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Opening an alcohol business in Texas takes three layers of approval: the state baseline every business clears, your industry license from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) plus a federal TTB permit for most manufacturers and local permits for your address. This guide walks all three, for the five alcohol business types that may be needed when starting a business in texas.
Every Texas business starts here, regardless of type. Form your entity, get your federal EIN, and register for the taxes that apply to you.
If you want to start a brewery, distillery or winery in Texas this is the heart of the business…..at least from a regulatory basis. The core license comes from TABC which is the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission; manufacturers (brewery, distillery, winery) also need a federal TTB permit before producing. Pick your business type:
The core license is the TABC Mixed Beverage Permit (MB), which authorizes on-premise sale of spirits, wine, and beer. You must first secure local wet/dry certification, and your staff should hold Seller-Server (RBS) certification for liability safe-harbor.
A production brewery needs a Brewer's License (BW); a retail-only on-premise brewpub uses the Brewpub License (BP) instead. Qualifying brewers can add Self-Distribution (SD) to bypass the distributor tier. A Federal Brewer's Notice (TTB) is required before you brew.
The core license is the TABC Distiller's and Rectifier's Permit (D), which authorizes manufacturing spirits and on-site tastings. You also need a Federal Distilled Spirits Plant (DSP) Permit from TTB, which carries an operations bond requirement.
An off-premise liquor store needs the TABC Package Store Permit (P), which authorizes retail sale of spirits, wine, and beer to go. As with a bar, you must first clear local wet/dry certification.
The core license is the TABC Winery Permit (G), which authorizes wine manufacturing, off-premise delivery, and festival participation. A Federal Bonded Winery permit from TTB is required before producing.
If you want to start a brewery, distillery or winery in Texas this is the heart of the business…..at least from a regulatory basis. The core license comes from TABC which is the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission; manufacturers (brewery, distillery, winery) also need a federal TTB permit before producing. Pick your business type:
This is where you go for exact, current fees and to file applications.
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