Running a successful craft brewery isn’t just about great beer—it’s about managing cash flow wisely. Poor planning can lead to overstocked ingredients, wasted products, and delayed payments, all of which can hurt your bottom line. Here are three key strategies to keep cash flow steady so your brewery can thrive.

 

Develop a Demand-Driven Production Schedule

Understanding your sales trends helps you produce just the right amount of beer. Without proper forecasting, you risk:

 

• Overstocking, which leads to wasted ingredients and expired beer.
• Underproducing, meaning missed sales opportunities.

Analyze Sales Trends

Look at your daily, monthly, and seasonal sales fluctuations. Your POS and invoicing systems likely have reports showing how much you sell over time. Converting this into volume-based data can help you spot seasonal patterns and bestsellers.

Focus on Profitability

Not all beers are equally profitable. Use your accounting platform to compare margins and adjust production priorities. If a popular beer has lower margins, consider making it a seasonal specialty at a more premium price.

 

Master Just-in-Time Inventory Management

A just-in-time (JIT) inventory approach helps breweries avoid tying up cash in excess stock. Ordering ingredients only when needed minimizes waste and storage space.

Plan Ahead

Based on your sales forecasts, map out your production schedule for the next few weeks. This helps you determine exactly when to order ingredients so they arrive just before brew day—fresh, but not too early.

Stay Flexible

Supply chain delays happen, but a well-planned JIT system gives you the ability to pivot quickly. Keeping track of existing ingredient orders and upcoming needs ensures you aren’t left scrambling.

 

Get Paid on Time

Delayed wholesale payments can strain your brewery’s cash flow. Streamlining your invoicing and payment collection can reduce financial stress.

Simplify Payments

Encourage customers to pay faster by offering multiple payment options. Sales teams can collect payments at delivery, or you can set up automatic billing.

Use Electronic Invoicing

Sending invoices through QuickBooks Payments or other digital platforms helps speed up collections. Automated reminders reduce the time spent chasing payments.

Consider Third-Party Processors

Tools like Stripe and Square offer recurring payment options and automatic card charges, ensuring you get paid without delays.

 

Take Control of Your Brewery’s Cash Flow

By forecasting demand, optimizing inventory, and streamlining payments, your brewery can stay financially healthy. Simple process improvements can make a big impact, helping you grow without unnecessary financial strain.

If you need help streamlining these processes, Brew Ninja offers tools to make forecasting, inventory management, and invoicing easier. Reach out to Brew Ninja today to learn how we can help your brewery get a handle on cash flow and grow. Members of Craft Beer Professionals are eligible for a 30% discount on their first three months with Brew Ninja.