Used barrel and cask broker

Craft breweries, small distilleries, wineries and cider makers. Some barrels also sell to garden, event and homebrew customers.

You buy barrels in batches and sell them individually at a margin. Delivery, sorting and grading by previous contents or condition can add extra income.

• Negotiating and building supplier contacts
• Judging barrel condition and size
• Handling heavy items safely
• Reliable admin and delivery planning

• Check with HMRC whether any excise or duty rules apply to casks that have held spirits or other alcohol
• Public liability insurance and cover for stock and goods in transit
• Barrels are heavy, so check manual handling and safe lifting equipment
• Storing timber and any residual alcohol may carry fire risk, check with your insurer and landlord
• Check whether storage at home needs permission from your landlord, lender or council
• Condition risk: leaking or contaminated barrels can lead to refunds, so inspect and grade honestly

Startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on how much barrel stock you buy, plus pallets, handling kit and delivery. These are estimates, so check your own sourcing and storage costs.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,500 to £7,500, depending on how many barrels you sell, their size and condition, and your customers. This is an estimate of revenue, not profit.

Check with HMRC whether any excise or duty rules apply to casks that held alcohol. Also check insurance for stock and transit, safe manual handling, fire risk from stored timber, and whether home storage needs permission.