How to Start a Beverage Company in 5 Easy Steps

So you have an idea for a tasty new beverage. You’ve talked to your friends and they think it would be fantastic if your drink was developed into an actual product, because they’re sure that your fizzy concoction would fly off store shelves. Well, we’ve got some good news for you.

Having a great idea for a new drink is the first and most important step toward launching your own beverage company. Now comes the hard part: actually developing the brand. This is a time-consuming process that has a lot of moving parts. You’ll need to consider financing, formulation, ingredient sourcing, package design, distribution, and more.

Have we scared you off yet? Hopefully not, because we have more good news.

Flavorman can help get you started with our in-house expertise and, of course, our tried and true beverage development process, which has helped hundreds of brands and thousands of products since 1992. Here’s how to start a beverage company in 5 easy steps:

Step 1: Collaborate and Perfect Your Idea

This is where you’ll meet with your project leader and discuss your vision for your new beverage brand. Once we get a bead on the flavor you’re shooting for, we’ll send our team of beverage architects to the lab to get started on the initial formulation. Then, we’ll bring you in for a tasting. More likely than not, you’ll want to tweak the taste so we’ll send our team back to the drawing board for some flavor revisions. We’ll repeat this process until you’re completely satisfied.

Oh, and a quick note – this is your idea, not ours. We’ll treat it with the utmost confidentiality.

Step 2: Develop a Game Plan

Now that your beverage formulation is done, we’ll get to work on getting you ready for production. But first, we’re going to ship you 100 units of your new formula so you can take them to investor meetings, introduce your drink idea to distributors, and get some feedback from friends, family, and neighbors.

Meanwhile, our trusty engineers will scale-up your final beverage formulation for production. This is where we take the measurements from grams and milliliters to pounds and gallons. While we’re at it, we’re going to make sure we’re meeting every regulatory requirement for your custom beverage. Fun stuff!

Step 3: Work out the Logistics

Okay, we have a formula and it’s scaled for production. We’re almost there.

Now we’re going to help you find a beverage manufacturer that’s a perfect fit for your needs and we’re going to source the ingredients you’ll need for ongoing production. We’ll also plan to be at your first production run to ensure all the wrinkles are ironed out.

In the meantime, our processing team will create the nutritional/supplemental facts panel and ingredients statement for your beverage, as well as provide consulting on any other labeling requirements related to your unique product.

Step 4: Protect the Quality

Before your beverage hits the market, we need to make sure that it has a stable shelf life and we need to determine what that shelf life is. How long does the color, taste, and aroma hold up over time? This is an intensive process, but we have to make sure your product holds up under many different conditions. Our scientists live for this step.

Step 5: Share Your Dream

Formulation? Check. Production ready? Check. Quality assured? Double-check.

It’s now time to roll out your new beverage brand and let the public taste your dream. And, if you should ever need anything else from Flavorman, we’ll be here for you!

Now that’s how to start a beverage company!

When you’re ready to get bring your beverage vision to reality, fill out this webform or call (502) 273-5214. Together, we’ll change what the world is drinking.