If you’re a craft beer enthusiast with a nose for business then at some point or another, you may have dreamed about the possibility of opening your own brewery. Getting to work doing something you love all day and bringing a product you’re passionate about to the people sounds pretty amazing, right?
But is starting a brewery really something you ever seriously thought you would be able to do? Well, it turns out, it might be more within your reach than you know. This simple guide will take you through everything you need to know about how to start a brewery biz. Read on to learn where to begin with a brewery business, how much money it’ll cost you, and what tips you need to know.
A Beer Vision
First thing’s first, before you actually set the wheels in motion to begin your brewery company, it’s important to have a clear vision for your business. Have you done market research, or carved out a niche to ensure there’s room in the market for your product? Do you have any idea about the branding you’d like? Have you considered what your marketing strategy will be?
It’s important to have a firm idea of all of these things before you begin. You should also have an idea of the goals you have for the business, and where you want to be in 6 months, 12 months, five years’ time. Having a well-thought-out business plan, even a rough one, is the best foundation for any brewery business. You will need beer goggles… but the good ones that allow for business insight!
Hop to It
Of course, it’s necessary to have a certain level of business knowledge to start a brewery. But they’re also another type of important knowledge you’ll need. How to brew beer.
In order to start your own brewery, you’ll need to have knowledge about the brewing process. Whether you’re a veteran homebrewer, or you’ve worked in the industry for a long time, make sure you’ve put in the work and you’re familiar with all of the processes and protocols involved in brewing beer on a commercial scale.
Finding Funding
Unfortunately, there’s no easy way around the subject of brewery funding or financing. If you’re thinking about starting a brewery you should know it’s going to take a significant investment. Space rental, hiring employees, buying supplies, and sourcing craft beer grain handling systems are all initial costs that need to be considered.
Industry experts estimate it costs somewhere between $500,000 and $1 million to start a small brewery business. For most people, this means it will be necessary to find funding. The Small Business Administration, a local bank, Co-op breweries, or crowdfunding are all possible options to help to get your business off the ground initially.
And don’t forget about asking your friends and family for financial assistance (and taste-testing for quality assurance) when launching your brewery startup business.
How to Start a Brewery? With Passion
The key to learning how to start a brewery is first learning love and dedication to the craft. As with any business, if you’re starting your own brewery company, the number one thing you need to make sure of is that it’s something you’re passionate about. You need to be really passionate about beer and business if you want to build a successful company!
Long hours, lost profits, and backbreaking labor will all be worth it in the end, but only if you’re doing something you truly love. Build that brewery business and make the booze bucks! Good luck building your brew crew, bottoms up!
