Before you can open your mobile beer bar, you need to understand the legal aspects involved. Laws can be complicated depending on the city or state, but we`ve taken the time to break down the basics of what you need to do before you buy your deep pressure and open your mobile beer bar. “No, you don`t need a bartender license, but what bartenders need is L.E.A.D. certification or the Servesafe program. So no to a bartender`s liquor license, but yes, there is certification that might be required. This can be a 2-hour online course to educate the certificate holder on the legal and safe service of alcoholic beverages. There is a lot of responsibility with such a responsibility, so it is advisable to have all employees and partners certified. There is a lot of good information in these courses to anticipate tricky situations. “One of the most common questions we receive from new U.S.-based or hopeful mobile bar owners is the legal requirements of the concept when it comes to alcohol. I myself dreamed of a mobile bar for a few years before I had that “ah-ha” moment of how to do it without needing a liquor license, which I knew wouldn`t be possible in my city given the requirements to get one.
This article is meant to give a solid overview of what every mobile bar owner should understand in terms of alcohol laws. While regularities may not be at the top of your list of concerns, they should be discussed and brought to your attention. Hiring your suppliers takes time and it helps to ask the right questions. For bar services, if they are not fully insured and aware of good service practices, you put yourself, your venue and your guests in a precarious position. Do your part to make sure the one you hire is reputable. You can see a lot of things in your sellers` insurance policies. You should have a minimum of these insurances: general liability, alcohol-related liability, commercial driver`s license insurance, and work insurance. Anyone you hire should be able to provide these documents upon request.
If they can`t, you`re putting yourself at risk as a consumer. “It depends on both your business model and state laws. I hate to bring this down to legality at the local level, but it still is. There are several bases in liquor licenses: manufacturing, distribution or retail. These are the three categories that say what the company does in the first place. The fun fact is that as an owner, you can`t have a monopoly on every cake. State laws violate these rules to create different licenses, which develops the path you can choose to run your business. To make this a little easier, you can`t distill whiskey, sell it to your dealer, where you`re a partner, and then go back to your restaurant. “Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, including the Florida Beverage Laws ban on mobile alcohol sales. Some licences allow mobile liquor sales services, such as liquor catering by a quota licensee (see Florida Quota Licensed Liquor Catering) or licensed liquor processors (see Working with beverage caterers).
But the limitations of these exceptions are significant and place them in a very different business model than our fictional mobile bar described above. Not satisfied with just selling service? In most places (not all, there are a few mobile bars in the U.S. that live in areas with mobile liquor licenses), there are a few things that prevent mobile bars from getting liquor licenses. For example, California, New York, Ohio, and Texas won`t give you a liquor license if you operate a mobile beer bar, so you can`t sell alcohol at a mobile beer bar in those states. This is due to the “mobile” part of your business. These states want you to stay in a static place if you plan to serve. However, this does not mean that your business idea is out of reach, as you can still host private events. However, there are two ways for an “R” licensee to use a movable bar, the BCLP says. Where can I buy a mobile bar? Where can I buy a beer cart? Horse trailer bar for sale? How much does it cost to start a mobile bartending business? When you`re ready to get started with your new mobile bar business, we can help you get perhaps the most important tool for your business – the trailer itself. Most mobile bars are not in the situation where opening a commercial kitchen and catering wing is an option. However, if you are still advocating for this cause, there have been mobile bars that have partnered with local restaurant companies to gain access to a liquor license. If you choose this route, do yourself a favor and hire a lawyer who will work regularly with the Liquor Control Board so you can make sure you know the legal requirements, risks and liabilities.
“Good question! Often, it`s a fairly lengthy process that starts with the ABC. Here are some different state names for what the office might be called. ABC (Control of Alcoholic Beverages) TLC (Control of Tobacco and Spirits). Other names can be CSF board or even ATF (alcohol, tobacco and firearms). Regardless of the name of the industry that has liquor licenses in your state, these are the people who work with or against you to allow you. You need to remember that these laws on controlling a once-banned substance nationwide start by making sure you/yourself are legal. This can be a sweep of life to make sure you`re not a convicted criminal. A life scan is a fingerprint to make sure you are who you are while paperwork is completed and submitted by your ABC. While this varies depending on the services your customer needs, the majority of mobile bartender businesses start with an annual profit of $24,000 to $41,000.
After three years, many reported an annual profit of $76,000 or more. To ensure a positive experience for your customers and their guests, start with a small staff. The general rule is that there should be one bartender for seventy-five guests if only beer and wine are served. For a full bar, it is recommended to have one bartender for every fifty guests. Check with your state for age requirements for bartenders and make sure each new employee has experience mixing drinks.
