What license would I need to import from California and sell to distributors and restaurants and country clubs in New York,New jersey,Connecticut and Florida. I presently have no company formed and would like to know what sort of. Mop any would be most suitable? Thank you, Donna
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
I gather from your comments that you may wish to set yourself up as an agent/broker and as a wholesaler. From your description, you would actually be performing two separate functions. On the one hand, it's possible to act as a representative for California wineries, selling the wines to wholesalers in certain states and being paid a commission by the winery. To perform this role, it makes sense to form some sort of entity (LLC, corporation, etc.). If the company can be considered a marketing agent, licensing is usually straightforward. For example, New York State requires a permit for individuals who are either "solicitors" or "brokers." The specific requirements should be verified with the relevant state alcoholic beverage board. On the other hand, selling wine to restaurants, country clubs and retail stores in any state is a service performed by a wholesaler with premises in that state. A license is mandatory - not to mention an office and means of warehousing and delivering the goods - and the licensing process can be demanding. A wholesale license in, say, New Jersey is not valid in Connecticut. In short, it is far easier to become a marketing agent than a wholesaler both in terms of licensing and operational issues. I hope this gives you some initial guidance.
