Restaurant Liquor License | Restaurant Bar License

Thrive Liquor & Cannabis Advisors makes getting a restaurant liquor license easy. Our consultants do the heavy lifting, saving you time, frustration and money. We take the guesswork out of food service liquor licensing and do the work, so you can do what you do best – planning or running your restaurant. Our consultants provide clarity, answer questions, and ensure that all licensing requirements are met before the application is submitted, preventing delays and greatly increasing your chances of application approval.

Liquor service applications

A restaurant liquor license is a significant revenue booster because liquor has much higher profit margins than food service. If you are starting a restaurant, bistro, café or catering company and you want to serve alcohol, you’ll have to apply for a provincial or state liquor license. Restaurant owners applying for a license must fulfill many government requirements including submitting ownership and business documentation, submitting floor plans, undergoing a criminal records checks, and ensuring that managers and employees have valid liquor service certification. Thrive Advisors manages this large list of licensing to-dos, making the process go smoothly. Once your liquor license is approved, we can help you remain compliant, including applying for license amendments if your operation changes.

Restaurant bar license applications

A restaurant bar license doesn’t usually require a separate application, although the bar will have to meet specific regulatory requirements. These requirements usually include meeting bar square footage limitations (compared to rest of the restaurant), location of the bar, bar capacity, bar food menu, entertainment restrictions and safe liquor service certification.

Thrive offers many services relevant to starting or running a food service business that requires a liquor license:

What we do

Provide input on floor planning so that plans meet regulatory requirements
Give feedback on restaurant bar planning ensuring that plans meet liquor licensing requirements
Review kitchen equipment and layout as they relate to liquor license requirements
Compile corporate documentation, business principals’ details as required by the liquor license application
Apply for a municipal business license and province/state restaurant liquor license

Coordinate site visits from the liquor licensing inspector
Coordinate timing of different parts of a restaurant build to minimize liquor license application delays
Employee acquisition and compliance-readiness training
Ongoing compliance audits and training
Update the liquor license when there are operational changes, renovations, or required endorsements (i.e. patio license)

Thrive Liquor & Cannabis Advisors provides restaurant liquor licensing services to food service companies in Canada and the U.S.A. Read about areas we serve.

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Restaurant liquor license FAQ

1How much experience does Thrive Advisors have working with restaurants?

Since 2002, our consultants have provided restaurant liquor license support services to food service businesses. Rebecca Hardin, Thrive’s founder and lead consultant, has owned and operated restaurants that had liquor service.

2Can you provide consultation services remotely or will you need to visit my location?

Most of our services are provided remotely, although we can make site visits as required.

3How much does it cost for Thrive to apply for my restaurant liquor license?

Liquor license consulting fees vary depending on the needs of your business and the degree of our involvement. We provide a free consultation so that we can assess your needs and provide an estimate.

4Do you guarantee that our liquor license will be approved?

No consultant can guarantee license approval, although about 98% of our clients have had their food service liquor license approved, based on our work.

5How long does it take for a restaurant to get a liquor license?

Typically, it takes a few months for a liquor license application to be assessed and approved. It can take a little longer if other licenses, such as a patio permit are also required.

6What is a compliance audit?

Once your restaurant has a liquor license, you’ll need to ensure that your operation remains compliant with applicable laws and licensing requirements. Infractions can lead to fines and in some cases liquor license suspension. We recommend twice-yearly compliance audits.

If you’re looking for trusted advisors who work in partnership with you to ensure the success of your business, let’s talk.

Let’s start the conversation.

“We speak the language of restaurant licensing"