In most states the license is the scarce thing, not the shop. Its transfer runs through a state or local board on their timetable, some licenses cannot be transferred at all, and in limited license jurisdictions the license itself can be a large share of the price.
Get quotes to sell my business
The license transfer governs everything
Applications go to a board, are often published for objection, and can take months. The buyer must qualify personally, which rules out some purchasers entirely. A broker who has done this in your state knows the timetable and the common objections, and that knowledge is most of what the specialism is worth.
What else a buyer prices
The lease and its remaining term, because location is the trade. Stock, valued separately at cost with slow moving lines discounted. Margin by category, which varies far more than owners expect. Competition within a short radius, including any pending applications, which a buyer will check even if you have not.
Choosing the broker
Closed liquor store sales in your state in the last two years with sellers you can call, familiarity with the licensing board's process, and the minimum fee. Ask specifically how they sequence the license application against the lease consent, because doing those in the wrong order is what makes these sales take a year.
Questions people ask about liquor store brokers
Can the license be sold separately?
In some limited license jurisdictions yes, and it can be a substantial asset. In others the license is tied to the premises and the person. It is state specific and worth confirming before you market.
How long does a sale take?
Frequently longer than other retail sales because of the licensing step. Six to twelve months is common and the board's timetable is not negotiable.
Is stock included?
Usually valued separately at cost at closing, with agreed treatment for slow moving lines.