Before putting your name on the side of a truck, or recruiting supplier partners to work with, there are several requirements to meet in order to enter the beer distributor business. This page will help walk you through the application process of becoming a licensed beer wholesaler. The first step towards starting a beer distributorship is to obtain an Employee Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. This is done by completing IRS Form SS-4. Detailed instructions on how to complete Form SS-4 are included in the PDF. Once you have obtained an EIN, it is time to begin filling out permits with the United States Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). The primary form that needs to be filled out is TTB Form 5100.24, which is also known as the Application for Basic Permit Under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act. The application must be completed following the instructions attached to the form; line-by-line instructions are provided separately. If the Application for Basic Permit and/or supporting documents is signed by someone other than those individuals listed in Item 9 on the application, TTB Form 5000.8 Power of Attorney, must be used. If an individual listed on the application is a citizen of a foreign country, lived in a foreign country for more than two years (after 18 years of age) or has association with a foreign country, you must also complete TTB Form 5000.9 Personnel Questionnaire. If the premises to be used for this operation are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, you should not begin construction or remodeling until you have contacted the State Historic Preservation Officer. For additional information on the TTB’s handling of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), please visit the NHPA page on the TTB.gov Web site.