Small Business Liquor License Grant

Small Business Liquor License Grant

Funds New Jersey small businesses buying liquor licenses through partial reimbursement for licensing costs.

Eligibility · United States · US-NJ

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority's Small Business Liquor License Grant reimburses small businesses and nonprofits for 50% of the purchase price of a previously inactive Plenary Retail Consumption Liquor License, up to a maximum of $100,000 per applicant. The program is designed to reduce the cost burden of acquiring liquor licenses on New Jersey's secondary market, helping food and beverage establishments activate licenses that had not been in use. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and only one award is permitted per EIN for the lifetime of the program — making this a single, one-time opportunity.

To qualify, the applicant must be a New Jersey small business or nonprofit operating from a commercial facility in the state for at least twelve months. The Plenary Retail Consumption Liquor License must have been purchased within twelve months prior to the application date. Licenses transferred between related entities are not eligible. Good standing with the NJ Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the NJ Department of Labor, and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection is required. The maximum reimbursement of $100,000 represents 50% of the purchase price, so licenses acquired at prices above $200,000 receive the capped amount while those purchased at lower prices receive 50% of the actual cost.

Applicants must submit documentation of the license purchase price and demonstrate compliance with all agency standing requirements. The one-grant-per-EIN-lifetime limit means that eligible businesses that miss this window cannot apply again under the same entity. Applications are submitted through the NJEDA programs portal, and questions may be directed to NJEDA's CustomerCare line at (844) 965-1125 or CustomerCare@njeda.com. Acting promptly upon a qualifying license purchase maximizes the chance of award before the program pool is exhausted.