[Jimmy K]

The key is definately maximizing profit/pint.  A taproom would give the highest return, though you have to pay for the space, furnish it, and probably pay someone to sell your beer too (assuming you'll be too busy brewing). Seems many nano's bottle in bombers, which bring the highest price/oz.
 
The successful ones probably have unique situations that make it work, such as already owning the building the brewery is in and/or buying equipment with disposable income (or already owning a massive homebrew system) rather than financing and truly incorporating those costs into the business.

[a10t2]

The successful ones probably have unique situations that make it work, such as already owning the building the brewery is in and/or buying equipment with disposable income (or already owning a massive homebrew system) rather than financing and truly incorporating those costs into the business.

Keeping your day job also seems to be a common theme.

[nateo]

The successful ones probably have unique situations that make it work, such as already owning the building the brewery is in and/or buying equipment with disposable income (or already owning a massive homebrew system) rather than financing and truly incorporating those costs into the business.

That's a dumb way to do business. If you want it to be a proper business, and not a vanity project, you need to factor in every input (capital + your time). Vanity projects are fine, but I think for most people it'd be cheaper to buy all the fancy toys and just give the beer away to their friends, rather than go through the hassle of selling it.

[Jimmy K]

That's a dumb way to do business.

I didn't say it was smart. Maybe you can get going as a nano this way, but you're screwed if you want to expand. It's bad if part of your business model is "Don't grow".

[majorvices]

We started off super small but the intention was always to grow. even so, it would have been smarter for us to start off on a 7 bbl system, in hind sight. Learned a lot about what not to do when you open a brewery, that's for sure.