Beer is one of the most consumed beverages in the world. Enjoying a nice game in front of the television is never as fun without a six-pack. However, for some, beer is much more than a fizzy drink. It’s a passion with limitless potential.
The hoppy drink has millions of fans around the world and the various methods of creation, give each batch a different taste. Nowadays, craft beers are incredibly popular as talented brewmasters produce unique-tasting beverages that differ from regular commercial beers.
If you feel like you have the winning craft beer formula and you want to bring it to the masses, read below to find out how you can start your own brewery business.
Do your research and write down your plans
Entering the business waters head first is never advised. Try to see whether there are breweries operating currently in your area or if there were in the past. Pinpoint their strengths and weaknesses and try to use that information to your advantage.
Once the research is done and you are backed by solid data, try to set achievable and realistic goals. To help yourself with the process of business creation and finding the right funding, create a business plan that will speak louder than just words.
A brewery business plan will help you plan out your long-term goals, while also providing your investors with a comprehensive document encapsulating your whole long-term vision and operational plan.
Naming and branding your brewery
Settling on the name of your brewery is one of the first and most important decisions you need to make during the whole process. The name will represent your brewery and will influence its branding, marketing, and image.
As soon as you find the right name for your brewery, try to register a domain name and create a social media platform bearing your name and logo.
Choose the location and evaluate start-up costs
Like many things in life, choosing the right location for your brewery is crucial. Your business plan can be made or broken by the location you choose. Make sure that your chosen location has all the necessary amenities that will be a benefit to your brewery.
Of course, getting the right equipment and location for your brewery will cost a lot of money. However, with the right business plan, you can pitch your ideas to investors and banks easily and obtain funds in no time.
Pay attention to the legal requirements.
There are many rules and regulations that must be followed, regardless of whether you sell beer or just produce it. While they may vary from one state to the next, there are some rules that you need to follow to legally start a brewery.
To ensure that everything related to your brewery is completely legal, start researching the federal requirements for the state in which you plan to open your business. You should also keep in mind that different types of breweries may require different permits, licenses, and insurance policies.
If you decide to serve beer at your brewery, you will require additional permits as well.
Think about going global
If you decide to sell your craft beer in one location, you will need to understand that shipping craft beer is an entirely different process than shipping other goods.
You can also distribute beer yourself. Self-distribution offers the benefit of direct selling and increased profit, but it can also be more time-consuming. Many small breweries start self-distribution to scale their business much faster. But, as their beer sales increase and they have more demand, they will then turn over distribution to a wholesaler.
Either way, if you are planning to disturb large quantities of craft beer, you will also have to equip your brewery with adequate storage equipment.
Bottom line
As all the legal documents are ready, your business will enter the most difficult stage—deciding the type of beer you will create. Creating the menu will not be an easy task, but if you apply your creativity you will eventually find the right craft beer flavor and snack pairing.
Either way, there’s nothing wrong with going back and changing or perfecting your formula. If you follow the steps above, you will achieve organic success and grow your business the right way.
