How to Run a Distillery: Calculating Monthly Operating Costs (2026)
Distillery Bundle
Distillery Running Costs
Running a Distillery requires substantial fixed costs, averaging around $34,375 per month in 2026 just for overhead and payroll Your total operating expenses, including variable costs of goods sold (COGS), will push your monthly burn higher the model forecasts reaching break-even in February 2027, 14 months after launch This guide outlines the seven critical running costs, from the $10,000 monthly facility rent to the $19,375 average monthly payroll in the first year We break down how variable production costs interact with fixed costs to determine your true cash burn You must defintely plan for a minimum cash requirement of $494,000 by December 2027 to cover the initial ramp-up and the necessary aging inventory cycles inherent to spirit production
7 Operational Expenses to Run Distillery
#
Operating Expense
Expense Category
Description
Min Monthly Amount
Max Monthly Amount
1
Facility Rent
Fixed
The fixed monthly cost for the Distillery Facility Rent is $10,000, forming the single largest fixed operating expense.
$10,000
$10,000
2
Payroll Expenses
Fixed
Payroll averages $19,375 per month in 2026, covering 35 full-time equivalent (FTE) roles including the Head Distiller ($90,000 annual salary) and Tasting Room Manager ($60,000 annual salary).
$19,375
$19,375
3
Raw Materials COGS
Variable
Raw material costs, such as Grain, Fruit, Molasses, and Botanicals, range from $020 to $060 per unit produced, fluctuating directly with production volume.
$0
$0
4
Packaging & Bottling
Variable
Unit costs for Bottle & Cork and Label & Case range from $040 to $210 per unit across all spirits, representing a significant variable expense tied to sales volume.
$0
$0
5
Compliance & Risk
Fixed
Fixed monthly costs for Business Insurance ($1,500) and Regulatory & Licensing Fees ($800) total $2,300, which is non-negotiable for operation.
$2,300
$2,300
6
Administrative Overhead
Fixed
General administrative fixed costs, including Accounting & Legal Services ($1,200), Office Supplies & Software ($500), and Website & IT Maintenance ($300), total $2,000 monthly.
$2,000
$2,000
7
Variable Sales Fees
Variable
Sales Commissions (30% of revenue) and Payment Processing Fees (15% of revenue) total 45% of gross sales in 2026, scaling directly with revenue volume.
$0
$0
Total
All Operating Expenses
$33,675
$33,675
Distillery Financial Model
5-Year Financial Projections
100% Editable
Investor-Approved Valuation Models
MAC/PC Compatible, Fully Unlocked
No Accounting Or Financial Knowledge
What is the total monthly running budget needed for the first 12 months of operation?
The minimum monthly operational budget for the Distillery, excluding variable costs of goods sold (COGS), starts at $34,375, covering fixed overhead and payroll; for a complete picture of what you're facing, review What Are The Key Steps To Write A Business Plan For Launching Your Distillery? to map out all startup costs.
Baseline Monthly Overhead
Fixed operating expenses are set at $15,000 every month.
Average payroll commitment totals $19,375 monthly for staffing.
This gives you a required base spend of $34,375 before materials.
This figure represents your minimum monthly cash burn rate.
Variable Costs and Production Targets
Variable costs are driven by COGS (Cost of Goods Sold), the direct cost of ingredients.
The 2026 production goal is 11,500 units across all spirits for the year.
To meet this, you're running production at roughly 958 units per month (11,500 / 12).
You must defintely calculate the per-unit cost for grain and bottling to finalize the budget.
What are the biggest recurring cost categories that drive the monthly cash burn?
The biggest recurring costs driving the Distillery's cash burn are fixed overheads, specifically rent and payroll, totaling $34,375 per month based on 2026 projections. Understanding these drivers is crucial for managing liquidity, which is why you need to know What Is The Main Indicator Of Success For Distillery?
Fixed Overhead Drivers
Facility rent is a flat $10,000 monthly commitment for the operation.
Payroll expenses averaged $19,375 monthly across the 2026 forecast.
These two main items combine for $34,375 in base burn before any variable costs hit.
This fixed cost base must be covered every single month, regardless of sales volume.
Managing the Base Burn
Payroll represents the largest controllable component within these fixed expenses.
If onboarding new staff or production lines takes 14+ days, operational cash flow risk rises defintely.
You need consistent revenue to cover this $34,375 threshold just to stay afloat.
Focusing on production efficiency helps lower the effective labor cost embedded in each bottle.
How much working capital is required to survive until the business reaches profitability?
The Distillery requires enough working capital to fund 14 months of negative cash flow, peaking at a minimum cash need of $494,000 in December 2027, even though the break-even point is projected for February 2027.
Need Cash Runway
Negative cash flow lasts 14 months.
Peak cash requirement hits $494,000.
This low point occurs in December 2027.
Break-even is projected earlier, February 2027.
Bridging the Gap
Cash is needed post-profitability.
The gap between break-even and cash neutrality is 10 months.
Ensure financing covers the $494,000 peak requirement.
Break-even in February 2027 is great, but it doesn't mean you stop needing cash immediately. The model shows the business continues burning capital for nearly a year after that point, which is a defintely common trap for new ventures. You must secure financing that covers the full 14-month negative cycle to avoid a liquidity crunch right after you start making money on paper.
What cost levers can be pulled immediately if revenue projections fall significantly short of forecast?
If revenue projections for the Distillery fall short, immediate cost levers center on personnel adjustments and discretionary spending; you can save up to $8,000 monthly by adjusting the Sales Manager headcount or halting planned 2026 administrative hires, which brings up the larger question of profitability: Is The Distillery Business Currently Generating Consistent Profits?
Headcount Adjustments
Reduce the current 05 Sales Manager Full-Time Equivalent (FTE).
Defer hiring the Marketing Coordinator planned for 2026.
Postpone the Admin Assistant role scheduled for 2026.
These personnel moves save up to $8,000 monthly in fixed payroll.
Discretionary Spending
Scale back non-essential equipment maintenance immediately.
These personnel adjustments are defintely the largest immediate impact.
Review all non-critical operating expenses for deferral.
Focus spending only on activities directly tied to production or immediate sales.
Distillery Business Plan
30+ Business Plan Pages
Investor/Bank Ready
Pre-Written Business Plan
Customizable in Minutes
Immediate Access
Key Takeaways
The primary recurring fixed costs driving the monthly cash burn are facility rent ($10,000) and average payroll ($19,375), totaling $34,375 before variable production costs.
Due to initial inventory aging cycles, the business model requires aggressive growth to hit the projected break-even point scheduled for February 2027, 14 months after launch.
A minimum cash requirement of $494,000 must be secured by December 2027 to cover the necessary working capital and negative cash flow during the ramp-up period.
Immediate cost levers can be pulled by deferring administrative hiring, potentially saving up to $8,000 monthly if revenue targets are missed.
Running Cost 1
: Facility Rent
Rent is Top Fixed Cost
Facility rent at $10,000 monthly is your primary fixed overhead commitment. This high base cost means achieving sales volume quickly is critical to cover this expense before payroll and other operating costs hit. This single line item sets your initial break-even hurdle high.
Rent Cost Breakdown
The $10,000 covers the physical space needed for distillation, aging, and the on-site tasting room experience. You need signed lease terms to lock this in. Compared to payroll at $19,375, rent is substantial, but it is more predictable than variable costs like raw materials.
Covers production and retail space.
Fixed cost, due monthly.
Second largest fixed expense after payroll.
Managing Lease Risk
Since this is a fixed cost, you can't easily cut it monthly, but you can negotiate lease terms upfront. Avoid signing long leases until you confirm tasting room demand. If you scale fast, look at subleasing excess capacity later. Defintely review local industrial rates.
Negotiate shorter initial terms.
Phase in facility size if possible.
Ensure clear exit clauses exist.
Break-Even Impact
Because $10,000 is fixed, every unit sold must contribute enough margin to cover this before you see profit. If your average contribution margin per bottle is low, you need significantly higher sales velocity just to tread water against this single expense.
Running Cost 2
: Payroll Expenses
Payroll Snapshot
Payroll expenses are budgeted at $19,375 per month in 2026, supporting 35 full-time equivalent (FTE) roles needed to run the distillery operations.
Cost Breakdown
This $19,375 monthly payroll covers 35 FTEs. Key roles include the Head Distiller at an annual salary of $90,000 and the Tasting Room Manager earning $60,000 yearly. This cost is a major fixed expense, second only to facility rent. Honestly, these two roles alone account for $12,500 monthly.
Covers 35 FTE roles in 2026.
Head Distiller salary is $90,000/year.
Tasting Room Manager salary is $60,000/year.
Managing Headcount
Since payroll is fixed, focus on maximizing revenue generation per employee, especially in the tasting room. If you hire too many production staff before scaling sales volume, this expense will immediately pressure margins. You defintely want to avoid scheduling excess tasting room staff during slow periods.
Tie tasting room hours to foot traffic data.
Cross-train production staff for slower shifts.
Ensure hiring matches production milestones.
Key Metric Focus
With 35 FTEs budgeted, monitor the revenue per employee metric closely starting in 2027 to ensure headcount scales efficiently as production ramps up past initial capacity.
Running Cost 3
: Raw Materials COGS
Material Input Costs
Raw material costs are a direct variable expense tied to output volume. Ingredients like Grain, Fruit, Molasses, and Botanicals cost between $0.20 and $0.60 per unit made. This range dictates your baseline cost of goods sold (COGS) before considering bottling or packaging. That’s the cost floor.
Estimating Material Input
Material costs scale directly with production targets for whiskey, gin, or vodka. To budget, multiply your planned unit output by the $0.20 to $0.60 range. This calculation excludes packaging but sets the floor for your per-unit variable cost. You need solid yield estimates from your Head Distiller.
Managing Material Spend
Since quality relies on local sourcing, deep discounts are tough. Focus on securing favorable multi-year supply contracts for high-volume inputs like grain. Avoid spot market purchases when possible to stabilize the upper end of the $0.60 cost. Don’t let procurement be reactive.
Volume Impact Check
If you produce 10,000 units next month, expect raw material expenses to hit between $2,000 and $6,000. This cost must be covered by your selling price plus the $0.40 to $2.10 packaging cost before you cover overhead. Check this against your target gross margin defintely.
Running Cost 4
: Packaging & Bottling
Packaging Cost Range
Packaging and bottling costs, covering the bottle, cork, label, and case, are a major variable expense, hitting $0.40 to $2.10 per unit across your spirit portfolio. This wide range suggests that premium spirits like whiskey carry significantly higher unit costs than standard vodka offerings.
Variable Packaging Inputs
This $0.40 to $2.10 range covers the physical Bottle & Cork and the Label & Case components. To budget accurately, you must map the unit cost against the expected volume for each specific spirit line. If you plan to sell 10,000 units next month, the total packaging expense is between $4,000 and $21,000, before raw materials hit the ledger.
Unit cost per bottle/cork.
Unit cost per label/case.
Volume forecast per SKU.
Cutting Bottling Spend
Since this is a direct variable cost, savings come from volume commitments or standardization. Avoid custom molds early on; they kill flexibility and drive up the high end of that $2.10 cost. Negotiate tier pricing with your primary supplier based on projected annual volume commitments, defintely not just monthly runs.
Standardize bottle shapes where possible.
Commit to annual volume tiers.
Review label material complexity.
Margin Impact Check
Because packaging scales directly with sales, it heavily impacts your gross margin per bottle. If your average unit selling price is $40, a $2.10 packaging cost represents 5.25% of revenue before raw materials are even accounted for. Track this cost per SKU to maintain margin integrity.
Running Cost 5
: Compliance & Risk
Mandatory Compliance Floor
Compliance costs are fixed overhead, not variable. Your mandatory monthly spend for insurance and licensing hits $2,300, regardless of how many bottles you move. This is pure fixed cost that must be covered before you make a dime on sales.
Mandatory Monthly Fees
These costs cover operational legitimacy. Business Insurance is $1,500 monthly, protecting assets. Regulatory & Licensing Fees add another $800 monthly for compliance with state and federal alcohol laws. These inputs come directly from quotes and required annual fee schedules, paid monthly.
Insurance: $1,500 per month
Licensing: $800 per month
Total fixed overhead: $2,300
Managing Fixed Compliance
You can't cut these mandatory fees, but you must manage the risk exposure. Over-insuring or under-reporting production volume leads to wasted cash or fines later. Ensure your licensing renewal dates are tracked precisely to avoid operational halts. Defintely, the main lever here is avoiding lapses.
Verify insurance coverage limits.
Track all renewal deadlines.
Avoid under-reporting production.
Total Fixed Baseline
This $2,300 sits right alongside your $10,000 rent and $19,375 payroll. It means your baseline operating cost before any variable expenses is at least $31,600 monthly. You need volume to cover this floor first.
Running Cost 6
: Administrative Overhead
Fixed Admin Cost
Your baseline administrative overhead is a fixed $2,000 monthly commitment. This covers essential back-office functions like legal compliance and basic IT infrastructure. Since this cost doesn't change with spirit sales volume, managing your operating leverage depends on covering this base expense early; thats a key metric.
Admin Cost Inputs
This $2,000 covers three necessary buckets for the Distillery. Accounting and Legal Services demand $1,200 monthly for compliance. Office supplies and software total $500, while Website and IT Maintenance is $300. These are non-negotiable fixed costs, unlike raw materials or sales fees.
Legal/Accounting: $1,200
Software/Supplies: $500
IT Maintenance: $300
Control Admin Spend
Since these costs are fixed, focus on efficiency rather than deep cuts. For a small distillery, consider using fractional CFO services instead of high-cost retainer legal teams initally. Automating software subscriptions can prevent waste. If you delay IT upgrades, you risk operational downtime, which is costly.
Overhead Leverage
Every dollar of revenue earned above fixed costs improves operating leverage quickly. Unlike your 45% variable sales fees, this $2,000 is covered once you clear payroll and rent. Focus sales efforts on the tasting room to maximize margin against this base cost.
Running Cost 7
: Variable Sales Fees
Variable Sales Fees
Your variable sales fees for 2026 hit a steep 45% of gross sales. This total combines 30% for sales commissions and 15% for payment processing. Because these costs scale directly with every bottle sold, managing volume without strong margin discipline will quickly erode profitability.
Cost Drivers
These fees are pure cost of sales tied directly to top-line revenue volume. To forecast this expense, you need projected unit sales multiplied by the average selling price per unit. If 2026 revenue hits $1 million, expect $450,000 to cover these transaction and sales costs. That's a big chunk of cash flow.
Commissions drive 30% of the total cost.
Processing fees account for 15%.
Costs rise dollar-for-dollar with revenue.
Managing The Take
Since commissions are high, focus on increasing direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales through your tasting room experience. Wholesale and retail channels embed higher commission structures indirectly. Reducing reliance on third-party sales partners directly impacts this 45% drag on revenue.
Push tasting room revenue hard.
Negotiate payment processor rates below 1.5%.
Watch out for hidden distributor markups.
Margin Reality Check
A 45% variable cost structure means your gross margin before materials (COGS) needs to be exceptionally high, likely over 60%, just to cover fixed overhead like the $10,000 facility rent. If your blended margin is lower, you're losing money before paying staff or buying grain.
Fixed operating costs and payroll total $34,375 per month in 2026, excluding variable costs of goods sold (COGS) which depend on the 11,500 units produced
The financial model predicts the Distillery will reach break-even in February 2027, which is 14 months after the start date
The largest capital expenditure is the Main Still & Condenser, budgeted at $250,000, followed by Fermentation Tanks at $120,000
Raw materials and packaging average $250-$400 per unit, plus 45% of revenue allocated to sales commissions and payment processing fees in 2026
The business requires a minimum cash balance of $494,000 by December 2027 to manage working capital and negative cash flow during the ramp-up phase
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) is projected to be negative $116,000 in Year 1, but grows to $126 million by Year 5
Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
