Selling beer, wine or liquor in Texas requires a permit from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and the application is one of the longest a new business will face: local certification from the city and county, a newspaper notice, a posted sign, a Comptroller certificate, sworn personal history sheets for every owner, and the application itself. Calibre Licensing Services handles the entire sequence for gas stations, convenience stores, grocery stores, restaurants and bars across Houston and the rest of Texas, so your permit is approved before your opening date.
Which TABC permit does your business need?
The permit depends on what you sell and whether customers drink on site. We confirm the right one on your first call. The most common for our clients:
- Wine and Malt Beverage Retailer's Off-Premise Permit (BQ): beer and wine to go. The standard permit for convenience stores, gas stations and grocery stores.
- Retail Dealer's Off-Premise License (BF): beer only to go, used where wine is not sold.
- Package Store Permit (P): liquor to go, for liquor stores. Includes the wine-only variant (Q).
- Wine and Malt Beverage Retailer's Permit (BG): beer and wine served on site, for restaurants and cafés.
- Mixed Beverage Permit (MB): liquor, beer and wine served on site, for bars, lounges and full-bar restaurants.
- Add-ons: Food and Beverage Certificate (FB) for restaurants, Late Hours Certificate (LH) to sell after midnight.
How the TABC application works
- Intake. You complete our TABC intake form with the business, location, ownership and lease details. If you do not have a sales tax permit, entity, DBA or EIN yet, we file those first.
- Local certifications. We obtain the city secretary and county clerk certifications that your address is in a wet area for your permit type, and the Late Hours certification if needed.
- Publication and sign posting. We arrange the required newspaper notice and the publisher's affidavit, and supply the notice sign that must be posted at the location for 60 days before certain permits issue.
- Comptroller certificate. We secure the Texas Comptroller's certificate confirming your sales tax permit and that no owner owes the state.
- Personal history and signatures. Every officer and majority owner completes a sworn Personal History Sheet. Our in-house notary handles the signing.
- Filing and follow-up. We submit through TABC's AIMS system, answer every agency request, and hand you the permit ready to post.
Why applications get delayed
Most TABC delays come from incomplete applications: a missing certification, a lease that does not match the application, an owner left off the ownership section, or a sign that was never posted. A rejected application restarts the clock. We have filed TABC applications for Texas retailers for ten years and know what each office looks for, which is why we get it right the first time.
Ownership changes and renewals
Buying an existing store does not transfer its TABC permit. A new owner needs a new permit in their own name, and the timing has to be sequenced with the sales tax, tobacco and lottery transfers so the store never operates without coverage. We coordinate the whole change of ownership. We also track renewal dates so your permit never lapses.
Serving Houston and all of Texas
We are based in Stafford and file TABC applications for locations in Houston, Harris County, Fort Bend County, Sugar Land, Katy, Pearland, Missouri City, and statewide. City and county certification requirements differ by jurisdiction, and we know them.
Official sources
We link to the agencies directly so you can verify every requirement and fee.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a TABC permit take in Texas?
It depends on the permit type, how quickly the city and county issue their certifications, and whether the application is complete. Retail beer and wine permits often take several weeks; mixed beverage permits take longer because of the publication and 60-day sign posting requirements. Incomplete applications are the most common cause of delay, which is exactly what we prevent. We give you a realistic timeline before we start.
What does a TABC permit cost?
TABC charges a state fee that varies by permit type, plus local fees, publication costs and a surcharge. Calibre Licensing Services charges a flat service fee quoted up front, separate from the agency fees, so there are no surprises. Contact us for a quote for your permit type.
Do I need a sales tax permit before applying to TABC?
Yes. TABC requires a Texas Comptroller certificate confirming you hold, or have applied for, a sales and use tax permit. If you do not have one yet, we file it before the TABC application.
Can I get a TABC permit for a gas station or convenience store?
Yes. Most gas stations and convenience stores hold a Wine and Malt Beverage Retailer's Off-Premise Permit (BQ), which allows beer and wine sales to go. The location must be in a wet area for that permit type, which we confirm through the city and county certification.
I am buying a store that already has a TABC permit. Does it transfer?
No. TABC permits do not transfer to a new owner. You need a new permit in your name, and we coordinate the timing with your other permit transfers so the store keeps operating.
Do you file TABC applications outside Houston?
Yes. We file for locations anywhere in Texas. State-level steps are the same everywhere, and we handle the city and county certifications for whichever jurisdiction your location is in.