Sake label brewed at a shared facility

Restaurants, bars and bottle shops, plus buyers at markets, festivals and events where local rules allow.

Wholesale and direct sales of bottles, minus fees paid to the host for space and equipment use. Margins are thinner than owning your own brewery but the risk is lower.

• Sake brewing knowledge or willingness to train
• Branding and selling
• Planning batches and cash flow
• Working well with a host business

• Whether your arrangement is allowed, and which federal and state permits apply, since rules differ by state and setup
• Who holds liability and responsibility for taxes and reporting, which should be clear in a written agreement
• Label approval and alcohol labeling rules, so check what is needed before printing
• Product liability and general liability insurance
• Dependence on one host's schedule and goodwill
• Distribution rules in your state, which may require a licensed distributor

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $20,000 to $80,000, depending on your batch size and your arrangement with the host. This is lower than a full facility because you use a host's licensed space.

Check whether your arrangement is allowed and which federal and state permits apply, since rules differ by state and setup. Confirm label approval requirements before printing, and put responsibility for taxes and reporting in a written agreement.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how much you brew and how much you sell to bars, shops and events. Plan on at least roughly 20 hours a week.