Breweries qualify for SBA 7(a) for craft-brewery buildouts, SBA 504 for owner-occupied taproom and production facilities, and equipment financing for brewing systems ($200K–$2M). TTB federal licensure and state brewery permits must be in place before most lenders approve. Your file routes to ONE matched lender — based on NAICS 3121.
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) 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.
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.
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.
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.
Start your application. Your file routes to ONE matched lender — matched to your NAICS 3121 classification, TTB license status, and financing purpose. ClearValue Lending is a funding platform, not a lender or financial advisor.