In this article, we’ll start by discussing the key day-to-day operational tasks you must perform to run a successful microbrewery business. Then we will go through ways to make your business run more efficiently.
Day-to-Day Operational Tasks for a Microbrewery Firm
No matter the type of microbrewery business you have, there are some basic operational tasks that you will need to complete on a regular basis. These tasks include:
- Brewing beer: This is the most important task of any microbrewery. You need to make sure that you are brewing high-quality beer that meets customer expectations.
- Selling beer: Once your beer is brewed, you need to distribute it to your customers. This can be done by selling directly to customers at your brewery or through distribution to retailers.
- Managing finances: Keep track of your income and expenses so that you can make informed decisions about where to invest your money.
- Marketing: Promote your beer to potential customers so that they are aware of your brand and buy your products.
- Maintaining equipment: Properly care for your brewing equipment so that it runs efficiently and is in good order.
Receiving and Processing Payments
Another important aspect of running your business is getting paid on time and in full. There are a few different ways to receive and process payments, but the most common are invoicing and credit cards.
For a microbrewery business, invoicing is the best way to receive payments from retail customers. You can send an invoice and customers can pay via check or bank transfer. To make sure that you get paid on time, it’s important to include clear payment terms on your invoice.
If you decide to accept credit and debit cards, you will need to set up a merchant account with a bank or other financial institution. There are a few things to keep in mind when setting up your merchant accounts, such as the fees you will be charged and the type of credit and debit card processing equipment you will need.
Managing Customer Relationships
The key to any successful business is good customer relationships. Managing customer relationships is especially important as you want to make sure that they are happy and satisfied with your offerings. This will make them more likely to refer your company to others and to come back to you in the future. There are a few different ways to manage customer relationships, but the most common is to keep in touch with them regularly and send them updates via their preferred communication method.
Improve Your Microbrewery Company Inefficiencies
Use the following tips and strategies to make your microbrewery business more efficient:
- Streamline your brewing process: There are a few different ways to do this, but one major way to increase your efficiency is to invest in automated brewing equipment. This will save time and money in the long run.
- Implement an inventory management system: This will track of your beer supply so that you can avoid running out of stock.
- Use a CRM system: A CRM system tracks your customer relationships and manages your sales pipeline more effectively.
- Invest in marketing automation: This will save time on repetitive tasks, like sending out email newsletters and social media updates.
- Hire a virtual assistant: A virtual assistant can assist with a variety of tasks, from customer service to accounting. This frees up time so you can focus on more important things.
Systems & Processes
One of the best ways to make your microbrewery business more efficient is to develop and/or automate as many systems and processes as possible. By doing this, you can save time and money.
The following microbrewery business processes can be systematized:
- Order processing: Automate your order processing so orders are fulfilled automatically.
- Shipping: Set up a system so orders are shipped out as soon as they are placed.
- Customer service: Use a customer relationship management (CRM) system to track customer relationships and provide excellent customer service.
- Accounting: Use accounting software to automate your financial processes.
- Marketing: Use marketing automation software to save time on repetitive tasks like email marketing and social media updates.
By systematizing your microbrewery business, you can improve efficiency and focus on more important tasks.
Delegate & Outsource
Another way to make your microbrewery business more efficient is to delegate and/or outsource tasks.
There are a number of different tasks you can delegate or outsource, including:
- Administrative tasks
- Marketing and advertising
- Customer service
- Bookkeeping and accounting
- Web development
By delegating and outsourcing these tasks, you will free up time to focus on driving sales, which is key to growing your microbrewery company.
You can find professionals to perform these tasks and more on websites like Upwork and Fiverr. Test workers on those sites with small projects before hiring them for bigger ones.
Time Management
When it comes to running a successful microbrewery business, one of the most important things is time management.
There are a number of different ways to manage your time effectively, including:
- Create task lists/to-do list
- Time blocking (blocking out time of your schedule to focus on critical tasks)
- Prioritization (prioritizing business building projects over day-to-day operational tasks)
In order to be successful, you need to learn how to balance the important tasks with the less important ones. You also need to learn how to say no to certain tasks in order to focus on the ones that are most important.
The key to time management in the microbrewery business is to be organized and focused. By using the techniques mentioned above, you can effectively manage your time and grow your business.
Tools, Technology & Resources
There are a number of different tools, technologies, and resources that can help microbrewery businesses improve their efficiencies, including:
- Marketing automation tools (email marketing, etc.)
- Accounting software/automated billing and invoicing
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software
Consider using these tools if they can help your business. Also, creating custom software could possibly allow you to perform even better and give you competitive advantage. If a customized piece of software could benefit your microbrewery business, consult with an IT professional or software developer.
Set & Track Goals
One of the best ways to make your microbrewery business more successful is to set and track goals. Without business goals, it’s difficult to measure your progress or know what you need to do to improve your business.
There are a number of different ways to set and track goals, including:
- SMART goals (SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound)
- Progress tracking charts (creating graphs that show your progress made towards specific goals)
- Creating a business plan
By using one or more of these methods, you can set and track realistic goals for your business. This will help you stay on track and achieve your desired results.
Networking
In order to maximize your success, consider networking with other professionals both inside and outside the microbrewery business. By doing this, you can learn from their experiences, get advice, and make connections that can help your business.
There are a number of different ways to network with other professionals, including:
- Attending industry events
- Networking events
- Online networking
- Professional associations
- Trade shows
Pricing Your Offerings
One of the most important things to consider when pricing your microbrewery offerings is how much you need to charge in order to make a profit. You also need to consider how much your competitors are charging for similar offerings.
Another thing to consider when pricing your services is how much value your offerings provide. By understanding the value of your offerings, you can justify charging more for them.
Finally, you need to find the right balance between price and demand. If you charge too much, you may lose potential customers. However, if you charge too little, you may not be able to cover the costs of running your business.
Targeting the Right Customers
In order to be successful in the microbrewery business, you need to target the right customers. By targeting the right customers, you can increase your chances of making a sale and ideally serve customers who value your offerings more and/or are easier to serve.
There are a number of different ways to target the right customers, including:
- Segmenting your market
- Understanding your ideal customer
- Developing a positioning statement
- Creating a buyer persona
Summary
Running a microbrewery can be a lucrative and enjoyable business venture. Utilize the time management techniques we’ve outlined, as well as the tools, technologies, and resources available to you, in order to make your business more efficient.
With the right tools, processes, resources, and incoming clients, you can successfully run a microbrewery business. By following the tips in this article, you can set your business up for success.