AAA Liquor License Consulting

08/28/2026

California just opened the only window that matters for new liquor licenses in 2026.

Once a year, the state accepts applications for new general liquor licenses through the ABC Priority Registration Drawing.

11 days. One window. Then it closes until 2027.

That window opens September 14.

This year, the ABC announced new license availability across 32 California counties — covering on-sale general, off-sale general, and intercounty transfer licenses.

Here's why that matters:

✅ A new Type 47 license purchased through a private transfer in a competitive California county can cost well into the six figures
✅ The ABC's filing fee for a priority application is $19,840 — a fraction of open-market value in most counties
✅ That gap is the entire reason the lottery matters — winning gets you a license at a price private transfers simply can't match

The operators who win aren't lucky.

They're prepared — the right county, the right license type, a complete application, and a clear plan for what to do the moment their name is drawn.

The window opens September 14 and closes September 25.

If you're planning to enter — preparation starts now.

Comment LOTTERY below and I'll DM you the complete 2026 ABC Lottery Guide.

08/27/2026

Did you know the ABC holds an annual liquor license lottery? 🎰

It's called the ABC Priority Drawing — and it's one of the most underutilized opportunities in the industry.

Every year, the ABC issues up to 25 brand-new Type 47, 48, and Type 21 liquor licenses per county at a discounted price. This is a once-a-year opportunity to get a new license directly from the state — without going through the open market.

If you're thinking about opening a restaurant or bar in California, this is a window worth knowing about — and worth entering correctly.

Jason Kho and the AAA team can walk you through everything you need to know and make sure your application is done right.

📞 323-510-7831
🌐 www.aaaliquorlicenses.com
🔗 https://bit.ly/ABCLiquorLicenseLottery

08/24/2026

You found the space. The rent works. The neighborhood feels right.

Then weeks into the process — you find out the location can never be licensed.

It's one of the most expensive mistakes a new operator can make. A lease on an ineligible location runs $10,000–$30,000/month while you can't open. Build-out costs are sunk. ABC fees are non-refundable.

And the frustrating part? It's almost always avoidable.

Before you sign on any space intended for a bar, restaurant, or retail liquor business — there are four things that need to be confirmed:

✔️ Zoning — general commercial isn't enough; alcohol use has to be explicitly permitted

✔️ Sensitive use proximity — a school, church, or day care within 600 feet can disqualify the location entirely

✔️ License saturation — some neighborhoods already have more licenses than the law allows, making new approvals an uphill battle

✔️ Conditional Use Permit — many jurisdictions require one before the ABC will even process your application

None of this shows up on a lease. All of it matters before you sign one.

We put together a full breakdown of what location eligibility means, what to check, and how to protect yourself before you commit to a space.

🔗 Read the full article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/location-eligibility-due-diligence-step-gylsc

If you're evaluating locations right now, drop a comment or send us a message — happy to answer questions.

08/16/2026

Before you start planning your opening timeline around the ABC's quote — watch this Saturday's episode first. 👀

Episode 3 of Liquor Licenses 101 with Jason Kho drops this Saturday on YouTube. He's covering the real timeline, what happens after you submit, and whether fast-tracking is actually an option for your situation.

🎥WATCH HERE: https://youtu.be/fngC1-eGiFg

🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss it!
📞 323-510-7831
🔗 https://bit.ly/AAALiquorLicenses

Liquor Licenses 101 with Jason Kho — Episode 3! 🎉 New episodes drop...

08/14/2026

Most operators focus on getting the application submitted.

Smart operators focus on getting it ready.

Those aren't the same thing — and the difference shows up in the process.

Here's what that actually looks like side by side:

✅ Location — most operators assume it will work. Smart operators confirm eligibility before anything else is decided

✅ Documents — most operators gather them after filing. Smart operators have everything complete before submission

✅ Business structure — most operators file without thinking through full disclosure. Smart operators have ownership, entity, and operating agreements properly documented from the start

✅ Local requirements — most operators discover them mid-process. Smart operators research the city and county layer before anything is filed

✅ Result — most operators surface gaps mid-review. Smart operators submit applications that move

Submitted means the forms went in.

Ready means the groundwork behind those forms is solid.

An application that's submitted but not ready tends to stall — not because the process is difficult, but because the preparation wasn't there.

An application that's ready tends to move.

The difference between the two isn't talent or connections.

It's what happened before anyone hit submit.

Which column describes where you are right now — and what would it take to get to the other one?

08/01/2026

After reviewing hundreds of applications — here's what separates the ones that move from the ones that don't.

It's not perfection.

It's completeness.

And there's a meaningful difference between the two.

A perfect application is an unrealistic target that creates anxiety and second-guessing.

A complete application is a achievable standard that consistently produces better outcomes.

Here's what completeness actually looks like in practice:

✅ All the pieces in place — every required document, disclosure, and supporting material accounted for before submission
✅ All the questions answered before they're asked — the information a reviewer needs is already there, without having to request it
✅ All potential friction points identified and addressed upfront — location issues, ownership disclosures, structural considerations — surfaced and resolved before they become mid-process problems
✅ Nothing left for the process to uncover — because the preparation already found it

Applications that stall almost always have the same profile.

Something missing. Something unresolved. Something that should have been addressed before submission but wasn't.

And the process — predictably — surfaces it.

Applications that move have a different profile.

The work was done before anyone hit submit.

That's what a prepared application looks like.
And that's what consistently produces better outcomes.

What's the part of your application you feel least confident about right now?

07/29/2026

If you are planning to open a licensed business in Florida, the licensing landscape looks very different from what most California operators expect.

Florida uses a quota-based licensing system. Many of the state's most active markets — Miami-Dade, Orange County, Broward, and Palm Beach — have already hit their county cap on new licenses.

That means standard new applications simply are not available in those areas.

In Miami-Dade alone, full liquor licenses on the secondary market can range from $225,000 to over $600,000. In Palm Beach County, some have exceeded $1 million.

For operators in capped counties, the paths forward are:

1. Acquire an existing license through the secondary market
2. Enter the annual Florida Quota License Lottery

The 2026 lottery entry period opens August 18 and closes October 1.

Over the next several weeks we will be sharing a dedicated series on the Florida licensing landscape — how the quota system works, how the lottery operates, and what you need to know before planning around either path.

Whether you are a first-time applicant or a seasoned California operator looking to expand, understanding Florida's system before you commit to a location or a timeline can save you significant time and money.

AAA Liquor License Consulting | CA-based | All 50 states
323-510-7831 | www.aaaliquorlicenses.com