Brewery Business Plan Template

Benefits of PrometAI’s Free Brewery Business Plan Template

Starting a brewery is complex. Your plan should not be.

PrometAI offers a simple, small brewery business plan template that helps you plan faster and smarter, without cost.

Why use this template?

• Free to use: No fees, no trials, no hidden limits.

• Easy to customize: Adjust the plan to fit your brewery idea, size, and goals.

• Downloadable formats: Export your brewery business plan PDF or PPT, or share it directly through the platform.

• All-in-one structure: Covers finances, marketing, and operations in one clear structure.

How this template helps you

• Start faster: Skip the blank page and follow a clear, ready-made structure.

• Stay focused: Build a sharp plan without overthinking or unnecessary details.

• Look professional: Share a clean, investor-ready plan.

• Think clearly: Built-in tools like SWOT and market sizing guide smarter decisions.

Whether you are testing an idea or preparing to pitch, this template helps you move forward with confidence.

Before building your full plan, PrometAI’s How to Start a Brewery Business guide can help you shape your idea and set a strong foundation.

Explore examples of:

• ✏️ Brand concept & mission summary
• 🎯 Target market & positioning
• 💵 Cost & revenue breakdown
• 📊 Financial charts & valuation scenarios
• 🧠 Strategy frameworks like SWOT and Porter’s
• 📍 Location strategy and customer insights
• 👥 Team structure and founder roles
• ✅ Investment ask with scenario testing

How to Create a Business Plan for a Brewery

A brewery business plan helps turn your idea into a real brewery business. It shows what you will brew, who you will sell to, and how you will make money. If you are learning how to start a brewery, breaking the plan into steps makes it much easier.

Below is a simple, step-by-step guide that follows a professional business plan structure.

Part 1 – Executive Summary

The executive summary is a short overview of your entire plan. It should fit on one page and explain your brewery at a glance.

What this section should do

• Explain your brewery idea

• Show how your business will operate

• Highlight your customers and goals

• Summarize your financial needs

What to include

1.Business concept

Describe what kind of brewery you want to run.

You can mention:

• the type of brewery you are opening

• the beer styles you plan to produce

• how you will sell your beer, such as taproom sales, events, or distribution

• whether food will be part of the business or if beer is the main focus

2.Mission and vision

Explain why your brewery exists and where you want it to go.

• your mission explains your purpose

• your vision explains what you want to become in the long run

3.Key milestones

List the main goals you want to reach, such as:

• first beer batch completed

• taproom opening or first event

• first bars or shops selling your beer

• early awards or local recognition

• reaching a target production level

4.Financial targets and funding

Give a simple view of the money side:

• expected revenue in the first year

• when you expect to break even

• how much funding you need, if any

• what the money will be used for, such as equipment, licenses, materials, or marketing

Beginner tip: Write the executive summary last. Once the rest of your brewery business plan is complete, this section becomes much easier to summarize.

Part 2 – Company & Product Overview

Explain what your brewery is, what you sell, and how things work day to day.

2.1 General Overview

Start with the basics. Write down your brewery name, where it is located, and how the business is legally set up.

Next, explain who started the brewery and why. Share any background in brewing, food and beverage, hospitality, or operations. Make it clear that the goal is to build a serious, high-quality craft brewery, not just brew beer as a side hobby.

Then describe what your brand stands for. This may include making good beer consistently, staying true to your style, experimenting when it makes sense, supporting the local community, and caring about sustainability.

2.2 Phase Planning: Why Stages Matter

Growing a brewery works best when done in steps.

• Startup: You test recipes, brew small batches, get licenses, set up equipment, and design your brand. This stage usually ends with a soft taproom opening or first sales to local bars.

• Growth: You brew regularly, get more visitors, sell to more accounts, release seasonal beers, and control quality and costs better.

• Expansion: You brew more beer, reach new areas, sell cans or bottles, join festivals, and may open another location.

• Innovation: You try new ideas. This can include special beers, collaborations, new ingredients, and better planning using sales data.

Action tip: Set two or three clear goals for each stage so you know what success looks like.

2.3 Stakeholders: Who Benefits from Your Business?

Your brewery supports many groups. Customers enjoy fresh beer and a friendly place to drink it. Bars and restaurants get reliable local beer. Retailers sell packaged products with a local story. Staff gain steady jobs and chances to grow. Suppliers receive regular orders. The local community benefits from events, visitors, and partnerships.

2.4 Target Groups

• Who uses it: Your customers may include craft beer fans, local residents looking for a place to relax, tourists who want local flavors, bar and restaurant guests, and people planning events.

• Their habits: They care about taste and freshness. They often follow breweries online, enjoy seasonal beers, and value a good atmosphere and helpful staff.

• Your edge: You stand out by brewing reliable core beers, offering interesting seasonal releases, creating a welcoming taproom, keeping a clear brand voice, being open about how you brew, and working closely with local venues.

Beginner tip: Pay attention to feedback from the taproom, social media, and partners to see what people like most.

2.5 Customer Pain Points and Your Solutions

People often face problems like uneven beer quality, limited choices, confusing taprooms, or not knowing what goes into the beer. Some struggle to find their favorite beers again.

You can solve these by keeping tight brewing standards, offering a mix of core and seasonal beers, making the taproom easy to understand, sharing your brewing story, and clearly communicating release dates and availability.

2.6–2.9 Market Positioning and Strategy Tools

You do not need to use every business framework. Focus on a few clear points.

Think about what you do well, such as strong recipes, consistent brewing, a clear brand, and a solid taproom. Also be honest about risks, like high equipment costs, rules and licenses, strong competition, and changing beer trends.

Watch what is happening in the market. Many people want local and independent beer, unique taproom experiences, and lighter or specialty styles. Laws around alcohol sales may also change.

You will compete with big breweries, local craft breweries, and imported beers. The best way to stand out is through quality, focus on certain styles, a good taproom experience, and strong ties to the community.

Beginner tip: Pick one clear direction and stick to it instead of trying to please everyone.

2.10 Management Team

Introduce the people running the brewery. Share the founder’s experience and passion for making good beer and creating a welcoming place for customers.

You can also mention advisors if you have them. This may include brewing experts, sales or distribution advisors, hospitality specialists, or legal and finance professionals who help guide the business.

Part 3 – Checklist & Risk Overview

Show that you know what needs to be done and understand the main risks of running a brewery.

3.1 Organizational & Marketing Tasks

Key tasks before launch

• Register the business and choose how it will be set up

• Find a location that allows brewing and alcohol sales

• Get all required licenses for brewing, selling, and distributing beer

• Buy and install brewing equipment

• Set up water, power, and drainage for brewing

• Create and test your core beer recipes

• Decide which beers will be always available and which will be seasonal

• Design your brand, labels, and packaging

• Set up basic quality checks and record keeping

• Hire or contract key staff if needed

• Plan the taproom layout and customer flow

• Choose systems to track sales, stock, and kegs or cans

• Launch a website and social media pages

• Connect with local bars, restaurants, and retailers

• Plan soft launches, tastings, or small events

3.2 Phase-Based Task Planning

Split the work into stages.

• Startup: Get licenses, set up equipment, finish a few core beers, brew test batches, sell your first beers, and listen to early feedback.

• Growth: Brew regularly, improve consistency, bring in more visitors, sign early partners, release seasonal beers, and control costs.

• Expansion: Add more tanks, sell cans or bottles, reach new areas, join festivals, and hire sales support.

• Innovation: Try special beers, work with other breweries, test new styles, use sales data, and explore direct sales where allowed.

3.3 Top Risks & Mitigation

List the main risks and how you plan to handle them.

• Licensing delays - Start early and plan for delays.

• Beer quality issues - Clean well, track batches, and check beer often.

• Too much equipment - Start small and grow slowly.

• Low taproom traffic - Host events and stay active online.

• Cash problems- Watch spending and keep a safety buffer.

Tip: Good planning and steady growth matter more than big ideas.

Part 4 – Users, Market & Investment

Show that people want your beer and explain how startup money will be used.

4.1 Market Size (TAM / SAM / SOM)

This section shows how big your market is and what part of it you can realistically reach.

• TAM – Total Addressable Market
  This is the full beer market in your country or region. It includes craft and premium beer sold in bars, restaurants, taprooms, bottle shops, and stores.

• SAM – Serviceable Available Market
  This is the part of the market you can actually serve. It includes customers, bars, shops, and visitors within your legal and delivery range.

• SOM – Serviceable Obtainable Market
  This is the share you can realistically win in your first year. For most breweries, this is a small slice of SAM. Often between 0.5% and 3%.

Your SOM should be linked to real numbers, such as:

• barrels brewed per year

• number of tap handles

• beer sold in the taproom

• cans or bottles sold in stores

Beginner tip: Use local data, distributor feedback, and nearby brewery traffic. Avoid big national numbers that do not reflect your real reach.

4.2 Funding Allocation

This part explains how startup money will be spent. Use a simple table to show the breakdown.

Keep the list focused on what helps you brew, sell, and operate from day one.

Tip: Investors want clarity, not complexity. Show that money goes first to brewing, selling beer, and staying compliant. Extras can come later.

Part 5 – Financial Projection

Show how money comes in and where it goes.

5.1 Revenue Forecast

This part shows how much money the brewery can make in the first three years. Most small breweries earn $30,000 to $120,000 per month, depending on taproom traffic and beer sales.

In the first year, breweries often sell 50 to 300 barrels per month, with volumes growing as capacity and demand increase.

Extra income may come from:

• merchandise

• tours and tastings

• private events

• special beer releases

• contract brewing or guest taps

5.2 COGS and Expenses

This section lists what it costs to make and sell your beer.

COGS (Cost of Goods Sold)

These are the direct costs of brewing:

• malt, hops, yeast, and other ingredients

• water treatment

• packaging like kegs, cans, bottles, and labels

• gas and CO₂

• quality checks and testing

• beer lost during brewing or packaging

Operating Expenses

These are the day-to-day costs of running the brewery:

• rent or loan payments

• utilities like water, power, and waste

• brewer and taproom staff wages

• equipment upkeep and cleaning supplies

• marketing and events

• insurance and license fees

• sales, accounting, and inventory tools

• delivery or distribution costs

5.3 Profit and Cash Flow

This part shows what is left after costs.

Gross profit

This is revenue minus brewing and packaging costs. Many breweries aim for a 45% to 65% margin, depending on how much they sell in the taproom versus wholesale.

Net profit

This is what remains after all expenses are paid. Most breweries reach break-even in 18 to 36 months, depending on costs, taproom success, and how well equipment is used.

Cash flow

• Taproom sales bring cash fast.

• Wholesale sales are paid later.

• Beer in tanks and stock ties up cash.

• Busy and slow seasons need planning.

Tip: Start with lower sales and higher costs. Adjust once you have real numbers.

Part 6 – Business Valuation

Show what your brewery is worth if you bring in investors or partners.

Beginner Option

This is the easiest way to explain value. Start with how much money the brewery is expected to make in the first year. For many breweries, this is between $350,000 and $800,000, depending on taproom sales and distribution.

Next, apply a simple industry multiple. Early-stage breweries are often valued at 1.0 to 2.5 times yearly revenue. This leads to an estimated value of $350,000 to $2,000,000 or more.

This approach works well for small breweries with a strong taproom, growing sales, and a clear local brand.

Advanced Option

This option looks at how the brewery grows over time. Estimate profits over the next 3 to 5 years, based on:

• brewing more beer as capacity increases

• more people visiting the taproom

• higher spend per customer

• more wholesale and retail accounts

• better efficiency and lower costs

Then apply a discount rate, usually 12% to 20%, to reflect risk. After the business stabilizes, assume slow long-term growth of 2% to 3% and calculate future value.

This method gives a valuation based on long-term performance, not just early revenue.

Result

Your valuation should be backed by real numbers. These include how much beer you brew, taproom traffic, sales growth, costs, and brand strength in your local market.

Keep it clear. Keep it realistic. That builds trust.

Part 7 – Stress Test, Scenario Analysis & Simulations

Show how your brewery reacts when things go better or worse than expected.

How to structure it

Look at three situations:

• best case

• normal case

• worst case

For each one, explain what happens and what you do next.

Example scenarios

Tip: Things will not always go as planned. Showing that you have simple backup plans builds trust. Breweries face ups and downs. Planning ahead helps protect cash, quality, and your brand.

Part 8 – Glossary & Disclaimer

Explain key words used in the plan and clarify that all numbers are estimates.

• Glossary: Use this section to briefly explain any terms that may not be clear to all readers.

• Disclaimer: The figures in this business plan are estimates. Actual results may change based on costs, sales, and market conditions.

Final Tip: Do not overthink formatting or formulas. Start by filling in each section with bullet points, then refine later.

Tools like PrometAI Business Plan Generator can help speed up the process and keep everything organized.

You’ve explored the template. You’ve seen what’s possible.
Now it’s time to start building — your business deserves momentum.

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