- Who handles it
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
- What you file
- Application for transfer of ownership of an alcoholic beverage license, form ABT-6002
- When
- Filed by the buyer once the sale is under contract, well before the closing date
Easy to miss: The buyer may not operate or sell alcohol under the old license. A temporary license in the buyer's name must be in place first.
Two Kinds of Licenses
Florida has quota licenses, which allow the sale of liquor and are limited by county population, and licenses that are not quota limited, such as beer and wine only.
A quota license is a scarce asset with real market value, and buyers pay for it separately from the business.
Which one you hold decides most of what follows.
How the Transfer Works
The state treats a sale as a transfer of ownership. The buyer files an application with the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, which reviews the buyer, the location and the paperwork.
State rules require the buyer to be approved in its own name.
The key rule for sellers: the buyer cannot take over and sell alcohol before holding a temporary or permanent license in the buyer's name. Plan for days or weeks of closed bar sales unless a temporary license is ready.
What the State Wants to See
- A signed sales contract or lease for the location
- Personal information about each owner, which is screened
- Proof the seller's accounts with suppliers are in good standing
- Three years of gross sales records for quota licenses
The transfer fee on a quota license depends on average sales over the prior three years, so the records matter to cost as well as approval.
Practical Points for Sellers
Pay your wholesalers and state taxes before closing, because unpaid accounts can delay a transfer. Tell your landlord, since the lease and license both must show the new owner at the same address.
If the sale is canceled after the application, there is a separate state form for putting a quota license back with its prior holder. Ask your attorney to include a clear plan for that case.
Timing With Other Steps
Leases and local approvals come first, so review lease assignment and landlord consent. Local rules for a Miami Beach venue are in Miami Beach, and the business sale itself is covered in the restaurant and bar valuation brief.
What Buyers Pay For
A quota license can be worth more than the equipment in the restaurant. Buyers ask whether it is included in the price, and sometimes the license is sold apart from the business.
Spell this out in the contract, with the amount and who pays the state's transfer fee.
Include the license in your valuation conversation from the start, because the answer changes how brokers present the business.
Sources and Advice
The Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco publishes the application package and fee schedule, and a hospitality attorney can guide the process.
This page is general information, not tax or legal advice, so confirm the details with your CPA or attorney. To see what your venue might bring, request a private estimate.