How Much Does a Liquor License Cost? (and Other FAQs)
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What is a quota license and how can I get one?
Quota licenses authorize the sale of beer, wine, and most importantly, liquor. They are statutorily limited in number, with one new license issued when the county’s population grows by 7,500 people. This type of license cannot be moved to another county.
There are two primary ways to obtain a quota license:
Enter the Quota License Lottery Drawing and win the right to apply for a quota license (entry forms accepted for 45 days starting the 3rd Monday in August of each year), or
Purchase a quota license from a current licensee.
How much is a liquor license in Florida?
The short answer is that quota liquor licenses are generally priced between approximately $100,000 and $500,000. The longer answer is, well, longer. Quota licensing pricing depends on several factors, but lets start with the threshold issue of whether you need a “full liquor license” aka a quota alcoholic beverage license.
One of the first determinations we make with a new liquor license client is whether a cheaper alternative is available to them. There are several exceptions that allow certain establishments to serve liquor without a quota license, including common ones for lodging establishments and large restaurants. I would encourage you to review the linked articles and the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco list of all license types before committing to purchase a quota license.
If you’ve read this far, you probably need a quota license. In that case, it depends on another key factor: location. Quota licenses are issued on a county-by-county basis, and cannot move across county lines. That means that there are many different markets for these coveted licenses, and valuations vary between locations.
Leon, Duval, and Orange are known to be particularly expenses, while Polk and Clay have historically been cheaper counties to purchase a quota license in.
How do I buy a liquor license in Florida?
While there are a fair amount of transferred quota licenses each year, it can be difficult for a prospective seller to get a handle on the market prices and what is available. There is no MLS for Florida liquor licenses, but it isn’t quite a “you have to know a guy who knows a guy” situation. There is a community of alcoholic beverage lawyers and consultants who represent buyers and/or sellers of these licenses, and importantly, connect the parties for sales transactions.
Glover Law frequently assists buyers of quota licenses in the search for a properly located and priced option. The firm’s current license inventory is available here. Please note that sellers generally require an earnest money deposit (approximately 10%) to lock down a sales transaction.
How do I sell a liquor license in Florida?
In the previous section, I mentioned the community of lawyers and consultants that assist in liquor license sales transactions, including this firm. I recommend reaching out to someone frequently engaged in these transactions to ascertain reasonable pricing levels and to discuss the regulatory hurdles involved.
The community of lawyers and consultants are diverse and diffuse, and it’s important to find a representative that you feel comfortable with. If not this firm, at a minimum a prospective seller should look for a Florida-based individual or firm that holds at least one state-issued license such as a Florida Bar license or a real estate broker’s license.