Brewery, Winery and Distillery Feasibility Study in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA Metro Area

Producers across the Bay

The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont record for beverage manufacturing covers 47 loans from FY2017 to FY2026 with $36.5 million approved. The median of $502,400 is 1.73x the national figure, with quartile edges at $250,000 and $980,250. The location quotient of 0.91x shows a class a little below its national weight in local lending, and it is 14 of 39 locally, yet the metro is 18 of 443 across metro and micro areas.

Counties and program

Alameda County, CA carries 19 loans, Contra Costa County, CA 16 and San Francisco County, CA 5, so the East Bay holds most of the record. The 47 loans split 40 to 7 between the 7(a) and 504 programs. The franchise share is 0.00%, and wineries are counted in this class as well; the code gives no hint of a taproom, tasting room or event use alongside production.

Live Oak and the calendar

For 7 loans worth $8.3 million, Live Oak Banking Company is the 7(a) holder of record; that is an SBA tally, and no view of the bank. FY2017 printed 11 loans and $8.8 million, the busiest year, followed by FY2018 with 7 and $5.4 million, FY2021 with 5 and $5.0 million, and FY2024 with 5 and $7.7 million. Six years do not print: FY2019, FY2020, FY2022, FY2023, FY2025 and FY2026.

Gaps to keep in mind

Across the 47 Bay Area loans Loan Analytics holds back both rates, cancellation and charge-off, and a blank is not a zero. Bay Area county names, Alameda and Contra Costa among them, tie these loans to the metro by way of the 2023 list.

What a Bay Area producer's study needs

A study should test the lease or purchase of an industrial building, zoning for production and any taproom, and the real cost of utilities and permits. Demand has to be split between on-site visits, retail and distribution. Run coverage at $502,400 and near $980,250, and ask the appraiser to value tanks or stills separately from the building, since that equipment is specialized. Because the shared industry code hides event use, the study should state plainly whether revenue relies on a taproom, and what the neighborhood and city rules allow in the hours and capacity of such a room.