The Competitive Bidding Process lets people and businesses bid on the opportunity to apply for an available license. The highest bidder meeting all requirements is allowed to apply for the license.
The minimum bid is set at 75% of the market value of the license compared to licenses with the same type and privileges sold in the quota area or a similar area.
The competitive bidding process is subject to the Competitive Bidding Terms and Conditions.
Licenses and Agency Liquor Stores Available for Sale
In addition to licenses available through the competitive bid process, we also have created a list of alcoholic beverage licenses and agency liquor stores available for sale.
View available licenses and agency liquor stores or submit and edit a listing.
Please Note: A license issued through a competitive bidding process is not eligible to offer gambling under Title 23, Chapter 5, parts 3, 5, or 6.
Fees
Minimum Bid: 75% of Market Value as determined by the department
Competitive Bidding Opportunities
The next competitive bidding opportunity will run from November 14, 2024 through .
All competitive bid opportunities and the ability to submit a bid are now located on TransAction Portal (TAP).
Once on the Transaction Portal (TAP) site:
- Navigate to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Tile. Select “Apply for an Alcoholic Beverage License or Permit”.
- On the Competitive Bid Tile, select “Search for a Competitive Bid Opportunity”.
| Year Offered | License Type | Location | Date of Competitive Bid | Name of Winner | Minimum Bid Amount | Winning Bid Amount | Application Approved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | On-Premises Beer | City of Bozeman | 7/20/2023-8/24/2023 | Mountains Walking Brewing | $292,000.00 | $375,000.00 | 8/26/2024 |
| 2023 | RBW | City of Ennis | 7/20/2023-8/24/2023 | The Mercantile Ennis LLC | $24,375 | $34,376.00 | 7/23/2024 |
| 2023 | On-Premises Beer | City of Lewistown | 5/31/2023-7/6/2023 | Broadway Building LLC | $76,875 | 80,100 | 7/5/2024 |
| 2023 | On-Premises Beer | City of Bozeman | 10/05/2023-11/09/2023 | Artcraft Burgers LLC | $292,000.00 | $489,500.00 | 5/10/2024 |
| 2023 | On-Premises Beer | City of Bozeman | 5/31/2023-7/6/2023 | BZN Bar 1 LLC | $292,000.00 | $652.002.00 | 4/23/2024 |
| 2023 | On Premises Beer | City of Belgrade | 5/31/2023-7/6/2023 | Belgrade AW Hotel LLC | $165,000.00 | $253,000 | 4/1/2024 |
| 2023 | On-Premises Beer | City of Eureka | 10/05/2023-11/09/2023 | Lumber Camp Brewery LLC | $22,500 | $22,501 | 3/25/2024 |
| 2023 | All Beverage (New) | City of East Helena | 7/20/2023-8/24/2023 | Bumohops LLP | $65,000 | $75,000 | 3/22/2024 |
| 2023 | All Beverage (New) | City of Rexford | 5/31/2023-7/6/2023 | Center Street Eureka LLC | $7,500 | $77,000 | 2/20/2024 |
| 2023 | On-Premises Beer | Ronan | 07/20/2023-08/24/2023 | Ronan Cooperative Brewery | $11,250.00 | $11,250.00 | 2/16/2024 |
| 2023 | All-Beverage License (Floater) | Manhattan | 01/05/2023-02/09/2023 | Heavyweight LLC | $89,450.00 | $125,000.00 | 2/15/2024 |
| 2023 | All-Beverage License (New) | City of Kevin | 5/31/2023-7/6/2023 | Jeremiah Tee LLC | $15,000.00 | $15,000.00 | 1/19/2024 |
| 2023 | On-Premise Beer | City of Billings | 5/31/2023-7/6/2023 | Angry Hank's Microbrewery LLC | $288,000 | $301,000 | 12/15/2023 |
| 2023 | All Beverage (Floater) | City of Billings | 5/31/2023-7/6/2023 | Big Open LLC | $558,000 | $675,000 | 12/14/2023 |
| 2023 | On-Premise Beer | City of Hamilton | 5/31/2023-7/6/2023 | Higherground Brewing Co | $26,250 | $75,199 | 12/8/2023 |
| 2023 | On-Premises Beer | City of Helena | 7/7/2023-9/5/2023 | Bar Down LLC | $90,000.00 | $117,005.00 | 12/6/2023 |
| 2023 | On-Premises Beer | City of Kalispell | 05/31/2023-07/06/2023 | Bias Brewing, LLC | $183, 250.00 | $205,000.00 | 11/21/2023 |
| 2023 | On-Premises Beer | City of Bozeman | 01/05/2023-02/09/2023 | JWT Restaurant Group LLC | $292,000.00 | $625,000.00 | 10/23/2023 |
| 2023 | All Beverage License | Sanders County | 01/05/2023-02/09/2023 | Go Roam Free LLC | $23,625.00 | $32,501.00 | 9/8/2023 |
| 2023 | All-Beverage License (New) | City of Belgrade | 01/05/2023-02/09/2023 | West Post Development LLC | $535,125.00 | $750,000.00 | 10/24/2023 |
| 2022 | All-Beverage (Floater) | City Of Bozeman | 09/07/2022 - 10/13/2022 | NWX Pub, LLC | $703,275.00 | $1,017,125.00 | 06/29/2023 |
| 2023 | On-Premises Beer | City of Whitefish | 09/07/2022 - 10/13/2022 | Old Soul, LLC | $238,125.00 | $451,000.00 | 05/04/2023 |
| 2022 | All-Beverage (Floater) | City of Bozeman | 03/17/2022 - 04/21/2022 | Texas Roadhouse Holdings LLC | $601,000.00 | $1,400.000.00 | 04/26/2023 |
| 2022 | On-Premises Beer | City of Helena | 09/07/2022 - 10/13/2022 | Maltderma LLC | $80,000.00 | $111,000.99 | 04/07/2023 |
| 2022 | On-Premises Beer | City of Livingston | 03/17/2022 - 04/21-2022 | Wineglass Livingston LLC | $30,000.00 | $77,777.77 | 01/11/2023 |
| 2022 | All-Beverage (Floater) | City of Billings | 03/17/2022 - 04/21/2022 | Carvers, LLC | $489,750.00 | $750,000.00 | 10/24/2022 |
| 2022 | On-Premises Beer | City of Billings | 03/17/2022 - 04/21/2022 | Sophies Kitchen | $278,500.00 | $350,000.00 | 07/01/2022 |
| 2023 | On-Premises Beer | City of Billings | 01/05/2023 - 02/09/2023 | Spirited Holdings, Inc | $278,500.00 | $500,000 | 08/30/2023 |
| 2022 | On-Premises Beer | City of Kalispell | 03/17/2022 - 04/07/2022 | J & L Golf LLP | $209,000.00 | $225,000.00 | 12/28/2022 |
| 2021 | On-Premises Beer | City of Bozeman | 10/27/2021 - 12/02/2021 | Rebecca Ruth Reno | $210,000.00 | $227,000 | 04/07/2023 |
| 2021 | All-Beverage | City of Ekalaka | 02/12/2021 - 03/19/2021 | TSO ENTERPRISES, LLC | $22,500.00 | $25,500.00 | 08/02/2021 |
| 2021 | On-Premises Beer | City of Helena | 02/12/2021 - 03/19-2021 | William Bullock | $80,000.00 | $85,000.00 | 10/12/2021 |
| 2021 | All-Beverage License (New) | City of Belgrade | 02/12/2021 - 03/19/2021 | Grl Events, LLC | $260,000.00 | $677,000.00 | 09/24/2021 |
| 2021 | All-Beverage (Floater) | City of Columbia Falls | 02/12/2021 - 03/19/2021 | Johnathan D. Shockey | $195,000.00 | $360,000.00 | 01/25/2022 |
| 2021 | RBW | City of Belgrade | 10/27/2021 - 12/02/2021 | YHWH SHALOM, LLC | $55,000.00 | $65,000.00 | 04/08/2022 |
| 2021 | All-Beverage (Floater) | City of Columbia Falls | 10/27/2021 - 12/02/2021 | Late Than Never, LLC | $200,000.00 | $551,000.00 | 05/06/2022 |
| 2021 | All-Beverage License (New) | City of Belgrade | 10/27/2021 - 12/02/2021 | Bozeman Beverage 1, LLC | $393,750.00 | $750,000.00 | 09/16/2022 |
| 2021 | On-Premises Beer | City of Hamilton | 10/27/2021 - 12/ 2/2021 | Jessi's Wine & Goods LLC | $31,650.00 | $35,135.33 | 09/15/2022 |
| 2021 | RBW | City of Columbia Falls | 02/12/2021 - 03/ 5/2021 | Camp Scout and Gather | $35,000.00 | $65,001.00 | 12/08/2022 |
| 2021 | All-Beverage (Floater) | City of Missoula | 02/12/2021 - 03/19/2021 | 2nd Missoula LLC | $385,000.00 | $441,500.00 | 08/18/2022 |
| 2020 | All-Beverage (Floater) | City of Bozeman | 09/25/2020 - 10/16/2020 | DOS HOMBRES LLC | $371,250.00 | $770,001.00 | 09/07/2021 |
| 2020 | RBW | City of Missoula | 09/25/2020 - 10/16/2020 | The Den: By Market on Front | $42,000.00 | $65,333.00 | 11/02/2021 |
| 2019 | All-Beverage (Floater) | City of Bozeman | 07/31/2019 - 09/05/2019 | Los Altos Jalisco, LLC | $371,250.00 | $1,200,100.00 | 02/25/2020 |
| 2019 | On-Premises Beer | City of Bozeman | 07/31/2019 - 09/05/2019 | KBB, Inc | $220,000.00 | $454,001.00 | 03/16/2020 |
| 2019 | All-Beverage | City of Belgrade | 05/22/2019 - 06/26/2019 | The Whole Cow, LLC | $262,500.00 | $525,000.00 | 04/27/2020 |
| 2019 | On-Premises Beer | City of Missoula | 07/31/2019 - 09/05/2019 | Cranky Sam Public House, LLC | $122,679.00 | $382,000.00 | 05/04/2020 |
| 2019 | On-Premises Beer | City of Bozeman | 05/22/2019 - 06/26/2019 | Bozeman Hotel Bar, LLC | $220,000.00 | $402,010.00 | 05/27/2020 |
| 2019 | All-Beverage (Floater) | City of Missoula | 09/12/2019 - 10/18/2019 | Conflux Taphouse LLC | $323,300.00 | $443,000.00 | 10/21/2020 |
| 2019 | All Beverage (Floater) | City of Bozeman | 09/12/2019 - 10/18/2019 | D3 Companies, LLC | $371,250.00 | $1,100,000.00 | 05/13/2021 |
| 2018 | All-Beverage (Floater) | City of Bozeman | 08/16/2018 - 09/20/2018 | Bozeman Taproom, Inc. | $371,250.00 | $451,000.00 | 01/18/2019 |
| 2018 | All-Beverage (Floater) | City of Three Forks | 08/16/2018 - 09/20/2018 | Folkvord Family Investments, LLC | $71,577.00 | $151,100.00 | 04/01/2019 |
| 2018 | On-Premises Beer | City of Belgrade | 08/16/2018 - 09/20/2018 | Big Sky Beverage, Inc. | $168,300.00 | $210,001.00 | 10/01/2019 |