Need Legal Help for Your Business? Find It Here
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Need Legal Help for Your Business? Find It Here

When my husband I decided to start a business, we didn't think about the legal aspects of doing so. We didn't realize that purchasing business insurance, getting building permits and making investments all required some type of legal advice. But after speaking to a close friend, who also happens to own a small business, we contacted a business attorney. Now, we have the legal smarts to make the best decisions for our business, as well as the legal representation in case something happens to our company. I hope that you find my blog helpful and informative for your own business. It's a great resource for finding the legal advice, resources and guidance you need to get your company up and running.

Need Legal Help for Your Business? Find It Here

Five Things You Need to Know about Liquor Licenses If You're Getting One for Your Establishment

Ronnie Mills

Acquiring a liquor license can at first feel like a complicated process. However, it can also be a great way to boost the appeal of a food store or a dining establishment. You'll need to do some research on the process to be successful. The following are five things you should know about liquor licenses before you get started:

Selling alcohol without a license is typically a criminal charge.

The consequences of getting caught selling liquor without the appropriate license are severe. In most states, it's considered a class 1 misdemeanor. Not only will you risk having your business shut down if you neglect to get a license before selling, but you'll also risk having a criminal record after you're caught. 

The cost of acquiring a liquor license varies by state.

The cost of acquiring a liquor license varies widely depending on what state your business is operating in. A liquor license could cost as little as $300 or as much as $14,000. You'll need to figure out what the costs will be for you by checking out the regulations of your state's Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. 

Full liquor licenses cost more than limited liquor licenses.

While regulations for acquiring a liquor license vary by state, most states offer fewer requirements and lower prices to those who opt for a limited liquor license rather than a full liquor license.

A full liquor license will allow you to sell any alcoholic beverage, including hard liquor. However, you may only want to sell wine and beer at your establishment. In this case, you can opt to get a limited liquor license for a more affordable price.

Another option is to acquire a bring-your-own-beer (BYOB) license that allows diners to consume alcohol on your premises that they bought elsewhere.

There are two main types of liquor license: on-licenses and off-licenses.

The type of license you need will also depend on whether you want to sell liquor to be consumed on your premises or elsewhere by the buyer. In some states, getting an off-license for liquor sales may be less expensive and more simple than getting an on-license. 

Liquor licenses can be revoked for a variety of reasons.

After you get your license, you need to be conscious of what situations could result in the loss of your liquor license. Liquor licenses are not permanent and can be revoked or suspended for a variety of reasons. Some examples of ways you could lose your license include serving alcohol to minors or running an establishment where disorderly conduct charges become excessively frequent. 

Click here to continue reading more about liquor licensing.


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