The agencies state $10,780 in initial fees across 6 of the 10 items; 1 are free; 3 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top and depend on the space.
How much does it cost to open a cocktail bar in West Virginia?
$10,780 in state fees the agencies state, across 6 of the 10 licenses, permits and registrations; 1 are free; 3 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top.
What the state publishes for a cocktail bar in West Virginia
Every row checked against its agency’s page; the latest on Oct 21, 2026.
- Stated state fees
- $10,780initial fees across 6 of 10 items
- Free items
- 1no fee as the agency publishes it
- Set elsewhere
- 3by the city, the county or a provider
- Items in all
- 10in the order to get them
Initial fees as each agency states them, summed; renewals are not included. Where a fee depends on size or sales the range is the lowest to the highest stated. Members see each row’s fee, its renewal and the official page.
Set up the business
Item Agency Fee Articles of organization (LLC) and the annual report West Virginia Secretary of State Premium only Trade name (DBA) registration West Virginia Secretary of State Premium only Employer Identification Number (EIN) Internal Revenue Service Free Register for tax
Item Agency Fee Business registration certificate: sales and use tax, withholding (the state business license) West Virginia Tax Division Premium only Municipal business and occupation (B&O) tax and city business license Your city’s finance office or collector Premium only Approve the space
Item Agency Fee Zoning approval and certificate of occupancy Your city or county planning and building departments Premium only Get the permits for your kind of business
Item Agency Fee Food establishment permit Your county or district health department Premium only Certified food protection manager Local health department Premium only Alcohol permits
Item Agency Fee Private club restaurant or private club bar license (liquor, wine and beer), or private wine restaurant license West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration Premium only Before the first hire
Item Agency Fee Unemployment compensation account, new hire reporting and workers’ compensation WorkForce West Virginia Premium only
What comes on top of the fees
The state publishes its fees; the space sets the rest. These work it out from your own numbers.
- Rent the business can carryMonthly sales, or seats and average check, to the base rent that fits a healthy occupancy share.Rent-to-sales calculator
- The real cost of a NNN leaseBase rent plus CAM, property taxes and insurance, each month.NNN lease calculator
- The steps in orderThe same items as a walk-through you tick off, with progress saved to your account.How to open
Fees are shown to members as published. Create an account.
Sources and dates
Secretary of State business formation and annual report pages; West Virginia One Stop Business Portal fee schedule; Secretary of State form NR-3 (revised September 2026) and form TN-1; IRS EIN page; Tax Division business registration questions and answers; West Virginia Code 11-12; West Virginia Code 8-13-4 and 8-13-5; City of Charleston B&O tax questions and answers; State Fire Marshal building code pages (87 CSR 4); municipal zoning and building ordinances; Office of Environmental Health Services food safety program; 64 CSR 17 (Food Establishments) and 64 CSR 30 (Fees for Permits); county health department fee schedules; 64 CSR 17 food protection manager requirement; local health department food safety pages; West Virginia Code 60-7-6 (private club license fees), 60-8-3 (wine licenses) and 11-16-9 (nonintoxicating beer); ABCA licensing fee table; WorkForce West Virginia employer handbook and rate pages; West Virginia Code 48-18-125 (new hire reporting); Offices of the Insurance Commissioner employer coverage pages. Fees are as published by each agency on the date checked; cities and counties add their own.