MICROBREWERY WITH TAPROOM BUSINESS PLAN

I. Executive Summary

Company Description

The company, Blue Ridge Tapworks, takes its name from the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains and Asheville's craft-brewing heritage. We operate in the craft beer sector as a microbrewery and taproom based in Asheville, North Carolina. Our core products are small-batch IPAs and Lagers brewed on-site and served fresh directly from on-site tanks, plus rotating seasonal ales and a small selection of house-made nonalcoholic beverages. We sell primarily direct-to-consumer through the taproom and limited packaged takeaways, keeping gross margins high and quality tightly controlled. One-liner: Fresh, local beer served straight from our tanks to the glass.

We run weekday and weekend taproom service, brewery tours, and community events to create a true third place for residents and visitors. We target 25–45-year-old craft-beer enthusiasts, local regulars, and visiting tourists who value authenticity and freshness. Short-term goals: open Q3 2026, reach 350 weekly taproom customers within six months, and achieve 60–65% gross margin on draft sales. Long-term goals: reach positive EBITDA by year two, add regional distribution in year three, and open a second taproom by year five. One-liner: Build a sustainable, community-centered brewery with scalable retail economics.

Problem

Modern consumers in Asheville are increasingly dissatisfied with mass-produced, generic beer that lacks local character and authenticity; locals want authentic, locally brewed beer and a genuine social space.

There is a significant shortage of genuine third place environments prioritizing community over high-volume turnover; residents 25–55 report limited transparency in mainstream brewing, sterile venues, and too few taprooms offering rotating, small-batch beers brewed on-site.

Solution

Local consumers face mass-produced beer and few authentic social spaces. Our microbrewery answers with on-site, small-batch artisanal beer, an open-concept taproom that showcases brewing, a rotating tap list for constant freshness, integrated retail for direct pours, and community events plus pints tied to local causes.

We deliver fresh, transparent, community-first craft beer and a taproom that doubles as a social hub.

Mission Statement

We brew exceptional artisanal beer and build a vibrant community hub where every pint serves a purpose. We celebrate local craftsmanship and support regional agriculture by sourcing transparently and partnering with nearby producers. We commit to quality, novelty, social responsibility, and an authentic guest experience that makes our taproom the preferred third place for neighbors and visitors alike.

Key Success Factors

These factors capture the operational, market, and brand strengths that will drive the microbrewery's success.

• Head Brewer expertise ensures consistent quality across 88,000+ units produced annually.
• Prime high-traffic urban location drives the foot traffic needed to hit 2026 pint and crowler sales targets.
• "Pint with a purpose" branding builds deep customer loyalty and market differentiation.
• Operational efficiency enables breakeven by February 2026 and a 28-month payback period.
• Community partnerships with local farms and non-profits reinforce authenticity and local relevance.

Financial Summary

Brief financial snapshot for the Executive Summary: first-year EBITDA $153,000 with breakeven in Feb-26 and five-year EBITDA of $546,000.

Financial requirements: $247,000 capex in 2026 for a 3 BBL brewing system and taproom build-out; minimum cash required $1,120,000; anticipated IRR 6% and ROE 1.56.

Overall outlook: the plan reaches breakeven fast and scales to sustained profitability by Year 5.

Funding Requirements

We require $1,120,000 in total capital to reach breakeven in February 2026 and fund initial operations and capex.

One line: $1,120,000 minimum cash to breakeven by Feb 2026.

Year 1 EBITDA is projected at $153,000, scaling to $546,000 by Year 5; total Year 1 sales volume is 88,815 units; investor returns target a 6% IRR and a 1.56 ROE; CapEx of $247,000 funds a 3 BBL brewing system and taproom build-out.