- Who handles it
- Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, plus the city or county governing body
- What you file
- A new license application or change of ownership filing through the Commission
- When
- Start as soon as a buyer is under contract, since local review takes weeks
Easy to miss: The buyer generally cannot sell alcohol until the state approves the license in the buyer's name. A deal that closes first can leave the doors open and the taps off.
Two Levels of Approval
Alcohol licensing in Nebraska runs through the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, and the city or county where the business sits has a say. Local councils review applications and recommend approval or denial, and the city clerk handles the paper.
Both levels have to agree before a buyer can serve.
The License Is Not a Free Asset
Licenses in Nebraska are issued to a person or entity at a location. In many sales the buyer applies for a new license rather than taking over the old one, so the purchase price should not assume the license simply carries over.
Ask the Commission which route fits your deal before you sign a contract.
Changes in Ownership of a Company
The Commission's rules treat a change in who owns the stock of a corporate licensee as a change in ownership that must be reported. The Commission may ask for background information on new owners, or require a new application.
Timeline for a Buyer
- Sign a purchase agreement that is conditional on license approval
- File the application with the Commission and the local clerk
- Attend the local hearing if the council requires one
- Wait for state approval before opening under the new owner
Plan for weeks, not days. A seller may keep operating under the old license while the buyer's application is pending, if the Commission allows it, so ask early.
Fees and Records
Applications carry fees and require background information on the people who will own and manage the business. The state also looks at the premises, the lease and the sources of money used to buy.
Have the buyer prepare personal financial information early. Delays often come from missing paperwork, not from the review itself.
Protecting the Deal
Write approval into the purchase agreement as a condition. Say what happens to the deposit if approval is denied or delayed, and who covers rent and payroll during the wait.
What Sellers Should Prepare
Gather the current license, renewal history, any violation notices and training records for staff. Buyers and the Commission will ask for them, and a clean record helps.
If the business is a brewery or taproom, there are federal permits as well. Read our page on what buyers pay for a brewery or taproom.
Other Filings at Closing
A bar or restaurant also has sales tax duties, which are covered in our page on the buyer sales tax permit. Staff and tips raise payroll questions that your CPA can answer.
This page is general information, not tax or legal advice. Confirm every step with the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, your city clerk or your attorney. To plan the sale itself, ask for a confidential estimate.