Starting up a business of your own is an exciting time as you bid farewell to working for another and take hold of your own financial destiny. However, whether you are planning to open a restaurant, a trendy new bar, or a nightclub, you need to address the issue of selling alcohol. To sell alcohol, you need a liquor license, and as someone who has never submitted a liquor license before, you need to know a few things to make it viable to get one. Here are three facts you must check before you start the application process.
What Does Your State Say About Alcohol Sales?
Each state in America has its own rules about selling alcohol. The regulations structure cover a number of different sale areas, such as:
- the alcohol type which can be sold
- the age of people you can sell alcohol to
- drink limits
- alcohol discount dos and don'ts
- the cost of alcohol
It is important you find out what your state rules are so that you can make sure your business plans do not include anything which could break the rules. The fastest way to find out your state rules is to have a look online for your state alcohol governing body. It is called an Alcohol Beverage Control body, and it lists all the rules applicable to alcohol sales in your state.
Is There A License Limit In Your State?
Some states have a limit to the number of valid liquor licenses they have at any one time. This quota system is designed to make sure there is not an excess of available alcohol, which impacts on the overall health of that state's residents. If the quota is already full, you will be placed on a waiting list until a license becomes available. It is important to know about quotas because if you can't get an alcohol license straight away, it impacts on your business plans.
Do You Need More Than One License?
Depending on the type of business, you may need more than one type of liquor license, and the number of licenses you need depends on your state laws. If you are only selling beer and wine, for example, then you only need a license to cover this. But, if you plan to also sell spirits, then you may need a secondary license to cover this.
To make life easier for you, find a consulting agent who deals with liquor license applications. They know all the rules for your state and can guide you through the process so that your application is submitted correctly and quickly.
For more information, reach out to companies like Arizona Liquor Industry Consultants.
As a small business owner, I have worked with many consultants throughout the years. I have had service providers prepare my taxes and handle all of my accounting, and I have had consultants help me create training materials and business policies. I've even worked with consultants instead of lawyers when I was creating, reading, or signing business contracts. Along the way, many colleagues have come to me for advice and I've been successful at help them find the consultants they need. So, I figured I would help small businesses around the world determine their consulting needs and ensure that their needs are being met as time goes on – which is how this blog came into fruition. I hope the information found here helps your small business as much as it has helped mine.