How much does a liquor license cost? Many restaurant and bar owners who need a liquor license ask this question. Let’s explore this question and review general information about liquor licenses and the application process.
A liquor license is a permit regulated by the government that allows restaurants, bars, liquor stores, and other establishments to sell alcohol legally. They are typically issued by a state’s alcohol control agency or a similar regulatory body. Since, liquor licenses are state-regulated, each state has its own rules, regulations, and costs for the liquor license application process.
Liquor licenses will regulate:
There are several different types of liquor licenses available, including beer and wine licenses, restaurant licenses, bar licenses, and in some states, server licenses. The type of license you require will depend on your business and how it is run.
A business cannot legally sell or distribute alcohol without a liquor license making these licenses vital to a business’s survival. Many restaurant and bar owners will hire a small business lawyer to prepare, review, and file the application to ensure that no mistakes are made.
Based on ContractsCounsel’s marketplace data, the average cost of a liquor license is $3,000.
Meet some lawyers on our platformApplying and being approved for a liquor license is a challenging process and it is difficult to navigate if you aren’t familiar with your state laws and regulations.
Liquor licenses are required for any business to sell or distribute alcohol. Therefore, any business like a bar or restaurant that plans to serve or sell alcohol on its premises will have a valid liquor license.
An application must be completed and submitted to your local alcohol control agency to obtain a liquor license. The application usually requires supporting documents like business licenses, permits, and information about the company.
The liquor license application can be expensive, and mistakes can be costly or delay the already lengthy process. However, an experienced small business lawyer can assist in collecting all the required documents and completing the application correctly.
Some states have online applications, while others only accept mailed-in paper applications. Your attorney will know the best way to file the application in your state and the fees associated with the filing process.
If you hire a lawyer to assist in preparing a liquor license application, you will incur legal fees based on how much time the lawyer spends working on your case. Applications can be lengthy and require a lot of detailed information, so it could take even an experienced attorney several hours to complete.
ContractsCounsel’s marketplace data shows the average liquor license application cost to be $3,000 across all states.
The filing fee and license fee are where you will incur the most expenses when applying for a liquor license. Total costs will vary based on your state and the type of permit you have applied for. A full-service liquor license can range from $100 to over $14,000, but the average cost is around $1500.
Depending on your state's requirements for a liquor license, you may also have fees for additional permits to be eligible for a liquor license.
Small business lawyers typically charge one of two ways to prepare and file an application for a liquor license: hourly rate or flat fee rate.
An hourly fee structure means the attorney charges a set rate for an hour of work. They will bill the client for the time spent on the project. Time will include work on the project, consultations, and communications. The client will be responsible for all filing fees that the state charges.
ContractsCounsel’s marketplace data shows the average hourly rate for a small business lawyer range from $200 - $350 per hour.
Flat fee rates are becoming more popular for lawyers hired to complete specific tasks. Experienced lawyers know how many hours different projects will require to quote clients a flat rate fee to be paid upfront.
ContractsCounsel’s marketplace data shows the average flat fee rate for liquor license projects to be $3,000.
Each state has its own fees for liquor licenses, including the application fee, the license fee, and renewal fees. These fees will be in addition to any legal costs you may incur when hiring a lawyer to assist you with a liquor license application.
Do you need help with a liquor license project? If so, post a project in ContractsCounsel’s marketplace to receive flat fee bids from contract lawyers to handle your project. All lawyers on the ContractsCounsel’s platform are vetted by our team to make sure you are provided with top tier service.
ContractsCounsel is not a law firm, and this post should not be considered and does not contain legal advice. To ensure the information and advice in this post are correct, sufficient, and appropriate for your situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Also, using or accessing ContractsCounsel's site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and ContractsCounsel.
Benjamin is an attorney specializing in Business, Intellectual Property, Employment and Real Estate.
Jason has been providing legal insight and business expertise since 2001. He is admitted to both the Virginia Bar and the Texas State Bar, and also proud of his membership to the Fellowship of Ministers and Churches. Having served many people, companies and organizations with legal and business needs, his peers and clients know him to be a high-performing and skilled attorney who genuinely cares about his clients. In addition to being a trusted legal advisor, he is a keen business advisor for executive leadership and senior leadership teams on corporate legal and regulatory matters. His personal mission is to take a genuine interest in his clients, and serve as a primary resource to them.
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Attorney licensed to practice in both California and New York, Josiah is focused on helping people understand what's in their contracts, and do business with confidence.
I am an experienced in house counsel and have worked in the pharmaceutical, consumer goods and restaurant industry. I have experience with a variety of agreements, below is a non-exhaustive list of types of agreements I can help with: Supply Agreements Distribution Agreements Manufacture Agreements Service Agreements Employment Agreements Consulting Agreements Commercial and residential lease agreements Non-compete Agreements Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreements Demand Letters Termination notice Notice of breach of contract My experience as in house counsel has exposed me to a wide variety of commercial matters for which I can provide consulting and assistance on. I have advised US, Canadian and International entities on cross-functional matters and have guided them when they are in different countries and jurisdictions as their counterparties. I can provide assistance early on in a business discussion to help guide you and make sure you ask the right questions even before the commercial agreement needs to be negotiated, but if you are ready to put a contract in place I can most definitely help with that too.
Jeff Colerick has been practicing law for over 30 years and has devoted his professional career to providing clients with intelligent representation and personal care. His experience as a lawyer involving complex matters has resulted in a long history of success. Jeff has built a practice based on a deep understanding of real estate assets and corporate activities. He combines his industry knowledge with a practical and collaborative approach to problem solving. Jeff’s client relationships are strong because they are built on mutual respect. Jeff talks the language of real estate and understands that it is a vehicle to deliver your business strategy. Jeff provides practical, responsive, and strategic advice related to real estate acquisition, construction, leasing, and sale of a wide range of real property types, including office, retail, medical, industrial, industrial flex-space, mixed-use condominium, multifamily and hospitality. As leader of the Goodspeed Merrill real estate practice group, Jeff represents clients with commercial and residential transactions, purchases and sales, land acquisition and development, real estate investment and financing, financing liens and security interests, and commercial leasing and lease maintenance, including lease enforcement support and advice. The firm represents clients in matters concerning construction, lending, developers, contractors and subcontractors, cell site leasing, property and boundary disputes, common interest community law, and residential condominiums and planned communities.
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