Legal Question in Business Law in California

Re: Alcohol delivery business

You will probably need one or more permits from the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates for-hire intrastate transportation. If you engage in interstate transportation you may also need to meet Surface Transportation Board motor-carrier licensing requirements.

The CPUC and the federal Department of Transportation have safety and insurance regulations, some of which probably affect your proposed operation.

I recommend that such businesses consider operating as corporations or LLCs. You should consult a business attorney about such a liability-limiting form of business organization, and at the same time have the attorney provide you with a checklist for new businesses covering such things as tax ID numbers, registration as an employer, etc.

Be espeically sure to work though a good insurance agent or broker to get the vehicle, general business liability, and cargo insurance you'll need. The latter is important from the customer's point of view because they'll want to know that if there is loss or damage that you and they are covered.