What does a new location actually cost

Pick a state, a location type and how many sites you are opening. These are first-year license and permit costs only, before rent, fit-out or payroll.

State

Location type

How many locations

First-year license cost$7,448 – $53,010

State liquor license$1,204 – $10,320

County food service permit$258 – $1,032

City business tax certificate$65 – $387

Sign permit$103 – $516

Fire and occupancy$129 – $688

Food handler cards (x12)$103 – $310

Ranges are indicative and vary by county and city. Multiplied by 4 locations at the Tennessee rate.

What the number leaves out

Three costs that are real but do not show up in a fee schedule.

Processing time

A liquor license can take six weeks in a slow county. That is six weeks of rent with no revenue.

Refiling

Roughly one in six first-time applications comes back for a form or document issue.

Staff time

Three to six hours per permit if somebody in your team is assembling it themselves.

Coverage Map

3Lapsed

4Due soon

2Filing

25Current

17No sites

Get the exact number

for your address

Get the exact number

for your address

The calculator uses state-level ranges. The real answer depends on your county and your city, and we will give you that free for any address you send.

Requirement list resolved to your exact address

Current fee for each body, not a national average

Typical processing time so you can plan the opening

Opening somewhere new?

Send the address before you sign the lease. We will map every body that touches it.

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