If you have an interest in starting your own microbrewery as a way to live your passion in a professional way, there are a few things that you should know and research before you make this decision. Just as with starting any business, starting your own microbrewery will be a lot of work. So to help ensure that you know what you’re getting yourself into, here are three things to research before starting your own microbrewery.
How You’ll Fit In The Market
One of the first things that you should research is how you and your new microbrewery business will fit into the market.
The market for microbreweries is already very competitive. So if you’re thinking that you’ll just be able to throw some things together and create something successful, you’ll likely be sorely mistaken. Rather, you’re going to need to really research and learn about other microbreweries in your area that supply local businesses. If you notice that something is missing and find that there’s a way that you could break into the market by offering something different or tweaking something that other businesses aren’t completely taking advantage of, then you’ll have a much better chance of potentially finding some commercial success here.Â
The Necessary Licenses And Permits
Once you’ve decided that a microbrewery is a path that you want to go down and you have an idea of how your business will be different from ones that already exist, you then have to go through the processes of ensuring that you can legally run your microbrewery.
Depending on where you live, the licenses and permits that will be necessary for you to get production up and running will vary. But for most, you’ll need to apply for Brewer’s Notice, which is done through the Alcohol and Tobacco Trade and Tax Bureau. Along with this, you’ll likely have to get things like an alcoholic beverage permit, post a brewer’s bond, secure a liquor license, and more. Just make sure you get all of this administrative paperwork done before you really get the gears moving on your microbrewery.Â
What Equipment You Need
To really start with production, you’ll also need to secure the necessary equipment for your microbrewery.
When you’re just getting started, you can usually get away with just a small amount of equipment, including things like a barrel system and a microbrewery chiller. Keep in mind, however, that buying used equipment in this industry likely won’t be that much more cost-effective, so you can expect to be putting out a lot of money on equipment at the very start of your business. Â
If starting a microbrewery is something you’re wanting to get into, consider researching the above-mentioned topics before you move forward with this decision.