How a BC Bar Consultant Can Help Your Pub or Bar Succeed

A bar consultant provides many consulting services that make starting and running a successful bar or pub less complicated and time consuming. More importantly, by working with a consultant, your business stands a greater chance at success in a competitive market. Thrive Liquor & Cannabis Advisors works with bar owners at many stages of the business’s lifecycle. We understand provincial and municipal requirements and provide services tailored to the specific needs of bars.

Thrive provides many bar consulting services, including the following.

Start-Up Consultation

There are many steps in a start-up’s journey and many questions to answer:

• How do you choose a good location?
• What is a viable capacity for the location?
• What provincial and municipal licensing requirements must be met and in what order?
• What is the optimal floor plan or layout?
• What training requirements are there for employees?

As Bar consultants we can help you answer all of the questions above, providing clear guidance and recommendations throughout the process.

Bar License Application

In BC, a Liquor Primary license is required to operate a bar. Although a Liquor Primary license is most-often for bars and pubs, other businesses that want to offer liquor as an additional service must also apply.

Application processing can take up to a year. Long before the application is submitted, an applicant must research requirements of local or Indigenous government, including zoning, development permits, business permits, public notice and consultation (see “Public Consultation Guidance” below).

A number of documents must be submitted along with the liquor license application:

• A letter of intent
• The personal history of the main applicant and partners
• Criminal record check
• Business type (e.g., sole propriety, corporation, partnership etc.)
• Floor plan
• Site map that includes location, features, parking, road access

Incomplete applications are the number one reason for licensing delays. Working with a bar consultant ensures that all necessary licensing prerequisites are met and information gathered so that a complete application is submitted.

Public Consultation Guidance

Municipal or Indigenous Nations usually require public notice (site signage and news ads) and may require public consultation. Public consultation is your opportunity to show that the bar will be a responsible, contributing part of the local community. Once local government approval is given, the provincial government grants “approval in principal” and the application may proceed.

Thrive Liquor & Cannabis Advisors knows what government is looking for during public consultation and can provide guidance and feedback for presentations.

Compliance Audits & Compliance Training

Once your bar is licensed, the business, managers and employees must comply with government licensing requirements and the law. Compliance infractions may result in fines or license suspension. Thrive Advisors provides compliance audits and compliance training that safeguard your liquor license. We recommend a yearly audit and training.

Talk to the Bar Consultants at Thrive

Whether your bar is in the start-up stage or has been open for some time, give your business a competitive edge by working with the bar consultants at Thrive Liquor & Cannabis Advisors. Talk to us about licensing, compliance audits and training. We offer bar consulting services in BC and Alberta. To see what it’s like working with our consultants, read our liquor and cannabis licensing case studies.