Case Study: Kommunity Brew

About Kommunity Brew

Kommunity Brew is a West Australian-owned and operated company with a mission to change Australia’s drinking culture. Originally started in 2015 as a weekend hobby-level business by Mason Bagios and Jarred Dickie Kommunity Brew has since evolved into a leading brand-led manufacturing company, specialising in functional, zero-alcohol and low to zero-sugar premium beverages.

With a focus on creating healthy beverages that are both delicious and good for you, Kommunity Brew offers a range of products that are quickly gaining popularity as an alternative to alcohol. Their line-up includes kombucha, sparkling probiotics and probiotic health shots, each carefully crafted to support gut health and overall well-being.

At Kommunity Brew they believe in quality and sustainability. The company is committed to using only the best ingredients and over 65% of their energy comes from solar power. With a growing range of products, including a cold brew coffee and tea range, Kommunity Brew is poised to continue changing the way Australians drink for years to come.

The problem

In 2020, Kommunity Brew faced the challenge of scaling their business from a backyard hobby to a commercial operation. This involved establishing the economic foundations of their business, such as creating a sustainable revenue stream, building a solid customer base, and maintaining cost efficiency. However, the COVID-19 pandemic presented other obstacles, which required navigating various stimulus programs to keep their business afloat. Additionally, Kommunity Brew was seeking help with the R&D Tax Incentive and other state-based grants, looking at what finance options were available to them and assessing asset purchases and depreciation impact.

How Carbon helped

As a multi-service firm, Carbon Group were able to assist Kommunity Brew with their commercialisation strategy, involving a 5-year outlook.

“When Kommunity Brew commercialised, we welcomed investment from Carbon Capital and other sophisticated investors,” Mason Bagios, Co-Founder of Kommunity Brew, “the support from our investors also came in the form of valuable expertise, connections and professional guidance to help ensure Kommunity Brew’s success in the beverage industry.”

Carbon implemented monthly advisory sessions with Kommunity Brew’s management team to offer objective advice on business performance. Carbon’s Co-Founder, Nathan Hood, helped Kommunity Brew establish the economic engines of their business, determine profitable activities to scale and navigate the challenges and opportunities of scaling up a business. As an advisor, Nathan continues to provide guidance and support to help Kommunity Brew achieve their long-term goals.

Scaling a business can be a complicated process from a tax perspective because it involves various financial and operational changes that can impact the business’s tax obligations. When Kommunity Brew engaged with Carbon, they wanted to make sure they were minimising their tax burden and staying compliant. Carbon’s Accounting & Tax team in Perth works with Kommunity Brew on their annual accounts and tax return compliance, as well as managing their ASIC share register and shareholder transactions. In addition to this, our tax accountants help with personal tax compliance for the business owners.

As advisors to Kommunity Brew, Carbon assisted them with an Aged Receivables assessment to identify areas for improvement, which allowed them to improve their cash flow and reinvest in their business. “One of the key solutions Carbon provided was helping us unlock cashflow through better management of our customers’ payment terms, and by securing a cashflow loan through Carbon’s finance brokers in Perth to purchase additional supplies,” said Mason Bagios, Co-Founder of Kommunity Brew.

Carbon Bookkeeping & CFO Services in Osborne Park provides valuable support to Kommunity Brew by taking care of all their bookkeeping needs, ensuring accurate payroll processing, and preparing general purpose financial statements. By keeping an up-to-date and accurate record of financial transactions, our team enables Kommunity Brew to make informed business decisions and keep their financials in order. In addition, we provide regular reporting and analysis to help them monitor their financial performance and identify areas for improvement.

Carbon R&D and Grants team in Perth also assisted Kommunity Brew with their R&D Tax Incentive claim, which returned capital investment into innovative projects. “Carbon’s R&D experts also helped shift our management team’s mindset into one that treats the business as an economic engine. Putting X capital to use and getting a Y-multiple return.” Mason Bagios, Co-Founder, Kommunity Brew.

Carbon Services

Accounting & Tax:

• Annual accounts and tax return compliance
• Assistance with managing ASIC share register and shareholder transactions
• Personal tax compliance

Bookkeeping & CFO Services:

• Accounts package
• Payroll
• General purpose financial statements

Finance & Lending:

• Cash flow loan to purchase supplies

R&D and Grants:

• Reviewing business’ activities
• Preparing R&D project documentation
• Prepare and lodge the Application for Registration
• Calculating eligible R&D expenditure

Need help scaling your business?

Carbon Group’s strategic advice and financial management expertise have helped Kommunity Brew overcome the challenges that come with scaling up a business, resulting in impressive growth.

As a start-up, navigating the challenges of scaling up a business can be a daunting task, especially in today’s uncertain economic climate. However, with the right support and guidance, it is possible to overcome these challenges and achieve long-term success. If you are a start-up looking to commercialise your business, Carbon Group can provide you with the expertise, connections, and professional guidance you need to help ensure your success in your industry. Contact us today to get started on your journey.