What alcoholic drink is considered the most popular today? Of course, beer. A mug of cool life-giving moisture with a noble bitterness and a honey flavor makes us forget about all life problems and failures.
However, beer culture today is far from up to par. This is especially true in Russia, where a “live” drink is considered a rather rare occurrence, and bottle and can options often have low taste. And you can make good money on this if you approach the matter wisely and with a sufficient amount of initial cash investments.
A home brewery is an excellent business option. This is a profitable business, which with the right approach will certainly bring you excellent income. And it's not just about the hot summer season. After all, the demand for an intoxicated drink remains at any time of the year.
How to choose and equip a place
It all depends on how you plan to sell your products. On average, a mini-brewery occupies approximately 50-80 square meters of production area (depending on the bulkiness and quantity of equipment). This is the hallmark of small business in this area. A full-fledged beer factory occupies an average of 100-300 square meters of area.
If you plan to ship the drink, then in this case the equipment should drive up to the room without any problems. Be sure to provide for a separate room (warehouse) for storing ready-made beer and raw materials. The premises must be equipped with a good system of uninterrupted ventilation, central sewage, heating, as well as electrical wiring. In addition, do not forget about fire safety.
How to open a mini brewery? First of all, the room you have chosen must pass all the checks without fail. To start work, the following permits will be required: SES - for the start-up and installation of equipment, state fire control, energy supervision, housing office - for proper operation of sewage and water supply.
If you decide, in addition to the brewery itself, to also open a private outlet, then in this case, choose a room on the busiest street with a convenient location near public transport. Renting such an office will be more expensive, but the business will pay off much faster.
Technical question
Brewery equipment is at the heart of this business. The level of the final product, as well as its taste properties, depends on how reliable and high-quality the equipment will be.
The basic set of equipment for brewing beer independently includes several items: a container designed for primary fermentation, a vessel of technological properties, a laboratory kit, as well as a system for transfusion.
These things are pretty easy to maintain. Such a minimum set will allow you to produce 500-700 liters of wonderful beer per day. But imported and more expensive equipment with high technical characteristics can produce a volume of 2000 liters. To dispense beer on tap, you must first buy special sealed barrels.
We get the ingredients
No less important is the raw material. A home brewery will not be popular with customers if you constantly save on ingredients.As a rule, a standard set of raw materials necessary for the production of beer includes dry special yeast, hopped malt concentrate.
It is also necessary to acquire a special detergent and disinfectant, otherwise the SES will certainly note the absence of the necessary components for work in its conclusion. Establish a constant, uninterrupted supply of raw materials. A brewery as a business is only profitable if it works without any delay. Therefore, be sure to keep in mind at least one other supplier in addition to the selected primary.
Recruiting staff
If we are talking about the basic set of equipment for a mini-brewery, then only one person can serve the equipment in this case. However, you may well foresee night shifts.
In addition, someone will have to keep accounts of a legal entity or individual entrepreneur. The room must be cleaned and cleaned regularly. An individual can take on these responsibilities. The second option is to pay an existing employee.
A brewery as a business is a profitable business in itself. But if you open a retail outlet for a hop-drink or a bar at the same time, you need to count on additional costs in the form of remuneration to more workers. People should have an active life position and be able to quickly serve visitors. To pay off employees' salaries, assign a “deal." Therefore, a person will be directly interested in serving as many customers as possible.
We calculate the budget
The brewery’s business plan is relatively simple. Each person who wants to start their own business, but who has never before dealt with preliminary financial calculations, can compose it. You need to highlight all items of future expenses, as well as preliminary profit.
A business plan will allow you to visually see the items for which costs are worth increasing or decreasing, as well as assigning the wholesale and retail price of the prepared hop drink. He will not allow to invest money in vain.
How much does it cost to open a brewery? Experts recommend starting your own business in this area with an initial capital of 150-200 thousand US dollars. This amount will allow you to purchase high-quality raw materials, rent a decent room that meets all sanitary requirements, purchase high-quality equipment.
Remember that live beer always costs more than canned or bottled beer in its category. However, you should not focus on the elite varieties of Czech or German drink. Too high a cost may well not pay off at the initial stage. And it is here that you need to attract as many customers as possible so that they appreciate the quality of your product.
We make our own business
As with any kind of entrepreneurial activity, you will have to go through the process of collecting documents and officially registering a business. Prepare the charter and constituent agreements in advance, all related papers with signatures of the responsible persons. Go through the state registration procedure, register with the tax authority as the head of the company or as an individual entrepreneur. Now you know how to open a mini brewery. As you can see, there are no particular difficulties.
Increase sales
In order for your income to grow steadily, you need to make some efforts. A great option is a free beer tasting near its retail outlet. You will receive minimum costs, but potential customers will certainly appreciate such generosity and goodwill on the part of the manufacturer.
Remember that the brewery itself comes to the fore. As a business, it should no longer pop up in the memory of buyers. Therefore, pay particular attention to the level of service. There should not be any time delays.
If we are talking about bulk shipments, then in this case, ensure your partners an uninterrupted supply. Take care of product quality. Ensure that personnel do not steal raw materials or dilute the drink in any case. Equipment for the brewery must undergo regular inspection by specialists in order to avoid possible breakdowns and stop production.
Quality advertising
Let's talk about the engine of trade. Competent and eye-catching advertising is very important in any business. Without it, the goods will move on the market much more slowly. In order for retail to delight in their volumes, hire someone to distribute colorful attractive flyers near the point of sale or bar. Do not stint on a large-format banner or banner. But advertising on television or radio is better to avoid at first. It is too expensive for a business in its infancy.
We make out with taste
A good brewery with its own hands is formalized in the literal sense of the word, and not just registered legally. This is especially true for a store or bar. The atmosphere should be positing. Take care of soundproofing, the availability of a menu and beer-friendly snacks. Do not forget about the uniform of the staff. The most successful interior for selling beer is wooden surroundings, cozy places, as well as the absence of noise and fuss. You can also purchase a plasma screen and broadcast live sports on it. Such bars during the championships and the Olympic Games gather whole crowds of people.
Important little things
If you want to start a business from scratch, while investing not so grandiose amounts of money, then the private brewery will be the best option. With your own hands, you can create a whole network of product distribution channels. But do not forget about the various nuances - for example, the availability of a license for raw materials, the absolute cleanliness of the premises, as well as the ban on the sale of alcohol by hand after a certain time (this does not apply to beer consumption within the establishment).
Be sure to independently control all costs and check bookkeeping. Make a business plan. Constantly consider options for possible deepening into the market, as well as expanding your own business. A great help will be your own website, where potential buyers will be able to familiarize themselves with product prices, as well as find out the opening hours and location of points of sale.
