How do you get a business loan for a brewery?

How brewery cash flow works

Breweries are among the most capital-intensive small-business categories: a microbrewery with 3–7 barrel capacity requires $200,000–$600,000 in equipment and buildout before selling a single pint; a 15–30 barrel regional production brewery can require $1M–$3M+ in total capital. Revenue comes from taproom on-premise sales (highest margin, daily POS), wholesale distribution to bars and restaurants (net-30 invoice terms), and retail package sales. TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) federal licensure and state brewery licensure are prerequisites — lenders verify license status before approval.

SBA 7(a) for brewery buildout and working capital

SBA 7(a) loans up to $5 million are the primary vehicle for craft brewery financing — covering brewing equipment, taproom leasehold improvements, initial grain and hop inventory, and working capital through the first production cycle. SBA CAPLines working-capital variant supports seasonal inventory builds for fall and winter seasonal releases. SBA requires 2 years in business for expansion; startup breweries can apply through SBA lenders with a business plan, personal financial statements, and evidence of in-process TTB licensure.

SBA 504 for owner-occupied taproom and production facility

Breweries occupying at least 51% of the space they're financing qualify for SBA 504 — providing long-term fixed-rate financing at 10% borrower / 50% bank / 40% SBA debenture structure. A 10,000 sq ft combined taproom and production facility might be financed with $200K borrower equity, $1M bank first mortgage, and $800K SBA 504 debenture. Terms run 20–25 years for real estate at a fixed rate tied to 10-year Treasury. The SBA 504 CDC (Certified Development Company) network handles packaging.

Equipment financing for brewing systems

Brewing equipment — fermentation tanks, brite tanks, brewhouses, glycol cooling systems, canning and kegging lines — is high-value and long-lived, making it ideal for equipment financing. A 10-barrel brewhouse with fermenters can represent $200,000–$600,000 in equipment; a 30-barrel system with canning line can reach $1M–$2M. Equipment financing provides asset-secured rates with terms of 5–10 years. IRS Publication 946 Section 179 permits first-year expensing of qualifying brewing equipment placed in service during the tax year.

TTB and state licensing — the lender gating factor

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) requires a federal Brewer's Notice before a brewery can legally produce or sell beer. State-level brewery licenses vary by jurisdiction but are similarly required before operations. Lenders — especially SBA lenders — verify that federal and state licensure is active or in process before approving brewery loans. Pre-application: obtain the TTB Brewer's Notice at ttb.gov and initiate your state alcohol beverage license application to document compliance status.

Apply at ClearValue Lending

Start your application. Your file routes to the funding partners best matched to your NAICS 3121 classification, TTB license status, and financing purpose. Compare brewery financing against other product options at small business financing, or apply directly at Find my match. ClearValue Lending is a funding platform, not a lender or financial advisor.