Offered: Fall and Spring

Spring Dates: March 1, 2023 – April 25, 2023
Fall Dates: TBA
Course Tuition: $1495 ($1196 for Certificate Alumni,  Pink Boots Society, Home Brewers or Brewers Association Members Discount)
Course Duration: 8 weeks
Learning Format: Online

Instructors: Audra Gaiziunas and Josh Lance

Download a sample Brewery Finance and Accounting Syllabus

The Brewery Finance and Accounting course will provide participants with a strong financial foundation and understanding of craft beverage accounting concepts for those seeking management positions at their current brewing operation, or for those seeking to open their own brewery or cidery in the future. This class will introduce the necessary tools to create business plans and pro forma financial statements for those seeking to launch their own operation. It will progress into cost accounting concepts as they apply throughout the production process and conclude with a thorough overview of brewery financial accounting statements and reporting, including the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flows. Participants will walk away with the necessary financial knowledge and templates to improve existing operations, or to create a business plan for a new craft beverage entity.

Program Highlights

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

  • Identify common financial issues and outline possible alternative courses of action.
  • Understand the components and basic structure of the pro forma financial statements.
  • Create a range of financial documents including: sources and uses statement, balance sheets, income statements, and statements of cash flow.
  • Utilize breakeven range/analysis and basic financial ratios.
  • Identify which combination of sources of financing best fit the brewery’s particular needs.
  • Examine cost accounting and assess direct vs. indirect costs, fixed vs. variable costs, and overhead.
  • Calculate the cost by batch of beer, track variances, and improve the gross margin.
  • Establish divisional accounting for accountability.
  • Improve existing brewery operations, or create a business plan for a new craft beverage entity.

Schedule

Week 1: Top financial Mistakes/ The Importance of Finance in Craft Beer
Week 2: Business Plan
Week 3: Accounting Basics for Craft Breweries
Week 4: Financial Accounting I
Week 5: Financial Accounting II
Week 6: Cost Accounting Models I
Week 7: Cost Accounting Models II
Week 8: Financial Analysis