Alex is Sprintlaw's co-founder and principal lawyer. Alex previously worked at a top-tier firm as a lawyer specialising in technology and media contracts, and founded a digital agency which he sold in 2015.
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Opening a brewery in Australia is an exciting way to turn your passion for craft beer into a real business.
With more Australians choosing local, small-batch brews, there’s genuine opportunity for new breweries to stand out. But to build something sustainable, you’ll need to navigate business registration, liquor and excise licensing, council approvals, and a stack of ongoing compliance obligations.
This guide walks you through the legal requirements to start a brewery in Australia, the licences you’ll need, and the documents that protect your brand and operations from day one.
What Does A Brewery Business Involve?
A brewery business typically manufactures beer (and sometimes other alcoholic beverages) for sale to consumers and wholesale customers. Many breweries operate from a physical premises that includes a production facility plus a taproom or bar for on-site tastings and sales.
Because you’re producing and selling alcohol, breweries are heavily regulated. You’ll deal with state or territory liquor authorities, local councils (for planning and health approvals), and the Australian Taxation Office (for excise licensing on alcohol production over 1.15% ABV). If you serve food, you’ll also be dealing with food premises requirements.
In short, you’re running both a manufacturing operation and (in many cases) a hospitality venue. Your setup and compliance plan should reflect both sides of the business.
Is Starting A Brewery In Australia Feasible?
It can be - provided you go in with a clear plan. The craft beer market is competitive, margins can be tight, and compliance adds complexity. Before committing, consider:
- Your concept and audience: What styles will you produce? Are you launching a taproom-led brewpub, a production brewery, or a hybrid model?
- Location and zoning: Can your chosen site lawfully host a brewery and (if relevant) a bar? Do nearby residents or industrial uses affect your plan?
- Distribution model: Will you sell direct on-site, wholesale to venues and bottle shops, or online to consumers where allowed?
- Funding and scale: Brewing equipment and fit-outs are capital intensive. Budget for licence lead times, bond or security deposits, and a realistic working capital runway.
- Operational skills: Beyond brewing, you’ll be managing people, supply chains, safety, compliance and cash flow.
A solid business plan will tie these threads together. It should address your structure, financial forecasts, licensing timeline, and risk controls. This will inform the legal structure you choose and the contracts you put in place.
Step-By-Step: How To Set Up Your Brewery
1) Choose Your Business Structure
Your structure affects liability, tax, ownership, and how you raise capital.
- Sole trader: Simple and low cost, but you’re personally liable for business debts and claims.
- Partnership: Two or more people in business together, who share control and personal liability.
- Company (Pty Ltd): A separate legal entity that can offer limited liability and greater credibility with investors and suppliers. Many breweries opt for a company structure to support growth and manage risk.
If you’re incorporating, consider how the company rules will operate day to day. Document founder and investor rights, decision-making and exits early through a Shareholders Agreement.
2) Register Your Business
- ABN and TFN: Apply for an Australian Business Number and relevant tax registrations.
- Business name: If trading under a name other than your personal name or the company’s name, register that name with ASIC.
- Company details (if incorporating): Set up your company, appoint directors and issue shares. A tailored Company Constitution supports clear governance from the outset.
- GST: If your projected annual turnover is $75,000 or more, you’ll need to register for GST.
Tax settings (including GST and excise) should be discussed with your accountant or tax adviser. This guide is general information - your tax position will depend on your model, revenue and timing.
3) Secure And Set Up Your Premises
Shortlist sites that meet your production needs (ceiling height, power, drainage, access) and plan for customer-facing areas if you’ll operate a taproom.
- Zoning and use: Confirm the site is zoned for manufacturing and, if relevant, on-premises alcohol service.
- Council approvals: Most breweries require a development approval (or equivalent) and compliance with health, fire and building codes.
- Lease terms: Negotiate a lease that expressly permits brewing, handling of alcohol, and fit-out works. A targeted commercial lease review can flag hidden risks like make-good, exclusivity and trading hour restrictions.
4) Plan Your Licensing Timeline
Licensing can take several months. Map the steps (council first, then liquor and excise, or in parallel if allowed) so you’re not paying rent without being able to trade.
5) Build Your Brand And Protect It
Check name availability and secure domains and social handles. To protect your identity and avoid disputes, consider filing to register your trade mark for your brewery name, logo and any flagship beer names.
6) Put Contracts And Policies In Place
Before launch, implement supplier agreements, staff documentation, venue policies and customer-facing terms. We unpack these below.
7) Launch And Monitor Compliance
Once licensed, open with clear processes for RSA, stock management, safety and record-keeping. Build regular checks into your operations (e.g. excise reporting, equipment maintenance, licence renewals).
Buying An Existing Brewery Or Franchising?
Buying an operating brewery can shortcut some approvals, but you’ll need careful legal due diligence. Review contracts, licences, asset lists and any debts or disputes. If the model is a franchise, expect additional obligations under the Franchising Code and a detailed franchise agreement. Engage advisors early to scope transfer of leases and licences, assignability of contracts and any limits on changes to the menu or fit-out.
What Licences And Permits Do Breweries Need?
Brewing and selling alcohol requires approvals at multiple levels. The exact names vary by state or territory, but the categories are consistent nationwide.
Liquor Licence (Producer/Wholesaler Or Equivalent)
Breweries typically require a producer/wholesaler-style liquor licence to manufacture beer and sell it wholesale and (if permitted) on-premises in your taproom or bar. Conditions may cover trading hours, tastings, takeaway sales, deliveries, advertising and RSA obligations.
Expect to provide venue plans, details of your systems to prevent intoxication and underage supply, responsible persons, security and community impact information. Licence conditions are enforceable - breaches can lead to penalties or suspension.
Local Council Development And Health Approvals
- Development consent: Needed for change of use to “brewery,” on-site bar areas, and material fit-out works.
- Food premises requirements: If you serve food, you’ll need to register as a food business and comply with applicable food safety standards.
- Building, fire and accessibility: Your fit-out must meet building code, fire safety and accessibility requirements for both production and customer areas.
Excise Manufacturer Licence (ATO)
If you manufacture beer over 1.15% ABV, you’ll need an excise manufacturer licence from the Australian Taxation Office. You’ll also have ongoing obligations to report production volumes and pay excise on time, subject to any applicable reliefs or deferrals.
Because excise is complex and cashflow-sensitive, work closely with your accountant on systems that track production, movements and duty payable.
Responsible Service Of Alcohol (RSA)
Anyone serving alcohol on-site must hold a valid RSA qualification for your state or territory. Your venue should have clear RSA policies and training to meet licence conditions and protect your patrons.
Environmental Requirements
Brewing can generate trade waste, odour and noise. Depending on your location and scale, you may need trade waste agreements, noise management plans or other environmental approvals. Build these into your timeline so commissioning isn’t delayed.
What Other Legal Obligations Apply?
Beyond licensing, your brewery must comply with general Australian business laws and industry-specific duties. Key areas include:
Australian Consumer Law (ACL)
If you sell directly to consumers (in your taproom, online or via takeaway), your advertising and product claims must not be misleading, and you must honour consumer guarantees and refund rights. Labelling, price displays and promotional offers should be accurate and consistent with the ACL framework. If you’re updating your marketing practices, review them against the principles explained in section 18 of the ACL.
Employment And Workplace Safety
When you hire staff, the Fair Work system applies (award coverage, minimum pay, leave entitlements and the National Employment Standards). A written Employment Contract isn’t strictly required by law in every case, but having clear terms in writing is best practice and helps prevent disputes about duties, hours, overtime and confidentiality.
Breweries also have heightened Work Health and Safety (WHS) risks - think chemicals, confined spaces, hot surfaces, forklifts and manual handling. Document your WHS approach in workplace policies, conduct induction and refresher training, and keep records. A tailored workplace policy suite can help set expectations around safety, harassment and conduct.
Privacy And Customer Data
Many breweries collect customer details for online sales, bookings or mailing lists. Under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), a written Privacy Policy is legally required for “APP entities” (including most businesses with an annual turnover of more than $3 million) and for some small businesses engaging in particular activities. Even if you’re under the threshold, publishing a clear policy and handling personal information transparently is widely expected by customers and often required by third-party platforms and payment providers.
Intellectual Property (IP)
Your brand is a major asset. Registering your name and logo as trade marks helps you stop copycats and build value. Consider protection for core beer names and seasonal releases, particularly if you plan to distribute widely. Also ensure your label artwork is either created in-house or licensed properly (via clear contractor or licence agreements).
Tax, GST And Record-Keeping
Breweries deal with multiple tax streams: income tax, GST (if registered) and excise. Set up robust systems for inventory, sales and duty so you can report accurately and on time. Because tax outcomes depend on your specific setup, speak with your accountant about GST registration timing, excise concessions and cashflow planning.
Essential Legal Documents For Breweries
Putting the right contracts in place early will reduce risk and smooth your day-to-day operations. Common documents include:
- Shareholders Agreement: Sets out ownership, decision-making rules, share transfers and exits between founders and investors.
- Supply Agreement: Covers ingredients, packaging, equipment or contract brewing arrangements - price, quality, delivery, liability and termination.
- Employment Contract: Records the role, hours, pay, leave, confidentiality and IP ownership for each team member (highly recommended even when not strictly mandated).
- Website Terms & Conditions: Set the rules for site use, limit liability and address acceptable use and IP on your website.
- Privacy Policy: Explains how you collect, use and store personal information for online orders, bookings and marketing lists.
- Non‑Disclosure Agreement (NDA): Protects recipes, brewing methods and commercial plans when speaking with partners, contractors or prospective investors.
Depending on your model, you may also need venue hire or event terms, distribution agreements, collaboration agreements for joint releases, and IP licences for artwork and branding.
Key Takeaways
- Starting a brewery in Australia means setting up a business that is both a manufacturer and (often) a hospitality venue, so plan for approvals across liquor, council and excise.
- Choose a structure that matches your growth plans and risk profile. Many breweries incorporate and document founder arrangements in a Shareholders Agreement.
- Map your licensing in order: council approvals, a producer/wholesaler liquor licence, excise manufacturer licensing, and RSA requirements for on‑site service.
- Comply with the Australian Consumer Law in your marketing and refunds, maintain WHS systems, and handle customer data responsibly with a clear Privacy Policy.
- Protect your brand by registering trade marks for your brewery name, logo and key beer names, and use strong contracts with staff, suppliers and collaborators.
- Tax settings (GST and excise) have real cashflow impacts - build systems early and work with your accountant on timing and reporting.
- Lock in your premises with a lease that fits a brewery’s needs. A focused lease review can prevent issues with use rights, trading hours and fit‑out obligations.
If you would like a consultation on starting a brewery in Australia, you can reach us at 1800 730 617 or team@sprintlaw.com.au for a free, no-obligations chat.
