Optimizing your brewery’s bookkeeping processes is incredibly important in any industry, no matter the size and scope of the business, and especially for businesses in Vancouver’s craft beer scene.
This is especially important in some industries that are more volatile than others, as well as some industries that require more careful and precise reporting than others.
Being in the food and drink industry is already a volatile industry; however, being in a relatively new industry (being started in the 1980s in British Columbia), this also is an industry that poses unique difficulties for new businesses entering that market.
Because of this, it is especially important for these businesses to closely watch their bookkeeping practices.
Thus, this blog will discuss the craft beer brewing industry, and the top ways for brewery businesses in Vancouver and B.C. to optimize their bookkeeping practices.
The craft beer and Brewery Industry
Craft beer is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, and Vancouver is no exception. With over 190 breweries throughout B.C., and over 70 in Vancouver alone, the industry has grown immensely since its inception in the 1980s.
Because of this, the competition is fierce, and breweries need to stay on top of all aspects of the business to stay alive. They need to optimize, innovate, market, and ensure that they have a competitive edge in a competitive market.
Not only this, but these breweries need to make sure that they closely take care of their finances to be able to grow the business in the short- and long-term.
Keeping accurate financial records is crucial to understanding the financial health of a brewery and making informed business decisions. In this blog post, we will explore the top 5 ways to optimize Vancouver brewery bookkeeping processes.
The top 5 ways to optimize your brewery’s bookkeeping
Understanding the volatility and competition in the Vancouver market helps small business owners understand the need for bookkeeping in the craft beer industry.
The top 5 ways to optimize a brewery’s bookkeeping include:
- Use cloud-based accounting software
- Keep detailed inventory records
- Create detailed, long-term budgets
- Set up detailed expense tracking systems
- Hire a bookkeeper!
How to Optimize Your Brewery’s Bookkeeping with Cloud-Based Accounting Software
Cloud-based accounting software is a powerful tool that can help Vancouver breweries optimize their bookkeeping practices.
By using cloud-based software, breweries can access financial data from anywhere with an internet connection, making collaboration easier and more efficient. This is especially important for breweries that have multiple locations or remote team members.
Cloud-based software can also help breweries track their finances in real-time. They can monitor their cash flow, expenses, and revenue on a daily basis, so they always know where their business stands financially.
This can help them make informed decisions about which products to produce more of and which ones to discontinue. It can also help them avoid overproduction and waste, which can be costly for breweries.
In addition, cloud-based software can automate many of the bookkeeping processes that are time-consuming and labor-intensive. This can free up time for brewery owners and their teams to focus on more important tasks, such as brewing great beer and growing their business.
Cloud-based software can also help breweries save tremendous amounts of money on accounting fees. Since the software is automated, there is less need for manual data entry and reconciliation, which can be expensive when done by a human bookkeeper.
Overall, cloud-based accounting software can be a valuable tool for Vancouver breweries looking to optimize their bookkeeping practices and improve their financial health – which is incredibly important in a volatile and competitive market.
How to Optimize Your Brewery’s Bookkeeping by keeping detailed records of inventory
Keeping detailed inventory records is an important bookkeeping practice for Vancouver breweries because it can help them manage their costs and maximize their profits.
Inventory is one of the most significant expenses for breweries, and it’s essential to track it accurately to ensure that the business is profitable.
By keeping detailed inventory records, breweries can identify which products are selling well and which ones are not.
This can help them make informed decisions about which products to produce more of and which ones to discontinue. It can also help them avoid overproduction and waste, which can be costly for breweries.
In addition, detailed inventory records can help breweries manage their cash flow. They can see which products are generating the most revenue and which ones are costing them the most money.
This can help them adjust their production levels to match demand and avoid tying up too much cash in inventory.
Finally, detailed inventory records can help breweries identify potential theft or loss. By tracking inventory carefully, they can spot discrepancies and investigate any potential issues. This can help them reduce losses and improve their overall financial health.
Overall, keeping detailed inventory records is an important bookkeeping practice for Vancouver breweries. It can help them manage their costs, maximize their profits, and ensure that they are running a successful and profitable business.
Create detailed, long-term budgets
Creating long-term budgets is an important bookkeeping strategy for Vancouver breweries because it can help them plan and make informed decisions about their business.
A long-term budget is a financial plan that outlines a brewery’s revenue and expenses over a period of several years. It considers factors such as growth projections, industry trends, and market conditions.
By creating a long-term budget, breweries can identify potential financial challenges and opportunities. They can see where their business is headed and plan accordingly. This can help them avoid financial pitfalls and take advantage of opportunities as they arise.
Long-term budgets can also help breweries manage their cash flow more effectively. They can plan for expenses in advance and ensure that they have enough cash on hand to cover their costs. This can help them avoid taking on too much debt or running into cash flow problems.
In addition, long-term budgets can help breweries make strategic decisions about their business.
They can use the budget to set goals and track their progress over time. This can help them make informed decisions about which products to produce, which markets to target, and which investments to make in their business.
Overall, creating long-term budgets is an important bookkeeping strategy for Vancouver breweries. It can help them plan, manage their cash flow, and make informed decisions about their business.
Set up a system for tracking expenses
Tracking expenses is crucial for any business, but it’s especially important for breweries. As a brewery owner, you need to know exactly how much money is going out and where it’s going. This includes expenses like rent, utilities, salaries, and raw materials.
It can help them manage their costs and ensure that they are running a profitable business. Tracking expenses allows breweries to monitor their spending and identify areas where they can cut costs and improve efficiency.
By tracking expenses, breweries can identify which expenses are essential to their operations, and which can be cut back on.
Business owners can see which expenses are recurring and which are one-time, allowing them to plan their cash flow accordingly. This can help them avoid overspending and ensure that they have enough cash on hand to cover their expenses.
Expense tracking can also help breweries identify areas where they can reduce costs.
By analyzing their expenses, they can identify where they are spending too much money and look for ways to cut back. This can include negotiating better prices with suppliers, finding more cost-effective ways to produce their products, or reducing overhead costs.
In addition, expense tracking can help breweries make informed decisions about their pricing strategy. By knowing their costs, they can determine the most profitable price points for their products. They can also analyze their profit margins and adjust their pricing strategy accordingly.
Finally, expense tracking can help breweries stay organized and compliant with tax laws. By keeping accurate records of their expenses, they can easily provide documentation for tax purposes and avoid potential penalties for non-compliance.
In short, expense tracking is an important bookkeeping practice for Vancouver breweries. It can help them manage their costs, make informed decisions about their business, and ensure that they are running a profitable operation.
Hire a professional bookkeeper
A bookkeeper can play an essential role in helping a Vancouver brewery better manage its bookkeeping processes. They can bring a high level of expertise and experience to the task of managing financial records and help the brewery stay organized and compliant with tax laws.
One of the key ways that a bookkeeper can help a Vancouver brewery is by keeping accurate and up-to-date records of all financial transactions.
They can track expenses, sales, and inventory, ensuring that the brewery has a clear understanding of its financial health. They can also reconcile bank and credit card statements, ensuring that all transactions are accounted for and any discrepancies are addressed promptly.
In addition, a bookkeeper can help a Vancouver brewery manage its cash flow effectively. They can create and maintain budgets, track income and expenses, and provide financial reports that give the brewery a clear understanding of its financial position.
This can help the brewery make informed decisions about its operations, such as which products to produce, which suppliers to use, and which investments to make.
Another important aspect of business that a bookkeeper is likely more knowledgeable about is taxes. After all, although a business owner may be aware of taxes, they may not know the ins-and-outs.
Thus, professional bookkeepers can help Vancouver breweries by ensuring that they remain compliant with all relevant local and international tax laws.
They can keep track of tax deadlines and ensure that all necessary forms and documents are filed on time. They can also provide advice on tax planning and strategies to minimize tax liabilities.
This can include helping provide write-off support, filing taxes on time, finding tax benefits and incentives that can help the business, among other roles.
To summarize, a bookkeeper can be an invaluable asset to a Vancouver brewery. They can help the brewery manage its finances effectively, stay organized and compliant with tax laws, and make informed decisions about its operations.
By hiring a bookkeeper, a brewery can focus on its core operations of brewing great beer and leave the bookkeeping to the experts.
At Valley Business Centre – Bookkeeping & Payroll, we’re no stranger to the brewing and craft beer market. We know it’s a tricky industry to navigate, which is why for over 30 years, Valley Business Centre – Bookkeeping & Payroll has been providing comprehensive bookkeeping, tax, and remote bookkeeping services to our clients in Whistler, Squamish, the Sea to Sky Corridor and metro Vancouver B.C. areas. Valley Business Centre – Bookkeeping & Payroll provides reliable and effective services to all clients.
Disclaimer
This article is written for informational purposes only. It is current at the date of posting and changes to laws and regulation may result in the information becoming outdated. It is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice. It is recommended that readers get advice from a tax professional before making any final decisions.