Have a love for beer and a passion for being an entrepreneur? Starting your own mobile beer business can be very lucrative if you know what you are doing. It doesn’t matter if you are a connoisseur or a brewer. Having a refrigerated trailer where you can sell your beer is a perfect way to help cover the overhead costs of your business and spread the word about your brand through exciting experiences and memorable moments. 

The business side of things is not always easy to tackle and unfortunately, a lot of new business owners don’t put the planning and forethought necessary into creating a sustainable model. Your business doesn’t have to be a casualty of poor planning! 

But this poses the age-old question —  how do you start your own mobile beer business and what should you be on the lookout for when getting started? In this guide, we will go over the top 5 tips that you should know before you purchase your draught trailer and get your mobile beer business on the road. 

Your Mobile Bar – Planning for Success

While opening up a new business can be a daunting task, to better prepare yourself, you’ll want to keep the following tips in mind: 

Tip # 1: Know Your Beer

When you start any business, you should have at least a working knowledge of what you are selling. Having a mobile beer business is no different. If you have trouble telling the difference between beers, you will have to start studying resources before you open up shop. However, the internet has made researching and becoming familiar with the different styles of beers easier than ever. 

You should be able to not only name off the styles of beers you’ll have in your mobile beer bar but also become familiar with the details and differences between each beer you offer. 

Depending on the venue, you may have some choosy clientele who know their brews, and you want to be able to speak the language and make expert recommendations when the rubber meets the road. 

You should also know how to describe their brewing process, taste, ingredients, flavor profiles, and how to present them. For instance, some beers are better when they are served warmer and some colder. Some are better with some agitation, while others taste best with little head. You should know which beers are carbonated and which are nitrogenated and be able to make recommendations based on food pairings as well, depending on the venue or event. 

Tip #2: Research Your Market

Knowing your market is another area you should be well versed in. By knowing your market, you can decipher what styles or tiers of beer your clientele will be interested in, and cater your selections to their tastes and their events. Your clientele will be the backbone of your business, so do your research and make sure you have the right product for the occasion.

When trying to locate who your consumers are, you should be asking yourself: 

• What jobs do my consumers have? 
• What do my consumers do for fun?
• What kind of events do they like to plan? 
• Where do my consumers live?
• What is the marital status of my consumers? 
• How much money do my consumers earn?
• What are my consumers’ goals? 

By answering the above questions in a well-thought-out process, you are developing your consumer persona. Your consumer personas will be used as a tool to help target your audience and provide you with the answers you will need when making purchasing decisions, deciding what promotions to put on, and where to spend your advertising dollars. 

For instance, you may find during your research that your target consumers like local craft beer rather than the domestic lagers, or perhaps even prefer import beer almost exclusively.

Tip #3: Know Your Competition

Mobile bars are becoming a bigger market by the day. Keep in mind that you will likely have some competition. Use this competition as a challenge to better your business and stay abreast of the competition’s moves. 

You will need to scope out your competition in the planning stages and keep tabs on them in an ongoing fashion as your business grows. By doing this, you will get the chance to visit them, to see how they interact with their consumers, note the products that they sell and their pricing, and determine how you can differentiate your brand from the rest. 

Tip #4: Get Licensed

Before you can even open your business, you will need your liquor license. You will need to check with your city, county, and state permit requirements. You must follow all local laws when applying for your liquor license, business license, and sales tax permit. Don’t forget to acquire the required permits for operating in other cities/states for upcoming events that require you to do so.

Tips #5:  Prepare for Opening

Once you have all the legalities out of the way, it is time to start preparing for your opening day. This is where you will need to get a trailer. A draught trailer is the perfect tool for the job due to its size and functionality. 

You should also get in touch with brewpubs or local breweries to work out contracts and purchases to ensure your supply chain is ready for primetime. Ask them what beers can you order all year ‘round and keep tabs on seasonal offerings, especially for seasonal events. You will want to start networking with all distributors in your area to find out what’s popular during the year and where you should go for the best prices. 

Triple B Has Your Mobile Bar Ready to Roll 

If you’re ready to go with your new mobile bar business, we can help you obtain what might be the most crucial tool to your business —  the trailer itself. 

Triple B Trailers has been in business for over 60 years and we’re here to help you get the perfect trailer to meet all of your and your customer’s needs. Our trailers are bar-ready and come in 6 different models for exactly the setup you need. 

Ready to get your mobile beer bar on the road? Check out our website today and take a look at our selection! You handle the paperwork, and we’ll handle getting you the trailer of your dreams.