Liquor license for sale in Florida
Florida's prized asset is the 4COP quota license (full liquor, any use). It is genuinely scarce in big counties and trades for six figures. But the 4COP-SRX special restaurant license is NOT quota-limited — if you run a real restaurant you may never need to buy a quota license at all.
License types & what they trade for
| License | Use | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| 4COP (quota) Quota Full-Liquor License | Bar, package store or restaurant — full liquor, no use restriction. | $100k–$500k+ resale (county-dependent) |
| 4COP-SRX Special Restaurant License | Full liquor, restaurant only — requires ≥2,500 sq ft, ≥150 seats and 51% food sales. | DBPR fees only (not quota-limited) |
| 2COP Beer & Wine On-Premise | Restaurant / bar serving beer and wine only. | DBPR fees only |
| 1APS / 2APS Package Sales (off-premise) | Beer (1APS) or beer & wine (2APS) sold sealed to-go. | DBPR fees only |
Resale figures are market estimates and move with demand. Verify current availability on the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (ABT), DBPR registry.
By county / market
- Miami-Dade County — Deepest quota-license market in the state; 4COP resale often $250k–$500k+.
- Broward County — Strong demand (Fort Lauderdale); quota 4COP commonly $150k–$400k.
- Palm Beach County — Affluent coastal county; quota licenses trade in the low-to-mid six figures.
- Hillsborough County — Tampa market; quota-license pricing below the southeast-coast counties.
Next steps
Read the step-by-step how-to-buy guide for Florida, the Florida cost breakdown, and how buyers finance a license.
FAQ
How much does a liquor license cost in Florida?
DBPR's own annual license fees are modest (hundreds to low thousands). The six-figure number you see quoted is the secondary-market RESALE price of a county quota license, which scarcity — not the state — sets.
Can you buy a liquor license in Florida?
Yes. Florida caps general licenses, so they trade on a secondary market. Florida's prized asset is the 4COP quota license (full liquor, any use). It is genuinely scarce in big counties and trades for six figures. But the 4COP-SRX special restaurant license is NOT quota-limited — if you run a real restaurant you may never need to buy a quota license at all.
How do you transfer a liquor license in Florida?
A quota license can transfer to a new owner and to a new location WITHIN THE SAME COUNTY. Moving a quota license to a different county is generally not allowed — buy within the county you'll operate in. SRX and beer/wine licenses are tied to the qualifying premises.