Owned Canning Line Breakeven
Owned Canning Line Breakeven: BeerCPA The Breakeven Utilization Model; A $250,000 system ÷ $0.30 savings = ~833,000 cans (about 3,200 BBL) to breakeven; ~267 BBL packaged per month. Mobile ~$0.35–$0.50 vs in-house ~$0.10–$0.18 per 16oz can. Equipped starts at $30,000. Mobile West ($150,000 – $1,000,000 or more).
Last updated: September 8, 2026
Owned vs mobile breakeven inputs
| Path | What sources list | Source page |
|---|---|---|
| BeerCPA utilization model | The Breakeven Utilization Model; A $250,000 system ÷ $0.30 savings = ~833,000 cans (about 3,200 BBL); ~267 BBL packaged per month; mobile ~$0.35–$0.50 vs in-house ~$0.10–$0.18 per 16oz can | BeerCPA ROI |
| Buy CapEx ranges | Equipped starts at $30,000 / $85,000 / $165,000; only about $50,000; BeerCPA A $250,000 canning line purchased in 2025; Bay Street canning line ($50K–$500K+); Canning lines run $50K–$300K | Equipped |
| Host CapEx-avoid | Mobile West No need to lay out capital ($150,000 – $1,000,000 or more) for a canning line; automated canning line at 40 cans per minute | Mobile West |
| CVP / worksheet formulas | Wolters Breakeven Sales Volume = Fixed Costs divided by Contribution Margin Ratio; PSU Step 3. Determine your break-even point by dividing your total fixed costs/month by the contribution margin | Wolters |
Utilization math and CapEx context
BeerCPA frames ownership with The Breakeven Utilization Model: Mobile/Contract Canning Cost: ~$0.35–$0.50 per 16oz can versus In-House Cost (After CapEx): ~$0.10–$0.18 per 16oz can; Breakeven Example If a mobile canner charges $0.45/can, and your in-house cost is $0.15/can → you save $0.30 per can; A $250,000 system ÷ $0.30 savings = ~833,000 cans (about 3,200 BBL) to breakeven; Spread across 12 months, that’s ~267 BBL packaged per month. Equipped CapEx: starts at $30,000, starts at $85,000, starts at $165,000, only about $50,000. Bay Street: canning line ($50K–$500K+); Canning lines run $50K–$300K. Mobile West host path: No need to lay out capital ($150,000 – $1,000,000 or more) for a canning line.
| Claim | URL | Listed |
|---|---|---|
| BeerCPA Breakeven Utilization Model | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | The Breakeven Utilization Model |
| BeerCPA mobile $/can range | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | ~$0.35–$0.50 per 16oz can (packaging, labor, depreciation embedded). |
| BeerCPA in-house $/can range | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | ~$0.10–$0.18 per 16oz can (materials + labor + utilities, not counting the machine’s amortization). |
| BeerCPA Mobile/Contract Cost label+range | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | Mobile/Contract Canning Cost: ~$0.35–$0.50 per 16oz can (packaging, labor, depreciation embedded). |
| BeerCPA In-House Cost label+range | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | In-House Cost (After CapEx): ~$0.10–$0.18 per 16oz can (materials + labor + utilities, not counting the machine’s amortization). |
| BeerCPA $0.45/$0.15 save $0.30 | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | If a mobile canner charges $0.45/can, and your in-house cost is $0.15/can → you save $0.30 per can. |
| BeerCPA $250k system breakeven cans | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | A $250,000 system ÷ $0.30 savings = ~833,000 cans (about 3,200 BBL) to breakeven. |
| BeerCPA ~267 BBL/mo | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | Spread across 12 months, that’s ~267 BBL packaged per month. |
| BeerCPA $250k line 2025 | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | A $250,000 canning line purchased in 2025 |
| BeerCPA 100% deduction | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | breweries can now deduct 100% of the cost of qualifying equipment in the year it’s placed in service |
| BeerCPA Section 179 caps | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | ($2.5 million cap, with a $4 million phase-out threshold) |
| BeerCPA financing + bonus depreciation | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | financing + bonus depreciation |
| BeerCPA Section 179 expensing limits | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | Section 179 expensing limits ($2.5 million cap, with a $4 million phase-out threshold) |
| BeerCPA hidden costs note | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | A canning line is never just a canning line. Beyond the sticker price, here are the major hidden costs to account for: |
| BeerCPA ROI rosy caution | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | When we model ROI, we include these items — otherwise, the numbers look deceptively rosy. |
| BeerCPA Breakeven Example | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | Breakeven Example: |
| BeerCPA In-House Canning Line | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | In-House Canning Line |
| BeerCPA When to Buy title | beercpa.com/canning-line-roi-breweries/ | When to Buy a Canning Line — and How to Model the Real ROI for Your Brewery |
| BeerCPA lease 24–60 months | beercpa.com/weekly-digests/should-you-lease-or-buy-assets/ | A lease will typically run for anything between 24 and 60 months. Once the agreement is entered into, both parties are obligated to see out the term of the lease. |
| BeerCPA Should you lease or buy | beercpa.com/weekly-digests/should-you-lease-or-buy-assets/ | Should you lease or buy assets? |
| BeerCPA Calculate ROI | beercpa.com/business-guides/asset-finance-guide | Calculate your return on investment (ROI) |
| BeerCPA Speak to accountant | beercpa.com/business-guides/asset-finance-guide | Speak to your accountant or financial advisor about any tax implications before deciding to buy or lease. |
| Equipped title | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/the-equipped-brewer/canning-craft-beer-and-hard-cider-to-go-mobile-or-purchase-a-system | Canning Craft Beer and Hard Cider: To Go Mobile or Purchase a System? |
| Equipped cash flow Q | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/the-equipped-brewer/canning-craft-beer-and-hard-cider-to-go-mobile-or-purchase-a-system | Do you have the cash flow to purchase a canning line? |
| Equipped experience Q | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/the-equipped-brewer/canning-craft-beer-and-hard-cider-to-go-mobile-or-purchase-a-system | Do you have the experience needed to operate a canning line? |
| Equipped starts at $30,000 | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/the-equipped-brewer/canning-craft-beer-and-hard-cider-to-go-mobile-or-purchase-a-system | starts at $30,000 |
| Equipped starts at $85,000 | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/the-equipped-brewer/canning-craft-beer-and-hard-cider-to-go-mobile-or-purchase-a-system | starts at $85,000 |
| Equipped starts at $165,000 | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/the-equipped-brewer/canning-craft-beer-and-hard-cider-to-go-mobile-or-purchase-a-system | starts at $165,000 |
| Equipped only about $50,000 | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/the-equipped-brewer/canning-craft-beer-and-hard-cider-to-go-mobile-or-purchase-a-system | only about $50,000 |
| Equipped Cask SAMS | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/the-equipped-brewer/canning-craft-beer-and-hard-cider-to-go-mobile-or-purchase-a-system | Cask’s SAMS semi-automatic machine is only about $50,000. |
| Equipped WGC ranges sentence | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/the-equipped-brewer/canning-craft-beer-and-hard-cider-to-go-mobile-or-purchase-a-system | Wild Goose's entry level unit is the WGC 50, which is a manual dual-head filler, starts at $30,000. Their WGC 250, which is a semi-automated 4-head filler, cans about 40 cans per minute, starts at $85,000. Their top-of-the-line WGC 600, is an 8-head filler that cans 95 cans per minute, starts at $165,000. |
| Equipped labor/cost difference | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/the-equipped-brewer/canning-craft-beer-and-hard-cider-to-go-mobile-or-purchase-a-system | The biggest difference between mobile canning and owning your own canning line really boils down to the labor and cost of owning the machine. |
| Equipped What Does it Cost | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/the-equipped-brewer/canning-craft-beer-and-hard-cider-to-go-mobile-or-purchase-a-system | What Does it Cost to Buy a Canning Line? |
| Equipped Costs of Mobile | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/the-equipped-brewer/canning-craft-beer-and-hard-cider-to-go-mobile-or-purchase-a-system | The Costs of Mobile Canning |
| Equipped filling fees example | equippedbrewer.longitudemedia.com/the-equipped-brewer/canning-craft-beer-and-hard-cider-to-go-mobile-or-purchase-a-system | Filling fees: You could expect a cost of about $4.56 / case yielding 560 cases = $2,553.60 |
| MobileWest CapEx-avoid | www.mobilewestcanning.com/our-services/ | No need to lay out capital ($150,000 – $1,000,000 or more) for a canning line |
| MobileWest 40 cpm | www.mobilewestcanning.com/our-services/ | automated canning line at 40 cans per minute |
| MobileWest can sizes | www.mobilewestcanning.com/our-services/ | 8, 10, 12 and 16 oz cans |
| MobileWest no floor space | www.mobilewestcanning.com/our-services/ | No dedicated floor space for the canning line or packaging |
| MobileWest Benefits | www.mobilewestcanning.com/our-services/ | Benefits of our mobile canning service |
| Bay Street canning CapEx | www.baystreetlending.com/industries/breweries/equipment-financing | canning line ($50K–$500K+) |
| Bay Street funding amount | www.baystreetlending.com/industries/breweries/equipment-financing | Funding amount $25,000 – $5,000,000 |
| Bay Street funding range only | www.baystreetlending.com/industries/breweries/equipment-financing | $25,000 – $5,000,000 |
| Bay Street typical financing | www.baystreetlending.com/industries/breweries/equipment-financing | Most brewery equipment financing runs $100K–$1.5M |
| Bay Street APR/terms | www.baystreetlending.com/industries/breweries/equipment-financing | Brewery equipment financing runs 6–22% APR over 2–7-year terms |
| Bay Street industries canning | www.baystreetlending.com/industries/breweries/ | Canning lines run $50K–$300K |
| Bay Street 15-barrel | www.baystreetlending.com/industries/breweries/ | A 15-barrel system can cost $150K+ |
| Wolters CVP title | www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/your-business-finances | Business decisions and your finances: Cost/volume/profit analysis |
| Wolters CVP definition | www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/your-business-finances | CVP analysis, as it is sometimes known, is a way of examining the relationship between your fixed and variable costs, your volume (in terms of units or in terms of dollars), and your profits. |
| Wolters breakeven analysis phrase | www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/your-business-finances | breakeven analysis, which tells you the sales volume you need to break even under different price or cost scenarios |
| Wolters breakeven volume formula | www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/your-business-finances | Breakeven Sales Volume = Fixed Costs divided by Contribution Margin Ratio |
| Wolters bakery fixed costs | www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/your-business-finances | Assume that the financial statements for Lillian's Bakery indicate that the bakery's fixed costs are $49,000, and its variable costs per unit of production (loaf of raisin coffee cake) are $.30. |
| Wolters bakery breakeven loaves | www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/your-business-finances | $49,000/$.70 = 70,000 loaves |
| Wolters keep fixed costs low | www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/your-business-finances | For most small businesses, limiting downside risk is more important than increasing potential profits, so it's wise to keep your fixed costs low wherever possible. |
| Wolters determine breakeven point | www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/your-business-finances | Once you know your variable costs as well as your overall fixed costs for the business, you can determine your breakeven point: the volume of sales needed to at least cover all your costs. |
| PSU worksheet title | extension.psu.edu/food-for-profit-price-and-pricing-worksheet | Food for Profit: Price and Pricing Worksheet |
| PSU Step 1 | extension.psu.edu/food-for-profit-price-and-pricing-worksheet | Step 1. Determine your variable and fixed costs. |
| PSU Step 3 | extension.psu.edu/food-for-profit-price-and-pricing-worksheet | Step 3. Determine your break-even point. |
| PSU break-even method | extension.psu.edu/food-for-profit-price-and-pricing-worksheet | Determine your break-even point by dividing your total fixed costs/month by the contribution margin. |
| PSU Variable/fixed labels | extension.psu.edu/food-for-profit-price-and-pricing-worksheet | Variable (costs/unit) and fixed (costs/month) |
| PSU capacity note | extension.psu.edu/food-for-profit-price-and-pricing-worksheet | If your sales goal is lower than what you think the market will bear, you could increase your price or produce more units. Remember that adjusting production capacity may once again affect fixed costs--calculate accordingly. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Owned Canning Line Breakeven?
Owned Canning Line Breakeven is the utilization volume where owning a line costs less than mobile/contract canning. BeerCPA The Breakeven Utilization Model: A $250,000 system ÷ $0.30 savings = ~833,000 cans (about 3,200 BBL) to breakeven; Spread across 12 months, that’s ~267 BBL packaged per month. Mobile/Contract Canning Cost: ~$0.35–$0.50 per 16oz can versus In-House Cost (After CapEx): ~$0.10–$0.18 per 16oz can. Wolters: Breakeven Sales Volume = Fixed Costs divided by Contribution Margin Ratio.
What CapEx and per-can ranges do sources list for owned vs mobile canning?
Buy CapEx: Equipped Wild Goose WGC 50 starts at $30,000, WGC 250 starts at $85,000, WGC 600 starts at $165,000; Cask’s SAMS is only about $50,000. BeerCPA A $250,000 canning line purchased in 2025. Bay Street canning line ($50K–$500K+); Canning lines run $50K–$300K. Host CapEx-avoid: Mobile West No need to lay out capital ($150,000 – $1,000,000 or more) for a canning line. BeerCPA mobile ~$0.35–$0.50 vs in-house ~$0.10–$0.18 per 16oz can.
How do Wolters CVP and PSU worksheets frame breakeven?
Wolters Kluwer: CVP analysis examines fixed and variable costs, volume, and profits; breakeven analysis tells you the sales volume you need to break even under different price or cost scenarios; Breakeven Sales Volume = Fixed Costs divided by Contribution Margin Ratio; bakery example $49,000/$.70 = 70,000 loaves. PSU Extension Food for Profit: Step 3. Determine your break-even point by dividing your total fixed costs/month by the contribution margin. Adjusting production capacity may again affect fixed costs.
What utilization volume does BeerCPA’s breakeven example use?
BeerCPA Breakeven Example: If a mobile canner charges $0.45/can, and your in-house cost is $0.15/can → you save $0.30 per can. A $250,000 system ÷ $0.30 savings = ~833,000 cans (about 3,200 BBL) to breakeven. Spread across 12 months, that’s ~267 BBL packaged per month. Key question on the same page: Can your brewery realistically sustain that volume consistently and manage distribution?
What host alternative and tax notes sit beside ownership CapEx?
Mobile West: No need to lay out capital ($150,000 – $1,000,000 or more) for a canning line; automated canning line at 40 cans per minute; No dedicated floor space for the canning line or packaging. BeerCPA: breweries can now deduct 100% of the cost of qualifying equipment in the year it’s placed in service; Section 179 expensing limits ($2.5 million cap, with a $4 million phase-out threshold); financing + bonus depreciation. Equipped: Do you have the cash flow to purchase a canning line?