Key takeaways
- Florida caps full-liquor “quota” licenses at roughly one per 7,500 county residents, so most new owners buy an existing license on the private market.
- The state’s annual fee for a quota license depends on county population. The Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) lists $1,820 a year for counties over 100,000 people, scaling down to $624 in the smallest counties.
- Private-market prices vary widely by county. Florida attorneys report sales approaching $1 million in some counties.
- New licenses are issued each year through a public drawing with a $100 entry per county, but the odds are long.
- Beer-and-wine-only licenses are not quota-limited and cost far less, which is why many convenience stores start there.
About numbers on this page
Fees below are taken from state agency fee schedules as published when we checked them (October 2026) and can change. License market prices, deal examples, and financing terms are illustrative ranges, not quotes, promises, or offers. Your costs, approval, rate, and terms depend on your store, location, credit, and the lender’s underwriting. Not all applicants qualify.
How Florida liquor licensing works
Florida separates alcohol licenses by what you sell. A license that allows beer and wine only is relatively easy to get: you apply to the state, pay the fee, pass a background check, and meet local zoning. A license that allows spirits is different. Under Florida Statute 561.20, the number of these licenses in each county is limited by population. Each county gets one for roughly every 7,500 residents, and every county gets at least three.
That cap creates a secondary market. When you want to open or buy a store that sells liquor, you usually need to buy a license from someone who already holds one, then have the transfer approved by ABT. The state fee is modest. The market price is not.
Florida names its full-liquor quota licenses by county size, such as 4COP in larger counties and 5COP through 8COP in smaller ones. The number reflects the fee tier, not different privileges. Package-store operators should confirm with ABT or a licensing attorney which license series fits their exact business before signing a purchase agreement.
Florida liquor license fees by county size
| County population | License designation | Annual state fee |
|---|---|---|
| Over 100,000 | 4COP | $1,820 |
| 75,001–100,000 | 5COP | $1,560 |
| 50,001–75,000 | 6COP | $1,300 |
| 25,001–50,000 | 7COP | $858 |
| 25,000 or fewer | 8COP | $624 |
These are recurring state fees, paid every year to keep the license active. Cities and counties may add their own local business tax receipts and zoning approvals, so check with your local government too. ABT publishes the full fee chart, including beer and wine licenses, on its website.
What a quota license costs on the private market
No state agency sets the price of an existing quota license. It is whatever a willing buyer and seller agree on. Price depends mainly on the county, because licenses can’t be moved between counties. Fast-growing, high-income counties tend to command the highest prices. Florida attorneys who handle these transfers describe prices that can approach $1 million in some counties, while rural counties trade far lower.
To get a realistic number for your county:
- Ask two or three license brokers for recent sale prices in that county, not asking prices.
- Review ABT’s published lists of active and inactive quota licenses to see how many exist in the county.
- Ask a Florida alcohol-licensing attorney what comparable transfers closed at in the last 12 months.
- Budget for the state’s transfer fee and legal costs on top of the purchase price. ABT publishes how the quota transfer fee is computed.
Because the license often costs more than the store’s fixtures and inventory combined, it usually drives the whole deal structure.
The annual quota license drawing
When a county’s population grows enough, ABT creates new quota licenses and awards the right to apply for them by public drawing. The entry period opens each August and runs about 45 days, and each entry costs a nonrefundable $100 per county. According to Glover Law’s notice, the 2026 drawing offered 63 licenses across 30 counties, and entries closed September 30, 2026.
Thousands of people typically enter, so treat the drawing as a lottery ticket, not a plan. Winners also pay additional fees to the state when the license is issued. If you’re building a business plan, assume you’ll buy a license and treat a drawing win as upside.
Total cost to get licensed in Florida
| Cost item | Who sets it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Quota license purchase | Private market | Largest item; varies by county |
| State transfer fee | ABT | Computed per ABT’s published method |
| Annual license fee | ABT | $624–$1,820 depending on county size |
| Local business tax and zoning | City/county | Varies by location |
| Attorney or licensing consultant | You | Transfers involve background checks and disclosure of funding sources |
| Carrying costs during approval | You | Rent and payroll may start before you can sell spirits |
How buyers finance a Florida liquor license
Lenders rarely lend against a liquor license alone, and many treat it as hard to repossess. In practice, Florida license purchases are funded as part of a bigger transaction:
- SBA 7(a) acquisition loan. When you buy an operating liquor store, the 7(a) can finance the full purchase price, which usually includes the license value, as long as an independent valuation supports it. See SBA loans for liquor stores.
- Seller financing. A seller carrying part of the price, often paired with an SBA loan, is common for store-plus-license deals.
- Cash equity plus a term loan. For startup stores buying a standalone license, lenders usually want significant cash in the deal.
Read our liquor license financing guide for how lenders look at these deals, and our Florida liquor store financing page for state-specific notes.
Beer and wine first? The Florida alternative
Some Florida owners start with a beer-and-wine license, which isn’t subject to the quota, and add spirits later when cash flow can support a quota license purchase. That lowers startup cost but changes your sales mix, since spirits often carry much of a liquor store’s revenue. Model both scenarios in your business plan before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a liquor license in Florida?
Why are Florida liquor licenses so expensive?
Can I move a Florida quota license to another county?
How do I enter the Florida quota license drawing?
Can I get a loan for a Florida liquor license?
Sources
We cite primary sources where possible: state agencies, federal programs, and official rules. Rules vary by state and change over time.
General education, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Loan programs, state alcohol laws, and lender requirements change and vary by state. Disclosures.