“E-commerce is just too complicated.”
“It’s not worth the effort for my small liquor store.”
“The regulations are impossible to navigate.”
Do these fears sound familiar? They could be standing between you and thousands of dollars in extra revenue each month.
In fact, liquor industry experts predict that online alcohol sales will continue to grow by 20% over the next five years — so there’s never been a better time to embrace the e-commerce trend.
Ready to learn how to start your online liquor store? We’ve got you covered. Keep reading to discover:
Cheers!
Let’s start with the most common question about alcohol e-commerce: Is it legal to sell liquor online?
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) website has a full listing of each state’s alcohol shipping laws — but let’s take a quick look at some of the most important regulations.
Many states permit online alcohol sales but restrict the type of alcohol you can sell online. Some allow the shipment of all kinds of alcohol (including liquor), others allow beer and wine, and some prohibit online alcohol sales entirely.
Here’s the breakdown of what you can sell by state:
This overview reflects state laws as of October 2025. Check with your state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Commission or other regulating body for more up-to-date information.
Even if your state restricts the sale of full-strength liquor, you can still attract customers and increase revenue by selling beer or wine for pickup and delivery.
You might need an additional license to start your online liquor store.
In some states, your standard retail liquor license permits online sales — but others require you to apply for an additional shipping license if you plan to deliver.
Your state’s ABC commission should guide you in the right direction in terms of licensing and paperwork.
The application and approval process can be lengthy, so our top tip is to start this process as early as possible.
Pro tip: The United States Postal Service (USPS) doesn’t ship alcohol, so you’ll have to register with FedEx or UPS as a licensed alcohol shipper if you plan to deliver across the country. We recommend completing this registration right after receiving your e-commerce license.
Now, let’s talk about protecting your online liquor store from compliance violations.
Selling alcohol to individuals under 21 is illegal whether online or in store, so make a plan to verify IDs during curbside pickup or at delivery dropoffs.
If you partner with an e-commerce provider like DoorDash, their couriers are trained to handle this process.
If starting a liquor store feels overwhelming, it’s probably because you’re using the wrong tools.
E-commerce platforms specifically designed for liquor stores should make creating your website, listing products, and managing orders a breeze.
Above all, we recommend looking for an e-commerce tool that connects seamlessly with your liquor store point of sale (POS) system. This simplifies the setup process and allows you to manage your online and in-store operations from one place.
Let’s look at the two main types of e-commerce platforms — plus the top two options that integrate with Bottle POS.
Your first option is a traditional e-commerce platform like BottleZoo. This solution includes:
You can link your website in your Google Business Profile, social media posts, or SMS/email newsletters to let customers explore your offerings and place orders.
To handle the fulfillment process, you’ll need to stick with curbside pickup, hire a small team of drivers for local delivery, or partner with a shipping provider like FedEx.
Looking to expand your reach and attract new customers? Consider using an app-based marketplace like DoorDash.
Instead of building a standalone e-commerce website, DoorDash allows you to create a storefront within their app where users can browse your bottles and place convenient pickup and delivery orders.
DoorDash is one of our favorite tools for liquor stores because it:
The best part? Bottle POS offers full integration with DoorDash, helping you sell liquor online effortlessly.
You’ve researched your state’s laws and set up your DoorDash storefront — now it’s time to make your first sale. Here are a few of our top tips for a smooth online liquor store launch.
It might be tempting to dive right in and offer your full selection for pickup, local delivery, and nationwide shipping, but we recommend starting small.
Consider offering a few of your bestselling bottles for curbside pickup first. This minimizes your workload and helps you gauge your customers’ interest in e-commerce.
If this first foray is successful, you can take the next step by listing more bottles online or offering delivery within a five-mile radius.
Next, it’s time to get customers excited about your new online liquor store. Spread the word by:
These strategies will help you attract new online customers and get your regular shoppers in the habit of ordering online.
Related Read: Alcohol Marketing Strategies: 6 Expert Tips To Help You Sell More
Selling online can complicate your liquor store’s inventory management process, so you may have to take a few extra steps to keep your customers’ favorites in stock.
Most importantly, make sure your e-commerce platform integrates with your POS system. This ensures that each online and in-store sale is reflected in your inventory records.
You may also want to take advantage of automated ordering. This POS system feature detects when you’re running low on a certain product and automatically generates a purchase order to replace it, saving you time and preventing costly stockouts.
Your in-store customers and online shoppers might have different habits and preferences — which is why it’s critical to monitor your sales reports.
This POS data helps you identify which bottles are flying off the shelves, how much shoppers typically spend per in-store visit vs. online order, and opportunities to boost customer satisfaction and revenue.
For example, if your online order value is falling, you might consider offering free delivery for orders over $75 or offering bulk discounts on three or more bottles.
Bonus Resource: Liquor Store Analytics: Turning POS Data Into Profitable Decisions
Ready to start your online liquor store? We’re here to help!
Bottle POS, our industry-leading POS system, integrates seamlessly with BottleZoo and DoorDash, two of the best e-commerce solutions for liquor stores. You’ll enjoy:
…and more! Plus, our team of liquor industry experts is available 24/7 to help you launch and manage your online and in-store operations.
Start your journey to higher sales and happier customers by generating an instant quote with our Build and Price tool.
Bottle POS was designed to be smart and simple. Instead of having hundreds of features that liquor store owners won't use, we concentrate on the features that really make a difference.
