Beyond the Spreadsheet: Transforming Brewery Financial Planning

We dive into mastering your brewery budget with a practical three-step approach that transforms financial planning from overwhelming to achievable. This workshop provides tools and strategies to create a useful financial roadmap that aligns with business goals.

• Begin with the end in mind – set one clear financial goal (typically 10-15% profit) before planning anything else
• Know your stakeholders – identify requirements from banks, investors and others to incorporate into your plan
• Set firm deadlines – create a budget preparation timeline with clear responsibilities and milestones
• Use historical financial analysis to establish context for your projections
• Break down planning by department and involve team members to create ownership
• Consider balance sheet and cash flow implications, not just P&L
• Implement weekly financial huddles to shift from lagging indicators to leading indicators
• Use visualization tools like dashboards to make financial data more accessible
• Remember that budgeting isn't just about spreadsheets but about creating a financial roadmap

Join the Beer Business Finance Association to access the complete Brewery Budget Course with all tools and templates discussed in this workshop.