor license in your state.
The National ABC Association state list and directory includes a list of all 17 participating states and can give you information about obtaining a liquor license, including liquor pricing and other details, if your state falls within their jurisdiction.
However, for a complete directory of all 50 states, including where to find out more information about how to get an alcohol license in your state, click on the below map, dropdown, or see the text list below this with a summary of instructions for all 50 states:
Or you can click the dropdown below to select your state:
Here’s a summary of instructions for obtaining a liquor license in all 50 states:
How to get an Alabama liquor license
To get a liquor license in Alabama, complete a pre-application along with necessary checklist. Once that’s done, set up an appointment with Alabama’s ABC licensing office for your county.
Price: $100 – $1,000 (Depending on the type of license)
How to get an Alaska liquor license
To get a liquor license in Alaska, complete and notarize your liquor license application and display it at your place of business for 10 days before submitting you the Alaska ABC board.
Price: $50 – $2,500 (Depending on the type of license)
How to get an Arizona liquor license
To get a liquor license in Arizona, review the types of licenses here then use the Arizona Department of Liquor portal to register for an account and submit your application.
Price: $100 – $2,000 (Depending on the type of license)
How to get an Arkansas liquor license
To get a liquor license in Arkansas, review the types of licenses with the Arkansas ABC, then mail your completed application to the Arkansas ABC office along with:
- Background check
- ABC seminar attendance proof
- And entertainment form
Price: $100 – $3,000 (Depending on the type of license)
How to get a California liquor license
To get a liquor license in California, you can apply at the nearest California ABC office.
How to get a Colorado liquor license
To get a liquor license in Colorado, review steps with the Colorado Department of Revenue’s Liquor & Tobacco Enforcement website. They have a portal where you can submit your application, but you must first be approved at the local government level first (see link for instructions).
How to get a Connecticut liquor license
To get a liquor license in Connecticut, review the types of licenses and complete this application, then submit your application along with payment to a drop box at the Department of Consumer Protection Self-Service Center.
Price: $60 – $2,750 (Depending on the type of license)
How to get a Delaware liquor license
To get a liquor license in Delaware, apply using the OABCC’s (Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner) online portal.
How to get a Florida liquor license
To get a liquor license in Florida, review the types of licenses here, fill out your application, then submit it along with supporting documentation and application fee to your local Alcohol, Beverage, & Tobacco Division office.
Price: $400 application fee
How to get a Georgia liquor license
To get a liquor license in Georgia, you must obtain a local alcohol license, state alcohol license, and a Federal Basic Permit. First, apply for a local license with local government authorities, then apply for a state license here through the Georgia Tax Center portal.
Price: $10 – $1,000 (Depending on the type of license)
How to get a Hawaii liquor license
To get a liquor license in Hawaii, it all depends on what county your business sits in. For liquor licenses for the country of Honolulu, visit the Honolulu Liquor Commission to view the types of available licenses and submit your application.
Price: $45 – $5,940 (Depending on the type of license)
How to get an Idaho liquor license
To get a liquor license in Idaho, submit your application and documentation to the Idaho state ABC. Keep in mind that obtaining a liquor license in Idaho is known for being more difficult in many other states due to a heavily restricted quota system (which many states have, but is not nearly as strict).
How to get an Illinois liquor license
To get a liquor license in Illinois, visit the Liquor Control Commission’s portal for application and instructions.
Price: $750
How to get an Indiana liquor license
To get a liquor license in Indiana, view the types of licenses and application instructions at the ATC (Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission) online portal, where you can also submit your application.
How to get an Iowa liquor license
To get a liquor license in Iowa, use the State of Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division online portal to view licenses, applications, and submit online.
How to get a Kansas liquor license
To get a liquor license in Kansas, use the Kansas Department of Revenue’s ABC department online portal to view licenses and apply online.
How to get a Kentucky liquor license
To get a liquor license in Kentucky, use the Kentucky ABC online portal to view licenses and application information (applications must be mailed or faxed).
Price: $30 – $7,730 (Depending on the type of license)
How to get a Louisiana liquor license
To get a liquor license in Louisiana, view the types of licenses here and submit an application. The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control requires you display your intent to apply for a license in a local newspaper as well.
Price: $320 for beer and liquor permit within a city
How to get a Maine liquor license
To get a liquor license in Maine, follow these instructions from the Maine Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages & Lottery Operations.
How to get a Maryland liquor license
To get a liquor license in Maryland, fill out the application here and follow these instructions at the Comptroller of Maryland’s website.
Price: $600 application fee
How to get a Massachusetts liquor license
To get a liquor license in Massachusetts, complete an application plus a CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) form. Whether you can apply online or not depends on what city you’re applying in.
Price: $200 application fee
How to get a Michigan liquor license
To get a liquor license in Michigan, download the license application at the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs website here and review the instructions.
Price: Up to $1,000
How to get a Minnesota liquor license
To get a liquor license in Minnesota, start by contacting your local government for an application. Once you’ve been approved, you can submit your application to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement.
How to get a Mississippi liquor license
To get a liquor license in Mississippi, complete this application then submit it to the Mississippi ABC office.
Price: $45 – $9,025 (Depending on the type of license)
How to get a Missouri liquor license
To get a liquor license in Missouri, complete this application and submit it to one of 3 labelled Alcohol and Tobacco Control offices depending on your location.
Price: $300 application fee
How to get a Montana liquor license
To get a liquor license in Montana, follow the Montana Department of Revenue’s online portal instructions.
Price: $400 – $800 (Depending on the type of license) + $400 processing fee
How to get a Nebraska liquor license
To get a liquor license in Nebraska, complete the Nebraska State liquor license application here and mail it to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission.
Price: $400 application fee
How to get a Nevada liquor license
To get a liquor license in Nevada, call your local county office that handles business licenses and complete an application here. Contact the Nevada Alcoholic Beverage Control if you have trouble locating the correct office.
Price: $500 application fee
How to get a New Hampshire liquor license
To get a liquor license in New Hampshire, fill out this form to request an application. Once you’ve received your application, follow these instructions depending on what type of license you need.
Price: $100 filing fee
How to get a New Jersey liquor license
To get a liquor license in New Jersey, contact your local ABC board for a copy of the application and review these application instructions.
Price: $200 filing fee
How to get a New Mexico liquor license
To get a liquor license in New Mexico, it is suggested you get in contact with liquor license broker as there are a limited number of liquor licenses in the state of NM due to a quota system. You can find more information here.
Price: $200 application fee
How to get a New York liquor license
To get a liquor license in New York, review the types of licenses here as well as instructions on how to apply. Fingerprint cards are required to apply and you must notify your municipality of your intent to apply for a liquor license by using a Standardized Notice Form. You can then submit your application after waiting 30 days.
How to get a North Carolina liquor license
To get a liquor license in North Carolina, use their ABC online portal for all information related to license types and application submission.
Price: $100 – $1,000 (Depending on the type of license)
How to get a North Dakota liquor license
To get a liquor license in North Dakota, submit this application and use the key at the bottom of the document to determine the exact licensing fee, then send the application to the Office of the Attorney General.
How to get an Ohio liquor license
To get a liquor license in Ohio, review these steps provided by the Ohio state government.
Price: Up to $2,344 + $100 processing fee
How to get an Oklahoma liquor license
To get a liquor license in Oklahoma, use the ABLE (Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement) commission portal.
Price: $55 application fee
How to get an Oregon liquor license
To get a liquor license in Oregon, review the type of license you’ll need, then find the corresponding application here and follow the outlined instructions. The OLCC (Oregon Liquor Control Commission) will then give you a copy of your application to take to your local city government.
How to get a Pennsylvania liquor license
To get a liquor license in Pennsylvania, email ra-lblicensingmod@pa.gov to request an access code to the PLCB+ portal. Once you receive it, register through the portal system to get all the information you need.
How to get a Rhode Island liquor license
To get a liquor license in Rhode Island, use the state’s ELicensing portal. Register for a new account and you’ll be able to review the types of licenses and submit your application.
How to get a South Carolina liquor license
To get a liquor license in South Carolina, review the types of licenses for SC then submit your application to the Department of Revenue.
Price: $5 – $2,200 (Depending on the type of license) + $200 – $300 filing fee
How to get a South Dakota liquor license
To get a liquor license in South Dakota, contact your county auditor for all basic information (you can find more information here).
How to get a Tennessee liquor license
To get a liquor license in Tennessee, review the TABC’s license type list. To get your application started, use the TABC’s RLPS portal or Regulatory Licensing and Permitting System.
How to get a Texas liquor license
To get a liquor license in Texas, use the TABC portal to select the type of license and obtain the necessary application and instructions.
How to get a Utah liquor license
To get a liquor license in Utah, review the Utah ABC website for types of licenses and application information.
Price: Vary, up to $10,000 (Depending on the type of license)
How to get a Vermont liquor license
To get a liquor license in Vermont, use the VDLC’s portal to review license types and get instructions for submitting your application.
How to get a Virginia liquor license
To get a liquor license in Virginia, review the Virginia ABC website’s 3 types of licenses and application details. You’ll be required to display notice of your application on your premises for 10 days and in a local paper for 2 days.
Price: $195 for on-premise retail license application
How to get a Washington liquor license
To get a liquor license in Washington, visit the WSLCB (Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board) website and follow the instructions. Washington is one of only a handful of states where you can submit your application online. Contact the Department of Revenue to request more information at 1-800-451-7985 or BLS@dor.wa.gov.
Price: $75 filing fee
How to get a West Virginia liquor license
To get a liquor license in West Virginia, review the types of licenses then submit your application by mail with fingerprint cards, bond fee, and a copy of your health permit to the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration. Contact WV’s ABC office at 304.356.5500 or abcc.licensing@wv.gov.
Price: $100 – $2,650 (Depending on the type of license) + $1,000 or $5,000 bond
How to get a Wisconsin liquor license
To get a liquor license in Wisconsin, contact your basic city clerk for information (not much more information is given than that). Wisconsin’s Department of Revenue oversees licensing, so see here for more information.
How to get a Wyoming liquor license
To get a liquor license in Wyoming, use their Eliquor portal (one of the only states with such a service). Once you’ve registered, you’ll be emailed information and login details where you can review all necessary information and take next steps.
How to prepare your liquor license application
Now that you have the basic information you need for obtaining a liquor license in your state, it’s time to prepare to submit your license application.
Before applying, it’s important to prepare all possible documentation you may need. Even if you’re not 100% sure what your state’s board will request of you, getting everything you could need prepared in advance will simplify the process and remove possible headaches.
Here are documents you should consider getting in order before filing your liquor license application:
Basic information:
- Employer identification number
Licenses:
- Business license
- Music license (Only applicable if you’ll be playing copyrighted music)
Permits:
- Zoning permit
- Sales tax permit
- Alcohol tax permit
- Food handler’s permit (Only applicable if you serve food)
- Building permit
- Signage permit
- Health permit
You never know what might be requested of you when submitting your application, so getting everything together in advance, even the above items that you may not end up needing, to make sure nothing holds up your application.
What to include with your liquor license application
Now, let’s review the required documents.
With your application ready to be submitted, you’ll need to make sure to send it off with everything required by your state’s liquor authority.
What these documents or other requirements are will differ based on the state, but the license application should outline what these documents are.
If you’re unsure, make sure to call your state’s liquor authority to ask before submitting your application.
Here are additional requirements to keep an eye out for in addition to your state application:
- Processing fee
- Signed lease agreement
- Estimated alcohol sales
- DBA or CoGS (Your state may require a Certificate of Good Standing from your Secretary of State if you’re a corporation. Alternatively, a DBA will usually suffice if you’re a sole proprietor or partnership)
If you submit your liquor license application without all the necessary documents, your application will likely be placed on hold until the documents are received.
Considering it can take up to 6 months for an unobstructed application, it’s important to make sure you have everything readily available so you don’t end up adding unnecessary time to that already long wait.
What is the approval process like?
Once you’ve submitted your license application, all that’s left to do is wait.
The approval process of each state is different, however, this is an overarching process that most states follow, more or less:
- Application is processed and delivered to relevant authorities for review
- Check for available licenses
- A background check is processed
- Authorities review the premises
- A public hearing is conducted in the case of complaints
- When everything is resolved, the application is accepted and the license issued within 4-8 months depending on the state and type of license
Provided everything goes well with your application, you’ll have your alcohol license within the next several months and be ready to start offering drinks at your business.
Obtaining a liquor license can be time consuming and difficult, but the rewards can also far outweigh the difficulty it takes to get it, making it more than worth the effort.
