SBA 504 Brewery, Winery and Distillery Feasibility Study in Illinois

Illinois brewery, winery or distillery lending: dollars and loan size

Illinois breweries, wineries and distilleries drew 28 SBA 504 approvals in Illinois's FY2017 to FY2026 window, a combined $31.6 million of gross dollars. Loan size in Illinois centers on $805,000, with the middle half of the breweries, wineries and distilleries book between $365,250 and $1.2 million. Next to breweries, wineries and distilleries nationally under SBA 504, Illinois shows a median ratio of 1.30x, an upward tilt for breweries, wineries and distilleries in Illinois. With a franchise share of 7.1%, owners of most Illinois breweries, wineries and distilleries operate independently.

Among states, Illinois ranks 9 for breweries, wineries and distilleries under SBA 504; among the classes of Illinois itself, breweries, wineries and distilleries rank 9 of 39. Approvals in Illinois peaked in FY2022 at 7 loans worth $7.1 million, and no loans appear for FY2026. Illinois stands at rank 9 among states for 504 craft beverage lending, with loans above the national median, a large state with heavier projects on the books.

The largest holder SBA shows for this Illinois cell is SomerCor 504, Inc., with 13 loans and $21.3 million. The Illinois list continues with Small Business Growth Corporation (11 loans, $7.6 million). SomerCor 504, Inc. opens SBA's list for Illinois breweries, wineries and distilleries; the 28 loans show holders past and present in Illinois, not how any lends. Among counties of Illinois, Cook shows 11 loans; next are Dupage with 4 and Lake with 2. Smaller counts appear in Peoria 2, Rock Island 2 and Champaign 1.

Cancellation and loss figures for Illinois breweries, wineries and distilleries

Across 28 Illinois loans, Illinois approvals through FY2024 are too few, and Illinois loss rates lack a funded cohort. A blank here is unknown, never zero. Illinois producers appear by the code of their trade, so taproom and event revenue goes unseen. Only SBA lending is counted in Illinois.

What an Illinois producer's study must prove

With a ratio of 1.30x, the study owes an explanation of why loans near Cook outsize the national figure, whether a bigger plant, an expensive equipment list or a ground-up build. Price the building apart from the brewhouse or still, and quote every tank. Output means little without buyers, so name the retail accounts and distributors, and the margin each takes. Aging and fermentation hold cash for months before the first sale. Compliance with excise and licensing rules sets the opening date. Specialized equipment sells for little at auction, so collateral rests on the real estate.