Gear envy. We all experience it. One step into another gorgeously spec’d brewery and we’re filled with tech lust (as we begin mentally compiling our next shopping list).
But time and distance bring clarity, and in today’s dynamic brewing climate, every investment deserves careful vetting, so as not to create excessive exposure for the brewery. How, though, does a brewery owner/operator calculate which investments will move the needle for the business and which can be put off until growth and revenue pictures become clearer?
We asked Mary Brettman, former CFO of Surly Brewing and founder of Beverage Business Builders, to guide us through the financial priorities (and pitfalls) that brewers at different scales should consider when making these important investment decisions.