Huffy2k

I've heard this said multiple times, so I'm finally going to say something:

"Double what you think it will cost"

But that doesn't really help someone. We should try to point out areas that are commonly over-looked so that their number will be more accurate. I was conservative and did some careful planning and was less than 20% over what I had planned. Good thing I didn't double it...

To answer the OP we used a mix of our own money, investors money (friends/family) and used a local small bank. Smaller banks are more likely to take a risk with a small business than a bigger bank.

+1 for agporte. We too found that small local banks are more than willing to talk with us about helping finance our distillery. You will need a solid business plan, a comprehensive and realistic pro-forma, and a significant amount of your own skin in the game but it can be done. Good luck!

Thanks Mook, congratulations on the DSP! Wow, 8 months, that had to be an excruciating wait. I understand it will be a long, drawn out process but my main question is about the status showing "Received" instead of "Accepted" and whether or not this is a normal status for an application that has been submitted but not yet approved.

I submitted my DSP application via Permits Online last week and I'm wondering about the Status indicated in the Records tab of the web site. My status is, and has been since I submitted the application, currently showing "Received". My OOI records are showing "Accepted" but if I remember correctly, they initially showed "Recieved" for a brief period of time before changing.

Is a DSP application treated differently than the OOI in regards to status updates? I submitted all my supporting documents/attachments at the time I submitted my application so I don't believe it is waiting for anything. I just want to make sure that my application does not get abandoned if I'm missing something. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

"Please be advised that Permits Online will be unavailable from 8:00 PM Eastern Time onThursday, September 17th, 2015 to 6:00 AM Eastern Time on Friday, September 18th, 2015 for system maintenance."

+1 for Scalawag's post. The legal and professional service fees are higher than I anticipated but are absolutely essential. Best of luck!

I have been a systems developer for most of my 30 years in the working world. I have built systems that run furnaces in steel mills, calculate health care premiums for a large health insurance company, and manage and trade large institutional investment portfolios. I'm tired of building systems, that's why I'm starting my distillery. Maybe down the road I'll get the bug and develop my own system to handle all the record keeping but until then, I plan to explore the existing packages and Whiskey Systems will be on my shopping list. I too would like to see a scaled down (i.e. cheaper) version for the new craft distillers coming on line.

I'm dealing with Jesse and couldn't be more impressed at his work ethic and responsiveness. He's very upfront about down payments being non refundable. I understood this going in realizing that he has a cost of doing business (materials, labor, etc) that he needs to be compensated for while fabricating the equipment. I always figured that if my situation changed and I couldn't use the equipment, I'd pay it off and sell the equipment for what I put into it without losing any money.

Just comparing your costs above with my business plan, I don't see any up front costs for the following items that I've accounted for in my business plan:

Legal Fees

License and various application fees (depending on your state, these can be in the thousands of dollars)

Incidentals (surely you'll need a desk, a computer, etc)

I'm not sure what you mean by "Tasting Room" and how that differs from your build out cost?

Also does your $15k equipment budget include your mash tun, your heat source (boiler?), your fermenter(s), a hammer or roller mill, transfer pump and hoses, transfer tanks, bottler, filter, chiller, hydrometers, thermometers, etc?

I'm at the point in my process where I've signed the lease on my building and now need to do some interior renovation work to make the building fit our needs. Basically, we need to open some space up by removing some interior non-structural walls (old offices) as well as the obligatory plumbing and electrical modifications for the distillery equipment. I've gotten a bid from an architect that I consider way way way out of line and I was wondering:

1) since no real structural work is required, do I even need an architect to get my building permit

2) can anyone give me a ballpark estimate of what an architect may charge me to provide stamped drawings for a 6000 sf building (3000 main floor, 3000 basement)?

Agree with Flying Red Pig. In fact we have experienced this exact scenario at two buildings we were looking to lease. In both cases the building owner also had his name on a Restaurant Liquor License - that is absolutely not permitted.

Terse, but valid point. Search box, upper right corner. Type "filtration" and chose "forums". Let the magic happen.

Yeah, I was more commenting on the demeaning nature of the response. Sometimes folks forget to search past threads but that should always be the first thing to do here when you have a question.

I know about posting a new thread but what about searching previous threads?

Really?

Now he seemed interested in finding a way to get approval. He suggested that the best way is to find an example of another town that classified a distillery other than light manufacturing or industrial, and provide documentation.

MontanaMule - I posted these links in response to another topic in this category so I apologize for the repost here but they may be relevant to the particular question you posted above. We used these references in an information packet that we presented to our local zoning board while seeking zoning permission to locate our distillery in a commercial zone. The local township originally suggested we would need to locate in a light industrial zone even though we had zeroed in on a building in a commercial zone. We were subsequently granted a "Use by right" permit to open in the commercial zone. I think ultimately it depends on how willing the local municipality is in hosting a distillery - in our case they were very interested and the process was pretty painless.

Nevermind. Misunderstood the original post.

Welcome Lee. It's nice to see another husband and wife in this together! My wife and I are also in this together, I told her that if our marriage can survive this, it can survive anything! You're a little ahead of us but we have our place secured and our zoning permit approved so we feel pretty good about that! So you were able to get your DSP prior to the completion of your building? I thought your distillery had to be pretty much completed before you could apply for your DSP. I just learned something! Good luck to you!

WhiskeyResources, that's a noble goal and as a lifelong consultant and software developer, I understand what you're trying to do. But as Skip points out, as someone just getting started, looking at negative cashflow for the first year at a minimum, a flat fee is really out of reach for many of us. In my case, I'll probably try to cobble something together to provide me with the minimum functionality I'll need to get by that may or may not serve me well when/if I reach profitability. Like I said, I've been in the systems development business for a long time and I realize you're probably trying to make sure you are compensated for the amount of time you must spend supporting your product. Maybe a tiered pricing structure with limited (or additional cost) support for lower tiers. Paying for support calls would make people try a little harder to figure something out for themselves before they reach out to you. Just my 2 cents. I've looked at your product - looks to be a very comprehensive system!

Brewder, I just got my approved zoning permit - have you had any luck yet?

Thanks Mike!

Michealmmsm, as soon as we figure out where we're going I'll let you know! You in PA too?

I also just ordered the 300 gallon package from Jesse. Great product, great guy.

Brewder, I'm currently involved in the same process. We are trying to lease a space in a commercial zone and have been told we need an industrial zoned area. I prepared a presentation packet that I delivered to the local township planner that included these examples of communities that added "craft distilling" as allowable uses within commercial zones.

Hey Bluestone, I'm in Southwest PA. I see you're a PA guy too, where are you located?

Thanks Mike! I'm getting a 9 to 10 month estimate, I just sent in the signed paperwork today and am following up with the deposit. First real serious money I've spent - I'm all in now!!!

Hello all, long time lurker, first time poster. The information on here is absolutely priceless, it's been very very useful to me as I've planned my business.

I've found a perfect location with a property owner who is really excited to have a micro distillery in his location. We are in the process of trying to get some feedback from township zoning officials and I'm already frustrated with the response times. Oh well, such is life I guess - just have to keep your nose to the grindstone.

Given the lead time to procure distillery equipment, I'm thinking about placing my still order even though I have no guarantee that my preferred location will be approved.

Thanks for all the help I've gotten from you reading past posts and thanks in advance for the future knowledge I'll certainly pick up here!