Microbrewery business plan template

Complete microbrewery business plan template (with financials and written example): use it with our online business plan software or download as PDF or Word.

Discover our microbrewery business plan template

Our microbrewery business plan template gives you the structure to write a professional plan

Not accustomed to writing business plans? Our microbrewery business template will turn a typically challenging process into a total breeze.

Modelled on a complete business plan of a microbrewery in France, our template features both the financial forecast and the written part that presents the project, its team, the local market and the business strategy implemented by the management.

Cast your eyes on this template to achieve a better understanding of what your bank and investors would like to see, so that you can create a business plan that meets their expectations.

microbrewery businesss plan template
Start my free trial

7 day free trial. No credit card required. Microbrewery business plan template available with paid plans only.

How to use this microbrewery business plan template

Edit the microbrewery business plan template online, or download it

There are 3 ways to use this template:

  • Edit it online: you can adapt this template to your business idea by changing the text or the financial forecast directly in our business planning software
  • Download in PDF: if you're just after a little inspiration, you can download the microbrewery business plan template in PDF to read over it
  • Download in Word format: want to edit your plan on Word? Simply export the microbrewery business plan template to Ms Word (.docx) format
online editor for microbrewery business plan template

Microbrewery business plan template content

This template includes a complete microbrewery business plan example, with a financial forecast and the following sections:

  1. Executive summary: the executive summary gives the reader a clear and concise overview of your business idea
  2. Company: this section lays out the structure of your business, including its location, management team and legal form
  3. Products and services: here, you'll give an overview of the premium beer sold by your microbrewery
  4. Market analysis: the market analysis is where you’ll demonstrate that there is a strong demand for your products and services through a thorough assessment of the industry (customer profile, hot trends, regulation, competition, etc.)
  5. Strategy: this section highlights the company's game plan when it comes to pricing, marketing and mitigating risks along the way
  6. Operations: this step lays out the company's operational organisation, including the recruitment plan
  7. Financial plan: the financial plan includes a table of sources & uses (initial funding plan), and complete financial statements (P&L, balance sheet and cash flow statement).
  8. Appendices: this part provides the opportunity to include multiple financial appendices generated by our software (debt maturity profile, monthly financial statements, financial analysis, etc.).
cover page and table of contents for the microbrewery business plan template by The Business Plan Shop
Start my free trial

7 day free trial. No credit card required. Microbrewery business plan template available with paid plans only.

Executive summary of the microbrewery's business plan

The executive summary gives the reader a clear and concise overview of your business idea.

Our microbrewery business plan example's executive summary is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Business overview: in this subsection, we outline who the microbrewery founders are, what legal form they've chosen for the business, and the rationale behind the choice of their location
  2. Market overview: in this subsection, we summarize the conclusions of the market analysis performed by the microbrewery's owners and explain who they might target (our microbrewery business plan template targets wine shops, delicatessens, restaurants, bars and beer lovers)
  3. Financial highlights: in this subsection, we give an overview of the forecasted financial performance of the microbrewery over the first 3 years of operation
  4. Our ask: in this subsection, we outline the amount of financing required to start the microbrewery and how it's going to be funded (the founders are seeking a bank loan to start their microbrewery)
executive summary for microbrewery business plan sample

Company overview included in our microbrewery business plan sample

This section lays out the structure of your business, including its location, management team and legal form.

Our microbrewery business plan template's company section is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Structure & Ownership: in this subsection, we outline who the microbrewery shareholders are, what legal form they've chosen for the business
  2. Location: in this subsection, we present the area surrounding the location chosen for the business and the layout and main features of the premises
  3. Management Team: in this subsection, we give an overview of the background of each of the microbrewery's founders and explain how they met and why they decided to start a company together
company overview included in microbrewery business plan template
Start my free trial

7 day free trial. No credit card required. Microbrewery business plan template available with paid plans only.

Products and services offered by the microbrewery

The products and services section is where you will present the different types of premium beer sold and services offered by your microbrewery.

In our microbrewery business plan template products and services section, we cover:

  • Premium lager: we will market a single type of premium beer made with high quality ingredients.
  • In-store and online purchasing: a choice to buy our beer from our shop, website or a variety of retailers.
product and services description of the microbrewery business plan example

Market analysis for the opening of the microbrewery

The market analysis is where you’ll demonstrate that there is a strong demand for your products and services through a thorough assessment of the industry (customer profile, hot trends, regulation, competition, etc.)

Our microbrewery business plan example's market analysis section is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Demographics and Segmentation: in this subsection, we explore the market in depth. We look at the supply and demand sides both at the national and local level, analyse the hot trends perceived by the founders, and the key statistics that will help the founders build their positioning
  2. Target market: in this subsection, our founders explain who they view as their ideal customers (our microbrewery business plan template targets wine shops, delicatessens, restaurants, bars and beer lovers) and why they chose to target them
  3. Competition: in this subsection, we take a look at the direct (craft breweries in the city and the region) and indirect (industrial breweries) local competition to ensure we have a differentiated positioning and that the market is large enough to accommodate the arrival of a new microbrewery
  4. Regulation: in this subsection, we give an overview of the main regulation applicable to our microbrewery
market analysis section of the microbrewery business plan template
Start my free trial

7 day free trial. No credit card required. Microbrewery business plan template available with paid plans only.

Setting the strategy for our microbrewery

This section highlights the company's game plan when it comes to pricing, marketing and mitigating risks along the way.

Our microbrewery business plan template strategy section is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Pricing: in this subsection, we explain how we set the prices of our main categories of products (premium lager) and services (in-store and online purchasing) the rationale behind our choice
  2. Marketing plan: in this subsection, we explain what action we'll put in place to build awareness and loyalty among craft beer drinkers
  3. Milestones: in this subsection, we give an overview of the main goals we set for ourselves for the next 3 years
  4. Risks and Mittigants: in this subsection, we perform an assessment of the medium and long-term risks that could jeopardize the financial viability of our microbrewery and outline how we intend to mitigate them
microbrewery business plan example: stragtegy section

Operations section of the microbrewery business plan template

This part lays out the company's operational organisation, including the recruitment plan.

Our microbrewery business plan example's operations section is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Personnel plan: in this subsection, we explain what our opening hours will be and explain the responsabilities of each of our microbrewery staff member
  2. Key assets and IP: in this subsection, we list the assets and intellectual property rights which are critical to our business operations and explain how we will secure and protect each of these
  3. Suppliers: in this subsection, we give an overview of the main suppliers we will use our what commercial terms have been negotiated with them
microbrewery business plan template: operations section
Start my free trial

7 day free trial. No credit card required. Microbrewery business plan template available with paid plans only.

Financial plan included in our microbrewery business plan template

This section presents the expected financial performance of the microbrewery over the next 3 years.

Our microbrewery business plan example's financial plan is formed of the following subsections:

  1. Start-up funding: in this subsection, we list the cost of each item required to launch the microbrewery
  2. Important assumptions: in this subsection, we explain the methodology and the main assumptions used to build the microbrewery's financial forecast
  3. Sales forecast: in this subsection, we detail the expected revenues and growth rate for our microbrewery in the coming years
  4. Cost structure: in this subsection, we list all the expenses required for our microbrewery to operate smoothly
  5. Projected Profit & Loss statement: in this subsection, we analyse our forecasted P&L and comment on the expected profitability of our microbrewery over the next 3 years
  6. Projected cash flow statement: in this subsection, we analyse the expected cash generation of the microbrewery
  7. Projected balance sheet: in this section we give an analysis of the liquidity and solvability implied from our balance sheet
microbrewery business plan forecasted P&L

Appendices of the microbrewery business plan template

This part provides the opportunity to include multiple financial appendices generated by our software (debt maturity profile, monthly financial statements, financial analysis, etc.).

Our microbrewery business plan template's appendices include:

  1. A Maturity profile chart showing the principal repayments of their loans over the next 3 years
  2. A monthly cash flow forecast: showing how much cash is being generated or consumed each month over the first 3 years of operations
microbrewery business plan template: monthly cash flow forecast

Microbrewery business plan template sample

Executive Summary

Business Overview

The Barrel Normand will be a micro-brewery located in Mondeville, on the outskirts of Caen.

We will sell only one type of beer, concentrating on the quality of the ingredients to bring out the flavours.

Our sales will be through retailers, on the internet and in-house, where we will highlight the craft skills required to make beer.

Our company will be a limited company with a share capital of €20,000.

It will be managed by Arthur C. and Quentin D.

The two directors both have experience in the world of beer, at the level of manufacturing and trade.

Market Overview

Domestic Market

There are two main types of breweries:

  • industrial
  • independent (including microbreweries)

The main distinction between the two is the production capacity. Where the independent brewery generally chooses craft know-how, this takes more time and therefore it generally produces a few thousand hectolitres per year.

The microbrewery will produce a few hundred hectolitres per year, while the industrial brewery will produce over 100,000 hectolitres per year.

Key figures for independent breweries

According to the Bonial website, France is the 41st consumer of beer in the world with 30 litres consumed per person per year.

The Syndicat des Brasseurs Indépendants (Independent Brewers' Union) counted a total of 1,600 independent breweries in France and overseas in 2019, with 5 new breweries being created every week.

The market was worth an average of €500 million, with an average growth of 16% between 2018 and 2019 and excise duties of €30 million.

France led the way in the number of independent breweries in Europe with an annual production of 1.3 million hectolitres per year and an average production of around 800 hectolitres per brewery.

Local Market

We define our target market as the Calvados region with the Caen conurbation as our main focus. We have therefore prepared our analysis on these two areas.

Calvados

Population

The population of Calvados in 2021 was estimated at 692,932 with 52% women and 48% men. The majority of the population was aged between 20 and 29 years.

According to figures from the Observatoire du Tourisme, Calvados was ranked as the 8th most visited department by the French with 3.9 million stays in 2019.

Caen

Population

The population of Caen in 2017 was estimated at 106,260 with 53% women and 47% men. The majority of the population was aged between 18 and 35 and there were almost 35,000 students, 17% of the population.

Financial Highlights

We expect to be profitable from the first year of operation with a turnover of €177,660 and an EBITDA of €15,792 (8.89% of EBITDA margin). In year 2, we expect to achieve €194,910 of turnover (with 9.71% growth) with an EBITDA of €27,665 (or a 14.19% margin).

In year 3, we expect to generate a turnover of €200,580 (with a 2.91% growth) and an EBITDA of >€31,284 (or a 15.60% margin).

Cash generation should be positive over the life of the plan to purchase an additional tank in year 3. The business should be sufficiently capitalised to enable us to meet our loan repayments while retaining sufficient cash to meet any contingencies.

Our Ask

The total initial funding requirement for our business is €142,000.

The partners have contributed €75,000 (53% of the amount), and we would like to obtain a bank loan of €50,000 to finance part of our installation and a VAT bridging loan of €17,000 to complete the sum.

500,000+ entrepreneurs have already used The Business Plan Shop

Easy to get started with and well-guided throughout. Lots of business plan templates to help you and writing is easy because there are explanations at each step of the process.

Thomas A.

Quite frankly excellent because I was able to finalize my business plan in less time than expected. This software offers a very coherent and complete approach to writing your project.

Mariama S.

It is a very well designed software that allows you to visualise each step of your project, understand if the idea is viable or not and think about the steps needed to start your business.

Cindy C.

Read more reviews and customer stories

Try The Business Plan Shop before you buy

There’s only one way to make up your mind about a new service - by trying it out for free. So we’re offering a free trial run on our platform for 7 days.

Sign up for a free trial today

7 day free trial. No credit card required. Microbrewery business plan template available with paid plans only.

Learn more about The Business Plan Shop

Start your free trial

7 day free trial. No credit card required. Microbrewery business plan template available with paid plans only.

Microbrewery Business Plan Template FAQ

What is a microbrewery business plan and do I need one?

A microbrewery business plan is a written document that sets out the commercial, operational and financial objectives of the company over the next 3 to 5 years.

It consists of two main parts:

  • A written part that presents, in detail, your microbrewery business, the team, your strategy, and your medium-term objectives.
  • A financial forecast that highlights the expected profitability of the microbrewery and the initial funding requirements.

The lack of business planning is one of the main reasons why more than 50% of startups fail within 5 years. If you're starting a microbrewery, writing a business plan is a must-have in order to reduce the risk of failure of your project.

Business plans are also required by most lenders and investors in order to secure financing, therefore a business plan is also highly recommended if you're seeking a loan or equity investment for your microbrewery.

How do I write a business plan for a microbrewery and is it difficult?

Writing a microbrewery business plan without The Business Plan Shop can be both error-prone and time-consuming - whether you're new to entrepreneurship or experienced:

  • You'll need to research the structure of a business plan, what to include in each section, and what key elements investors and lenders expect to see
  • You may encounter writer's block (especially if it's the first time you're writing a business plan for your microbrewery)
  • You'll need to create a financial forecast on a spreadsheet which requires a solid understanding of accounting and financial modelling in order to be done without error
  • You'll need to spend hours formatting financial data on Excel or Sheets before it's ready to integrate into your business plan
  • Any updates to your microbrewery business plan or financial forecast will need to be done manually

Luckily for you, The Business Plan Shop's online platform and microbrewery business plan template guide you through every stage of writing a business plan, so that you can spend more time managing and growing your business instead.

Our editor follows a best-in-class structure for professional business plans. Each section and subsection includes examples and instructions to help you, while our business plan templates provide further inspiration if you're stuck.

Our financial forecasting software helps you create a forecast and integrate it into your business plan with ease. Anytime you update your data, your business plan automatically updates.

And with our forecasting software all the calculations are done for you, without errors.

What is the budget for a microbrewery and how much does it cost to get started?

The budget to start and run a microbrewery will depend on the exact concept and location.

A small microbrewery producing a single craft beer requires a limited investment. A larger brewery producing a wide range of craft beers will require more equipment (brewing kettles, fermenters, mash tuns etc.) and staff (brewers, assistants, sales, and administrative staff etc.) thus a larger upfront investment.

If you wish to market your microbrewery and establish a brand identity, this will also contribute to startup costs in the form of packaging, advertising, promotion and designing costs.

As an example, in our microbrewery business plan template the total initial funding requirement amounted to €142,000 (c. $152,000 or £122,400), with the founders contributing €75,000 (c. $80,000 or £65,000).

In order to assess the exact budget for your microbrewery idea, you need to do a financial forecast using a financial projection tool such as the one we offer.

Is The Business Plan Shop the best microbrewery business plan template for me?

The package we offer at The Business Plan Shop goes way beyond a simple blank template you need to fill. With our platform you get:

  • Access to one of the best business plan software on the market
  • Access to our microbrewery business plan template which contains a complete example of a written business plan and financial forecast to start a microbrewery
  • Access to our entire business plan templates library - giving you dozens of examples to take inspiration from
  • Access to our financial planning and analysis platform so that you can track the actual performance of your business against what you had planned in your business plan and re-plan easily

But you shouldn't take our word for it: try our solution for free and make your own opinion!

How does the free trial of The Business Plan Shop work?

The free trial enables you to try the software for free during 7 days in order to verify that it meets your requirements before buying.

Some features are limited during the free trial, the main limits are:

  • You can only create one business plan
  • The financials of the first year are visible, but data for other years are hidden
  • You can export your plan in PDF but not in Word or CSV
  • No access to our business plan templates

You can create your account and start your free trial here.

How much does The Business Plan Shop’s microbrewery business plan template cost?

Access to our template is included with all our paid subscriptions.

Please visit our pricing page to learn about this in more detail.

Other business plan templates and resources to discover