The pandemic revealed the main problem with a stable and cozy 9-to-5 job! It lulls you into a fake sense of security, and when the shit hits the fan, there’s a high risk you’ll be laid off without much warning or time to prepare.

Brewery as a Startup: Important Points to Consider    

For many, this was a harsh wake-up call. But it was also a boost for their entrepreneurship spirit. Data shows the US reached an all-time high in applications for startups in 2020 (a 95% increase compared to the same period in 2019).

Furthermore, the trend of new startups is also on the rise in Europe, with an increase of around 20% in France.

Most new startups try to solve the problems brought forth by the pandemic, such as delivery (food, groceries, packages) and logistics.

There is also a strong increase in entrepreneurs who focus on IT, which is easy to understand considering the wide array of possibilities.

But there’s also a trend where entrepreneurs focus on their passions and work hard to share their craft with the world. This is where the Craft Beer industry fits and why specialists expect a global annual growth rate of 8% by 2026.

Lockdowns and job uncertainty provided passionate homebrewers with the time and energy to consider opening a professional brewery as their first startup.

After all, if you can make it at home, how hard can it be to step up to the next level? As it turns out, there is quite the difference between making your own craft beer as a hobby and trying to convince people your business is trustworthy.

Let’s have a look at what brewery as a startup really means:

It is a Business

The very first wake-up call when you try to make money off your passion is the fact that you have to create a plan, fill in paperwork, and think about funding sources (among other million things).

Regardless of your end goal, you are starting a business and this requires a lot of preparation (if you plan on succeeding).

If you’re serious about this endeavor, we recommend checking out this article about a business plan for a brewery. It will provide some valuable insight into what it means to own a brewery and the type of work it requires.

You Won’t be Making Beer

Most of the time. When you do this professionally, your main job is to make sure all the containers and instruments are squicky clean and the paperwork is in order.

The brewing process starts and ends with cleaning, so until you can afford to hire staff, this will be your startup life.

Plus, you have to deal with suppliers and governmental institutions, which means accurate paperwork and bookkeeping.

The Process is Repetitive

Do you dream of inventing a new fabulous recipe each day? Good for you! Still, the process is the same. Every new recipe you can conceive goes almost exactly the same as the last one. That’s why the main characteristics of a good brewer are:

• Increased attention to detail
• Patient & methodical (there’s lots of data recording involved)
• Good with routine work

To bring your creations to the real world, you will need to pay attention to changes in the environment and recipes, which require advanced record-keeping skills.

You’ll Need Connections

If you imagine that owning a brewery is all about coming up with new recipes and tasting them with your friends and colleagues, you have another thing coming!

You can’t keep the brewery going if you don’t have a wide network of handymen, electricians, and stainless steel welders.

Due to the harsh conditions and little to no maintenance, the brewing equipment will break (often, at the worst possible time). That’s when you have to either get creative or call one of your professional contacts to bail you out.

So keep an eye for locals who have the skills you may need.

Drinking Beer Won’t be the Same

People tend to imagine brewers drink gallons of beer on a daily basis, but the reality is a bit different. If you’re passionate about craft beer and already have an at-home setup, you probably know already – brewers don’t drink the same as everybody else.

Each sip of beer is analyzed as you pay attention to the taste, texture, feel, and anything else. Also, should you discover new aspects, your mind will immediately go into overdrive, starting to identify the nuances and understand the process.

This usually sends you on a journey of exploration through old records and discussions with business partners and colleagues.

Think Outside the Box

Life as a brewery owner may not be as glamorous as you’ve imagined, but if you love the craft you can also discover the magic behind the routine and paperwork.

You are going to be right in the middle of the creation process while also nurturing a business that’s fit for your soul.

Conclusion

And, even though we talked about routine and methods, you also have to think outside the box for a variety of scenarios (like finding new funding sources or discovering untapped audiences). Overall, a brewery as a startup can be a wonderful journey for any entrepreneur!

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Some other articles you might find of interest:

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How to Drive & Increase Traffic to Your Startup Website

Do you have what it takes to start and run an online business?

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