Types of Monroe County Liquor Licenses
Business proprietors in Monroe County, Florida, should be sure to acquire a Monroe County liquor license to sell alcohol to customers legally. In southern Florida, Monroe County encompasses the Florida Keys and parts of the Everglades. The county has a population of nearly 83,000, with the largest city and county seat being Key West. In Monroe County, people enjoy visiting the Hemingway Home & Museum, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Beach, and Dry Tortugas. Many festivals and events happen year-round in Key West, drawing people to Monroe County.
All business owners must secure an alcohol license to sell liquor at their establishment, and we offer online Monroe County liquor license auctions for the following permit types:
- 5COP: Permits restaurants and bars to sell all liquor -- beer, wine, and spirits -- for consumption on-premises in Monroe County.
- 3APS: Permits liquor stores to sell all liquor -- beer, wine, and spirits -- for consumption off-premises in Monroe County, Florida.
Each Florida liquor license grants the holder the right to sell in a specific Florida county, such as Monroe. Liquor licenses are not transferable between counties. They are, however, transferable between owners, which means you can legally buy or sell any Monroe County alcohol license.
How to Buy a Monroe County Liquor License
There are two ways to obtain a liquor license in Monroe County, Florida. The first option is to secure it from the Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (AB&T), and the second is to attain one on the secondary market from a liquor license broker, such as Liquor License Auctioneers.
Most often, buyers are only able to purchase an alcohol license in Monroe County, Florida, on the open market because of the limited number of quota liquor licenses available in the county. If you are seeking an alcohol permit for Monroe County, you may have to wait until a seller is willing to sell a liquor license to you.
As the only online auction platform for Monroe County alcohol licenses, we hold our services to a high standard. Over the years, we’ve connected with many different people in the industry, including lawyers and business owners, and we’ve built lasting relationships with them. These connections allow us to provide certain liquor licenses in Monroe County exclusively on our auction platform. This means those alcohol permits are not able to be sold by other alcohol license brokerages, so we can offer them at fair prices. If you don’t see the type of Monroe County alcohol license you are looking for, please let us know, and we’ll use our network to locate one for you.
To transfer ownership of a Monroe County liquor license from a seller to a buyer, complete these eight steps.
- Set a Price for the Liquor License: The seller will set an asking price for the Monroe County alcohol license that includes the auction fee. Then, the seller will offer the alcohol permit to the buyer at that price.
- Create a Purchase Agreement: If the buyer agrees to pay the price set by the seller for the Monroe County liquor license, then both parties will sign and date a formal Purchase Agreement.
- Pay 10% of the Cost of the Liquor License Upfront: The Monroe County alcohol license buyer will pay 10% of the liquor license, and this amount will be held in an Attorney Trust Account. This removes the alcohol permit from the auction, and a closing date will be set for the purchase and transfer of the alcohol license.
- Prepare the Bill of Sale & All Closing Documents: The seller can have their escrow agent or attorney help them fill out the documents that must be submitted to complete the sale of the Monroe County alcohol license. These forms include the Closing Documents, the Alcohol Transfer Affidavit, the Bill of Sale, and any documents related to the AB&T Application. The buyer may have the completed documents put in escrow with the help of an escrow agent or attorney. The completed forms can stay in escrow until the closing date.
- Seller Pays Transfer Fees: Any fees that have accumulated during the transfer of the Monroe County liquor license will be deducted from the seller’s profit from the sale of the alcohol permit.
- Buyer pays the AB&T Annual License Fee: At the closing of the sale, the buyer owes the prorated annual license fee. They may have their attorney or escrow agent pay the fee directly to the seller’s escrow agent or attorney. A Bank Wire, Bank Check, Cashier’s Check, or Attorney Trust Account may be used to pay the fee.
- Closing the Bill of Sale: When the sale for the Monroe County liquor license is closed, the seller or their attorney or escrow agent will hand over the following documents to the buyer: the original Bill of Sale, the Affidavit of Transferor, and the Closing Statement.
- Submit Transfer of Liquor License Application Documents to AB&T: The buyer will need to complete all forms required as well as the AB&T Application. They can have their attorney help them accomplish this. If the business establishment is not open or not ready to sell liquor, the buyer may put the Monroe County alcohol license in escrow with the Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (AB&T). On the other hand, a temporary liquor license will be sent by the Division of AB&T if the business is open and ready to sell alcohol.
Our liquor license brokers may assist you in completing the following nine steps to acquire a liquor license in Monroe County, Florida.
- Secure the location: Decide where you will sell or serve liquor, and rent, lease, or purchase the place of business.
- Select your liquor license: Determine which type of Monroe County liquor license you need for your business. Choose where you will obtain an alcohol permit from, either the Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (AB&T) or through a liquor license broker, like Liquor License Auctioneers, on the open market.
- Survey the location: A contractor will need to perform an inspection of your place of business. You may have our alcohol permit brokers complete this survey of your establishment.
- Complete your AB&T Application: The AB&T Application and forms must be submitted. These additional requirements include receiving the originating agency identification number, paying a fee, sending a blueprint of the business establishment, gaining Department of Revenue Approval, getting zoning approval, providing a right of occupancy, completing service agreements, getting health and human resources approval, registering with the Florida Division of Corporations, submitting fingerprints, and completing all related-party personal information.
- Submit your AB&T Application: Sent the AB&T Application for the liquor license along with all required documents to the Monroe County division district office to be reviewed and approved.
- Post the temporary initial license: If you paid a fee during the process of completing the AB&T Application, they will send you a temporary alcohol permit. When you receive the temporary Monroe County alcohol license, it must be posted prominently at your business location until the AB&T sends over the official liquor license.
- AB&T Application Review: The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (AB&T) will review the forms and documents for the AB&T Application and will input the documents into their data system.
- Submit to investigation: A final inspection must be conducted by the DBPR Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (AB&T). After they survey your place of business, the Division of AB&T will determine if your business is viable to sell alcohol.
- Receive the liquor license: If you pass the final survey of your business and the AB&T Application is approved, the DBPR AB&T will bill you for the cost of the Monroe County liquor license. Then, after they collect your payment, they will send you the official alcohol license for Monroe County, Florida. When you receive the alcohol permit, you are instructed to post it at your location.
If you complete all of the above nine steps, you will meet the requirements set by the Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (AB&T) to obtain an alcohol license in Monroe County, Florida. If you want to make sure this process goes smoothly, it’s a good idea to check with your local municipal government and ask if there are any additional stipulations that must be met to secure a liquor license in Key West, Florida.
Using our skilled services provided by our experienced liquor license brokers will help you compete with all the competition there is in Monroe County for liquor licenses. We set ourselves apart by our years of experience in this industry, exceptional customer service, and ethical prices for alcohol permits. Let us know if you are looking for a specific type of Monroe County alcohol permit, and we can track one down for you. View all available Monroe County alcohol licenses on our online auction site now, and make an offer.
