If you want to start selling liquor in Florida, you’re going to need a 4Cop License. How do you get one? The best way is to enter the Florida Liquor Lottery. Here’s what you need to know before you enter, and how to ensure you have the best chance of winning.
The Florida Liquor Lottery
In Florida, liquor licenses are handed out by lottery. The lottery is opened every year and left open for 45 days for anyone who wishes to enter. This year, the lottery opened on the 13th August and is currently open to anyone who wants to apply.
There’s a set limit to how many licenses can be in effect in Florida at one time. For every increase of 7,500 people in the population, another license is allowed by the state.
The lottery is the only ‘official’ way of obtaining a brand new license, so if you’re thinking of starting a business now, you’ll need to enter the lottery right now while you can.
How The Lottery Works
To enter the Florida liquor license lottery, you’ll need to pay a fee to place your entry. The fee you pay will vary from county to county, so make sure you check what you need to pay before you enter.
If you win a license in the lottery, you’ll be required to pay the full fee for the license of $10,750. This will give you the right to sell beer, wines and liquors at your place of business. This will need to be renewed every year, so make a note of the date you pay for your license and look for reminders to renew when the time comes.
Be aware that if you buy a license, you’ll only be licensed to sell liquor in your chosen county. If you want to move to another county, you won’t be able to bring that license with you.
Requirements For Buying A License
Before you enter the Florida liquor license lottery to win a Florida 4Cop License, you’ll need to meet several different criteria to apply. These include:
- Social security numbers: You’ll need the social security numbers of anyone you’re looking to include on your license.
- No felony charges: You’ll need a clean criminal record in order to obtain a liquor license in Florida.
- Zoning approval document: You’ll need to prove that the area you want to open your business in is zoned for the sale of alcohol.
- Federal employer’s declaration number: This will prove that your business is properly registered with the state of Florida.
Having all of these things in place will ensure that you’re ready to enter the lottery and hopefully, earn a license.
Is The Lottery The Best Way To Get A License?
Now, the license lottery is the most official way to earn your license, so you can start selling alcohol in your establishment. Is it the best way, though? If you win the lottery, you can get started right away and start selling alcohol. If you don’t win though, you’ll have to wait until next year in order to try again, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll win.
If you want a license right away, you can buy one off someone who’s looking to sell theirs. This is a more stable way of getting your license, and you can get it right away. No more waiting for the lottery to open, and you know you’ll get your license when you pay your money. The downside here is that it can be a lot more expensive to buy your license this way. In some cases, you can be spending as much as $500,000 on just one license.
Which way should you buy your license? It very much depends on how soon you need your license, and how much you’re willing to pay. The lottery is much cheaper in the long run, even if you have to enter multiple times. However, you may have to wait a long time to get your license, and buying yours from an existing license holder may be the best option for you.
Now you know how to obtain a liquor license in Florida. Entering the lottery will put you in the running for one, to get your business set up for alcohol sales.