Craft Brewery Financial Training Podcast

In today's podcast, I sit down with Randall Behrens from Live Oak Bank. Live Oak is the largest SBA lender in the country, covering all 50 states with 650 employees. They also have a have a craft beverage team that understands the beer business.Randall gives his 'state of the beer industry' from a banking and lending perspective. He also provides tips and must-do's for brewery owners right now. More ResourcesLive Oak Bank COVID-19 ResourcesContact information to connect with Randall Behrens. Phone: 707-921-1099, email: randall.behrens@liveoak.bankSign Up for the Free Craft Brewery Finance NewsletterReady to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

In today's podcast, I talk with Kyle Smith from Gorman Smith Beverage Equipment company. In our conversation we cover a variety of subjects from brewery equipment sourcing to using Gap Analysis to model your brewery business. There's no better time than right now to focus on business fundamentals to improve and strengthen your brewery operations. Kyle shares his thoughts on how to re-build your business plan and use simple tools to perform a Gap Analysis. Links to More ResourcesLearn more about Gorman Smith Beverage Equipment Tom Wujec and Systems Thinking Blog post on Gap Analysis, SWOT Analysis, and more toolsSign up for the free and world-famous Craft Brewery Finance newsletter.Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

This sounds like an outrageous title for today's podcast: How to Increase To-Go Beer Sales 500% by Asking One Question.  But Andrew Coplon from Secret Hopper has the answer. And the One Question.In the podcast Andrew also shares that taprooms who provide paper menus to customers get a 35% increase in sales. Paper menus can increase customer sales by 35%? Really?Really.In our discussion, Andrew provides even more tips on how to grow online sales during these days of curbside pickup. The guidance here is simple, powerful and profitable. Three of my favorite words.Check out the episode and increase your taproom sales today!Additional Resources:Ten Strategies to maximize your customers' experience and revenue in the new normal5 Tips to create a better merchandise displaySign up for the world-famous (and free!) Craft Brewery Finance Newsletter.Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

In this episode, I talk with retail beer sales expert Bump Williams. Bump is very connected in the beer industry - he knows everyone, and everyone knows him. He combines the knowledge he gains from his beer network with retail sales data to provide useful insights that brewery owners can use to grow sales, especially during this pandemic.We talk about a wide range of topics: What's going on at retail - sales trends, pack sizes and pricing. Best practices for beer recalls due to out of code...and tips for how craft breweries can compete with bigger breweries...even if smaller crafts can't produce larger package sizes to keep up with the big breweries. Learn more about Bump Williams ConsultingSign up for the world-famous (and free!) Craft Brewery Finance Newsletter.  Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

What is one lesson all breweries should learn from this crisis? Always have a financial contingency plan.In today's podcast, I talk to Audra Gaiziunas from Brewed for Her Ledger, LLC.  We cover  how to build a financial contingency plan, the importance of cash reserves, working capital lines of credit, and investor sources of capital. Other topics covered in the episode: The new beer margins and the need to right-size operating expenses. The most important (and most misunderstood) financial statement. The new super power breweries must learn: Diversification. Links to more resourcesWebinar - Forecasting Cash Flow Needs During Times of TurbulenceWebinar - Best Practices for Cash Flow ManagementSign up for the free Craft Brewery Finance Newsletter. Financial Intel for Craft Breweries. Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

In these financially troubled times, the accountant has become an unsung hero. Brewery owners and managers are looking for someone who 'has their back' financially. They need a specialist to guide them, to help with cash flow planning, financial forecasts and navigating the documentation needed for SBA loans and insurance claims. These are complicated times, and now more than ever, the accountant can help simplify things. Enter Chris Farmand, from Small Batch Standard.  Small Batch Standard is a craft brewery consulting, accounting and financial strategy company. In this podcast, Chris shares his perspective on the current state of the industry, and financial advice for breweries when they need it most - right now.  Resources mentioned in the podcast:Cash Flow planning webinar replayThe package store opportunity webinar replayBefore you go, don't forget to sign up for the free, world-famous Craft Brewery Finance Newsletter.  This is brewery financial training delivered straight to your in-box.Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

In today's episode, we talk to Julie Rhodes from Not your hobby marketing.  Julie is a beer industry sales and marketing expert.  She has over 20,000 hours of experience in brand management, wholesaler management, and using data-driven results to help breweries grow sales. Topics covered in this episode:How to use brewery sales and marketing fundamentals to navigate the Covid-19 crisisEssential skills needed most today: Agility, innovation, and flexibility Tactics and lessons learned for remote beer sales Tips to build strong relationships with wholesalers and retailers Best practices for wholesaler APB meetingsNot a subscriber? Sign up for the world-famous Craft Brewery Finance newsletter.Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

In this episode I talk with Justin Kendall from Brewbound, a leading resource for the beer industry. We discuss how the pandemic has exposed a major flaw in the taproom-only model, and how breweries are responding. We explore topics ranging from brewery 'survival mode' to future diversification strategies for breweries. And, as Justin says,"Just keep fighting."  Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

In this episode I talk to Jeff Saari from Workplace Culture Solutions about how brewery owners can manage their mindset during this crisis. We explore the challenges and benefits of remote working, how to stay connected and engaged with co-workers, and how to use this time productively to build new skills so that we emerge from this crisis stronger than ever. Links to resources we talk about in the podcast - Lean more about Jeff Saari and his teaching - https://workplaceculturesolutions.com/toolsStrengthsfinder 2.0 to uncover your talents and build your strengths (and those of your brewery co-workers as well)Traction book to run Level 10 meetings Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies. 

Now, more than ever, cash flow planning is a financial survival skill.  In this episode we review a 3-step process you can use right now to keep more cash in your brewery. I also share the model that I use to keep a close eye on cash to monitor money moving in and out of our brewery business. To get regular brewery financial tips and strategies, sign up for the free Craft Brewery Finance newsletter. Get the Cash Flow models in this blog post. Ready to transform financial results in your beer business? Learn more about the Beer Business Finance Association, a network of owners and managers working together to build more profitable companies.