For people who own, buy, or open liquor stores
Liquor Store Financing and Business Loans
Whether you’re stocking up for the holidays, replacing a beer cave, or sizing up a store that just came on the market, the right financing starts with the deal math. We help independent liquor, wine, and beer store owners borrow $5,000 to $1.5 million on fixed payments, and we tell buyers straight when an SBA loan is the better route.
- Owners: send 3 bank statements and you could be approved the same day
- Money typically lands in 3–7 business days after you sign
- Fixed payments up to 36 months; nothing pulled from your register daily
Marie Lokmanyan reviews every request personally. Former Wells Fargo private banker.
Call her team: (310) 402-1600
Where are you in the ownership cycle?
Liquor store financing for every stage of ownership
A store you’re buying, a store you’re opening, and a store you’ve run for ten years need very different money. Start from where you are.
Buying a store
Down payments, seller notes, and how lenders verify a seller’s books.
Learn more →SBA loans for liquor stores
7(a) and 504 for acquisitions, real estate, and long-term projects.
Learn more →License costs
Paying for a quota license or a transfer without stalling the deal.
Learn more →Inventory and Q4 stock-up
Distributor deals, allocations, and holiday depth on COD terms.
Learn more →Beer caves and coolers
Walk-ins, compressors, door upgrades, ID scanners, and cameras.
Learn more →Second location or remodel
Add a wine room, refresh the floor, or open another storefront.
Learn more →Replace a cash advance
Trade daily debits for one predictable monthly payment.
Learn more →Working capital
Sales tax, payroll, and excise-heavy months without emptying the safe.
Learn more →The retail realities we underwrite
A liquor store is not a generic retail loan
- You pay distributors up front. Tied-house and credit laws in many states limit how long suppliers can carry you, so your own cash funds the shelves.
- The license is an asset, and a risk. In quota states it can be worth more than the fixtures; a violation can threaten everything. We ask about it early.
- Deposits tell the real story. We read bank activity alongside credit, which matters in a cash-heavy business.
- December pays for January. Payments should be sized for your slow months, not your best week.
$100,000 two ways
1.35 factor, repaid over ~8 months≈ $16,875/mo
24-month term, assumed 18% APR≈ $4,992/mo
Hypothetical comparison, not an offer or a rate quote. Actual pricing depends on your store. Try the calculator →
Buying a store?
Before you make an offer, check the deal math
Most bad liquor store purchases look fine on the listing sheet. A lender, and you, should verify three things before any money moves:
- Sales are real. Tax returns, sales-tax filings, and distributor purchase history should all point to the same revenue.
- The lease and license survive the sale. Remaining term, assignment rights, renewal options, and a transferable license with a clean history.
- The price leaves you a living. Verified seller’s discretionary earnings minus your loan payment should still pay you a reasonable salary.
The 15-point checklist for liquor stores for sale →
How to value a liquor store →
Opening a store?
License first, lease second
New stores fail on licensing more often than on demand. Confirm a license is obtainable at your address before you commit to rent, then budget for opening inventory, refrigeration, and a working-capital cushion for the ramp-up.
- What it costs to open a liquor store
- Lender-ready liquor store business plan template
- Liquor license cost by state
- Startup loans for new stores
Our fast program is for stores already operating 30+ days under your ownership. For brand-new stores and acquisitions, we’ll point you to SBA and other routes that fit.
State rules change the deal
Liquor store financing by state
License quotas, transfer approvals, and distributor payment rules differ from state to state, and they shape what a lender will accept.
For operating stores
How funding works for an open store
- 1
Share the basics
Amount, purpose, monthly sales, and your contact details. It takes about two minutes and doesn’t touch your credit score.
- 2
Send three statements
Your specialist calls the same business day and asks for your three latest business bank statements.
- 3
Review, sign, fund
Decisions can come the same day. After you sign, funds usually arrive in 3–7 business days.
Speed, amounts, and approval depend on underwriting and are not guaranteed. Not all applicants qualify. Loans are made or arranged by ARF Financial, LLC (CA Finance Lender License No. 6037958). See disclosures.
Who reviews your request
One banker who knows retail lending
Liquor store owners tell us the hardest part of borrowing is explaining their business to someone who has never stood behind a register on December 31st. Your request goes to Marie Lokmanyan, a former Wells Fargo private banker with 20 years in commercial banking and business lending.
- 20 years in commercial banking and business lending
- More than 10 years as a Wells Fargo private banker
- Advising small businesses on funding since 2016
- B.S. in Business Administration, New York University
Quick eligibility check
Who qualifies for fast funding
- An operating liquor, wine, or beer store you’ve owned for at least 30 days
- Roughly $17,000+ in combined monthly cash and card sales
- Personal credit around 575 or higher
- Your three latest business bank statements
Missing one? Reach out anyway. If our program isn’t the right fit, we’ll say so and explain the alternatives.
See if my store qualifies →