If you plan to open up a new bar, there are a lot of key steps you need to take early on. Chiefly among them is acquiring a liquor license. Do this and you can sell alcohol of any form in a legal manner. You just need to follow a couple of strategies when it comes to liquor licensing for startup bars in particular.

Avoid Dry Counties

There are some areas in the country that don't allow for the sale of alcohol. They're referred to as dry counties. Even if you had a liquor license, you wouldn't be able to sell alcohol in your bar if it was located in said area.

For this reason, you want to be very strategic with where the new bar is set up. Make sure you don't choose a dry location so that when you obtain a liquor license, you will be able to operate your new liquor store without any issues. 

Hire an Attorney When Having a License Transferred

There are a couple of ways your new bar can obtain a liquor license. One of these is to have the license transferred over by the previous owner, which is relevant if you purchased a bar that already existed. If you go this route, make sure you hire a business lawyer to assist.

They can oversee and facilitate this liquor license transfer to ensure nothing gets in your way. They'll also make sure this transfer is legitimate so that you don't get penalized in the future for selling alcohol, whether it's beer, wine, or mixed drinks. 

Continue to Renew the License

Once you get approved for a liquor license, it's important to note that you will have to renew it in the future. This may be every year or longer depending on the state that you open up a bar in.

As long as you comply with these renewal guidelines, you can keep your bar compliant and continue to sell alcohol in a legal manner. You might just set reminders for when your license needs to be renewed in the future.

If you want to establish a new bar in a particular city, one of the most important things you need to do from a legal standpoint is obtain a liquor license. This isn't hard if you just follow your state's licensing protocols and keep this license active after you get approved. 

Contact a professional to learn more about liquor licensing. 

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