The rapid growth of the hard seltzer market may have you wondering how to start a hard seltzer company. Maybe you’ve seen recent beverage trends and want to join this exciting industry. Hard seltzer is a big market with many chances to grow.
When entering the alcohol industry, it’s important to understand hard seltzer trends. Selling wholesale hard seltzer can be a great way to enter the industry.
How to Start A Hard Seltzer Company
- Market Research
The first step when figuring out how to start a hard seltzer company is to do market research and analysis. It’s important to understand the current market so that you know how to best enter it.
The hard seltzer market is worth $13.47 billion in the US. It’s popular because of its refreshing taste and low ABV. Hard seltzer also offers many health advantages compared to other alcoholic drinks. It’s keto and gluten-free, as well as low sugar and low-carb.
There are a few top players to look out for in the hard seltzer industry. The top hard seltzer distributors include White Claw, Truly, and Bud Light Seltzers. Make sure to keep up with their business activities to identify hard seltzer trends.
When doing your market research, there are a few things you should pay attention to. Pay attention to current hard seltzer trends, including popular flavors and promotions. It’s also important to look at competitors’ pricing, product range, branding, and social media presence. Hard seltzer distribution strategies of other wholesale hard seltzer companies can also be helpful to look at.
Key Takeaway: You probably have many questions about how to start a hard seltzer company. Effective market research can help you keep up with trends and find your niche market.
- Define Your Business
Once you understand the market and the competition, you can start defining your business. Defining your business concept is an important step when deciding how to start a hard seltzer company. Your business concept lays the foundation for your hard seltzer company.
There are a few key steps to follow when defining your business. The first step is to define your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). Your USP defines your brand identity and values. It also defines what sets you apart from other wholesale hard seltzer companies.
Creating a solid USP will help guide your business decisions and establish the key ideas behind your brand. It can help you structure your business in the most effective way possible. A unique selling proposition example can be related to the ingredients or the flavor.
- Product Development
A vital part of how to start a hard seltzer company for wholesale seltzer is the product itself. There are many considerations when it comes to developing and sourcing hard seltzer.
The first aspect of developing your product is deciding the product range and flavors. Your market research can help you determine what products and flavors you should sell. It can be a good idea to offer a mix of flavors that are already trending, as well as unique or innovative flavors.
Find suppliers who align with your needs and values. When looking for suppliers, make sure you select one that is reputable within the industry. They should use quality ingredients that meet regulatory standards.
Taste testing your product is a necessary step when starting your wholesale hard seltzer business. Make sure that the taste and quality are consistent between batches. Focus groups can help you fine-tune the flavors of your products and provide you with helpful feedback.
- Branding
Strong branding is a crucial part of starting a wholesale hard seltzer company. The branding and packaging are often the first impressions your customers get about your company. Make sure your branding is consistent and eye-catching.
Your brand image should show your brand’s values. If your brand values sustainability, your branding, and packaging should make that clear.
Compelling branding tells a story and forms an emotional connection with customers. Branding includes colors, fonts, logos, and packaging. All the branding for your hard seltzer company should be consistent and convey the same message.
- Setting Up Your Business
Once you have the basics of your business and branding set up, you can begin the legal and financial processes. There are many essential steps to consider when wondering how to start a hard seltzer company.
There are a few legal steps you will need to take to set up your business. You must obtain proper permits and licenses, including a liquor license. There are also alcohol regulations and requirements to be aware of. Regulations can differ depending on your location. You’ll also need to figure out how to get a wholesale license.
You must also choose your business structure. Options include LLCs and corporations. Each business structure has different requirements and tax implications to consider. Look into what is an LLC to see if this is right for you.
Another vital step is financial planning. Calculate startup costs and other expenses for your hard seltzer business. It can be helpful to hire a financial planner for this step of starting your business. You will also need to figure out how to fund your wholesale hard seltzer business. Business loans and external investments are popular ways to finance your company.
- Distribution and Sales
Setting up distribution and sales channels is an important part of selling wholesale alcohol.
There are many things to consider when setting up distribution channels. Good shipping and handling practices can help you avoid any shipping issues for your customers. This is important to create a good customer experience.
You’ll also have to decide whether you’ll be making your wholesale sales online, in a brick and mortar store, or a mix. There are different considerations for selling through eCommerce versus an in-store retailer. Market research can help you determine which option is best for your business.
Effective sales and marketing is also an essential part of figuring out how to start a hard seltzer company. An excellent wholesale marketplace and sales platform like BlueCart can help improve your sales.
Develop a strong sales and marketing strategy. You can use promotions such as limited-time offers (LTOs) in your marketing plan. Using social media and attending industry events or trade shows are great ways to start your sales and marketing journey.
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Start a Hard Seltzer Company
When you first begin, you’ll probably have a lot of questions about how to start a hard seltzer company. There are many steps to get your business up and running. Find answers to your questions about how to start a hard seltzer company below.
Is branding an important part of starting a hard seltzer business?
Branding is a very important part of starting a hard seltzer business. Effective branding conveys a lot of information about your company. Most people form opinions about brands before they even try the product. This means that branding and packaging should intentionally show your brand values.
How can I market my hard seltzer business?
Social media, product placement, and industry events are all good ways to market your hard seltzer business. Many of the top hard seltzer companies use social media to convey their brand identity and promote their products.
Hard seltzers are often trendy online. Celebrity endorsements and influencers can help promote your brand. Securing prime placement on store shelves or websites is a great way to get attention from consumers. It’s also a good idea to attend industry events as part of your wholesale marketing plan.
What legal considerations do I need to start a hard seltzer business?
Some legal considerations for your hard seltzer business include securing the correct permits and licenses. There are a few specific permits you’ll need to sell alcohol.
There are also labeling and packaging requirements to keep in mind. These can vary by region. Make sure to seek legal counsel to get specific information for your business.