Colorado Liquor Store Brokers

Sell Your Liquor Store in Colorado

Liquor stores are the business BBS sells most. We value your store on real Colorado sales, find a buyer who can get licensed and financed, and manage the state and local license transfer through closing.

What is your liquor store worth?

Your information stays confidential. A broker will call you within one business day.

Most sold industry at BBS

# 0

SDE, plus inventory at cost

2.0 to 0 .0x

In house

State and local license transfer

Of our deals SBA financed

1 %

Selling a liquor store in Colorado

Why Owners Choose BBS

Colorado’s liquor market has changed more in the last three years than in the previous thirty. Grocery stores now sell beer and wine, costs are up, and some owners are deciding it is the right time to sell while their numbers are still strong. Others are buying, because a well run, well located store still produces dependable cash flow.

Business Brokerage Services has sold more liquor stores in the Denver metro and across Colorado than any other industry. We know how buyers and SBA lenders look at your sales mix, your lease and your license, and we handle the transfer paperwork in house so nothing stalls between contract and closing.

Valuation based on recent Colorado liquor store sales, not national averages
Liquor license transfer applications prepared by our licensing team
Buyers screened for funds and for their ability to be licensed
Lease assignment negotiated with your landlord early

What Buyers Pay

Typical price for a Colorado liquor store

2.0 to 3.0x SDE, plus inventory

SDE (seller’s discretionary earnings) is net profit plus the owner’s salary and one time or personal expenses. Inventory is usually counted at closing and paid for separately at cost. Your exact number depends on the factors below.

Free, confidential business valuation

720.361.1000

Colorado Market Update, 2026

What Has Changed for Colorado Liquor Stores

Laws, costs and buyer expectations that affect your sale price right now.

Wine in grocery stores since March 2023

Voters approved Proposition 125 in 2022, and grocery and convenience stores began selling wine in March 2023, four years after full strength beer moved into grocery stores in 2019. Independent stores report wine sales drops of 30% to 40% in the first year.

New grocery liquor licenses frozen (SB25-033)

In April 2025 the governor signed SB25-033, which stops new liquor licensed drugstore licenses. Stores that already sell hard liquor keep their licenses, but the expansion of spirits into more grocery and big box locations has stopped.

Closures are thinning the field

Reporting since 2024 counts dozens of closures and industry projections of hundreds more by the end of 2026. For buyers, that means fewer competitors around the stores that remain. For sellers, it means a well run store with clean books stands out.

Selling off inventory is easier (SB24-231)

Since 2024, a liquor store that is closing or selling off inventory can transfer it to another licensed retail liquor store under set notice and pricing conditions, which helps when stores consolidate.

Sources: Colorado Sun, May 2025 · CPR News, April 2025 · Messner Reeves on SB24-231. Market details as of October 2026; confirm current rules before acting.

Value Drivers

What Raises and Lowers Your Price

Raises your price

Spirits heavy sales mix that grocery stores cannot match
Long lease with renewal options at a fair rent
Clean POS reports that tie to tax returns
Drive thru, strong parking, or a corner location
Inventory that is current and well organized

Lowers your price

Wine and beer heavy mix next to a new grocery competitor
Short lease or a landlord who resists assignment
Cash sales that are not on the books
Aging coolers, POS or building systems
Heavy dependence on the owner working every shift

The Roadmap

From First Meeting To Final Handover

Every sale follows the same proven path. Here are the eight steps we’ll move through together.

Initial Meeting

Valuation &
Financials

Marketing &
Exposure

Buyer Vetting

Offers &
Negotiation

Under Contract &
Due Diligence

Lease, License &
Entity

Closing &
Handover

1 Initial Meeting

It starts with a confidential, no obligation conversation. We learn about your business, your goals and your timeline, and you learn exactly how we work and what to expect.

2 Valuation & Financials

You complete our Business Valuation Intake (BVI), and our team analyzes your financials to determine what your business is truly worth in today’s market.

3 Marketing & Exposure

Our team builds professional marketing materials and takes your business to market through our buyer network and national listing platforms, all without revealing its identity.

4 Buyer Vetting

We screen every inquiry so only serious, financially capable buyers ever learn the details of your business. Every buyer signs an NDA first.

5 Offers & Negotiation

We help structure and present written offers, then work through price, financing, training and transition until both sides reach an agreement that works.

6 Under Contract & Due Diligence

The buyer verifies financials, operations and contracts while earnest money is held in a neutral escrow account. We keep requests organized and deadlines on track.

7 Lease, License & Entity

We manage the approvals that let the business change hands: your lease assignment, license transfers such as liquor permits, and the buyer’s new legal entity.

8 Closing & Handover

Final documents are signed, funds transfer through escrow and you are paid. A short transition hands off operations, vendors, staff and customers.

Typical timeline: 3 to 9 months from listing to close. Approximately 30% of our listings close within the first 3 months!

What we add when selling a liquor store

Step 2, Valuation & Financials: We review three years of returns, POS sales by category and your lease, then show you what buyers will realistically pay.
Step 4, Buyer Vetting: We confirm the buyer can be licensed in Colorado and line up SBA financing early.
Step 7, Lease, License & Entity: The buyer files the transfer of ownership with your local licensing authority and the state Liquor Enforcement Division. A temporary permit can keep the store open during the transfer.

For Buyers

Liquor Stores for Sale in Colorado

Established Liquor/vape Store for Sale in Jefferson County CO

Featured

Liquor Store

Proven Results

Recently Sold Liquor Stores

Sold

Liquor Store

Established Mountain Liquor Store with Growth Potential

Mountain Liquor Store with Tourism Traffic ⭐

Renewal of Liquor, Tobacco and Lotto Licenses

Liquor License Renewal in Greeley

Colorado

Sold 2026

Get matched to new liquor stores first

Build your free buyer profile with the industries, areas and budget you want. When we list a business that fits, we email you, often before it reaches public sites. 85% of our deals close with SBA financing, and we help you prepare the lender package.

Buying a liquor store?

What to Check Before You Buy

Ask for POS sales by category: spirits, wine, beer, tobacco and lottery
Check how far the nearest grocery store selling wine and beer is
Confirm the lease term, rent increases and assignment rights
Plan for the license transfer timeline with your local authority
Count inventory at closing; it is usually paid for separately at cost

FAQ

Selling a liquor store in Colorado: Common Questions

How much is my Colorado liquor store worth?

Most Colorado liquor stores sell anywhere from about 1.0 to 6.5 times seller’s discretionary earnings (SDE), plus inventory at cost. Location, lease terms, sales mix and how the store is competing with nearby grocery stores move the number within that range.

Does the liquor license transfer to the buyer?

The buyer applies for a transfer of ownership with the local licensing authority and the Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division. Our team prepares the application and tracks it so the store can keep operating during the transfer.

Has wine in grocery stores lowered liquor store values?

It has hurt stores that relied on wine and beer near a competing grocery store. Stores with strong spirits sales, good locations and loyal customers still sell, and buyers can now find well run stores with fewer competitors nearby.

Is inventory included in the price?

Usually not. Most deals set a price for the business and then add inventory at cost, counted the day before closing.

Can buyers use SBA financing for a liquor store?

Yes. Liquor stores are one of the most common SBA financed purchases we close. About 85% of BBS deals use SBA financing.

How long does it take to sell a liquor store?

Most sales close 3 to 9 months from listing, with an average of about 150 days. Approximately 30% of our listings close within the first 3 months. The license transfer is usually the longest step, so we start it as soon as the buyer is under contract.

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