Licensing & Compliance
Both state and federal licensing is required before opening a craft brewery. The forms involved can be long, complicated, and downright confusing. But we are here to help from the initial application to label approvals in both jurisdictions. Our office has extensive experience with the maze of licensing required in getting start-ups both brewing and bottled. We can assist you in formulating a plan that takes into account sensitive timelines and frequently time-consuming formalities.
Furthermore, we are well-versed in the mountain of compliance issues faced by craft breweries and their staff. While compliance violations can be a costly misstep in your business, The Craft Beer Attorney, APC has years of practice assisting breweries with everything from tied-house restrictions, donations, social media, beer dinners, and other special events. We also keep a constant eye on new and proposed legislation in the craft beer industry so that we can keep you up to date and running as efficiently as possible.
We provide a full array of options for your licensing needs.
ANNUAL MONTHLY COMPLIANCE SUBSCRIPTION PLAN – $375/month
1 hour max
Although an ebb and flow of hours is expected, hours consistently exceeding themonthly allowance will be billed at $450/hr.
For a flat monthly fee, CBA will provide the below items:
- Licensing
- ABC
- General compliance updates and guidance
- Brand Registration, Price Posting
- Excise tax returns, Sales and use tax
- CalRecycles
- TTB
- General compliance updates and guidance
- COLA submissions, Formula approval submissions
- Brewers Report of Operations, Excise tax returns
- Additional States
- General compliance
- ABC
- Trademarks
- Maintaining existing trademarks
- Listed as contact with USPTO
- Reminders of deadlines (SOUs and/or renewals)
- Maintaining existing trademarks
- Business
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- Serving as Agent of Process with the state
- Annual filings (i.e. Statement of Information)
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- Employment
o Basic compliance
Alcohol & Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
TTB Application Completion
(includes one entity)- Setup and complete TTB
- Application on Permits Online
- Upload required documents
- *Additional $500 for each additional entity involved and $500 for alternating premises/$1,000 for alternating proprietorship
TTB Application Review
- Provide sample diagrams and descriptions as applicable
- Initial and final review prior to submission
- Answer questions as needed
- Up to (2) two calls to discuss questions or issues
California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC)
Manufacturing Application Completion
(includes one entity)- Compile all forms for application
- Work with local planning office for zoning affidavit
- Run residence and consideration point report (additional cost)
- Work with ABC until permit issued
- $500 – Each additional entity involved
- *plus application fees
Wholesaler Application Completion
(includes one entity)- *plus application fees
- $500 – Each additional entity involved
Retail Application Completion
(includes one entity)- *plus application fees
- $500 – Each additional entity involved
Out of State Beer Manufacturer Application Completion
- Compile application
- Register with CDTFA (CA tax agency)
- Register with CalRecycles
- Initial brand registration requirement
- Initial price posting requirement
- DBA filing (if necessary)
- *plus application fees
Application Review
- Provide the necessary forms
- Initial and final review prior to submission
- Answer questions as needed
Consultation/Questions
- Other states quoted upon request
Application Fees+
- 09 Beer & Wine Importer – $145
- 17 Beer & Wine Wholesaler – $470
- 23 Small Beer Manufacturer 60,000 barrels or less – $470
- 23 Small Beer Manufacturer 60,000 barrels or less DUPLICATE – $275
Licensing Add-On
- CDTFA account setup
- CalRecycles account setup
- FDA registration