Financial Training for the Craft Brewing Industry
The School of Professional & Continuing Studies offers the Financial Training for the Craft Brewing Industry course for students, craft brewery owners, managers and staff who need practical financial training to improve business profitability and sustainability.
Led by brewery CFO Kary Shumway, CPA, this 7-week course covers essential financial concepts, including budgeting, cash flow management, pricing strategies and financial planning. Participants will gain actionable insights through video lessons, templates, checklists and live Q&A sessions. By the end of the program, breweries will be equipped with the tools and knowledge to enhance financial stability, optimize operations and drive long-term success.
In the optional capstone project, students can apply their newly acquired knowledge to design a key performance indicators (KPI) dashboard, providing a valuable tool for assessing the financial health of any business.
No prior financial experience is required. This course provides practical, easy-to-understand training tailored to the craft brewing industry.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Improve brewery profitability
- Enhance financial literacy
- Strengthen cash flow management
- Master beer pricing and cost control
- Plan and forecast brewery finances
Course Topics
The course will cover the following topics:
- Brewery financial statements
- Cost of goods sold and beer pricing
- Cash flow management
- Financial planning and forecasting
- Inventory and margin analysis
Who Should Take This Class
This course is ideally suited to the following people:
- Craft brewery owners looking to improve financial stability and profitability
- Brewery managers responsible for budgeting, financial planning, or department finances
- Taproom and operations staff who need a better understanding of financial metrics
- Aspiring brewery entrepreneurs who want to build a strong financial foundation before launching their business
