Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
What's the best way to issue shares to employees and investors without hiring a full legal firm?
Members recommend using **Seedlegals** rather than attempting equity issuance entirely solo. Seedlegals is a platform that automates much of the legal work, costs around £58, and is built around qualified legal counsel—their account managers can run unclear points by lawyers within their team, removing thousands of pounds in traditional legal fees. However, members strongly advise against going completely "hands solo" without any legal oversight. The consensus is that while Seedlegals provides a cost-effective middle ground with professional backing, having some qualified legal input is essential to ensure equity structures are properly documented and in the right place for future scenarios (good or bad). As one member put it: "Couldn't recommend highly enough!"
What is the most cost-effective way to produce small quantities of sample cans (e.g. 100–150) with sealed liquid?
For small-batch sample cans, members suggest two practical routes: - **Partner with a local craft brewery** — The most straightforward approach is to befriend a nearby craft brewery and ask them to run a small batch for you. They have the canning equipment and may be willing to do a short run, though this works best if your can size (e.g. 150ml) matches equipment they already have. - **Partner with a local RTD cocktail producer** — Members mentioned reaching out to established RTD (ready-to-drink) drinks companies in your region as an alternative. These producers typically have flexible canning lines and experience with small-batch orders. Members noted that hand crimpers to manually seal cans are theoretically possible but appear to be rarely used in practice; befriending existing producers is the go-to tactic rather than investing in bespoke equipment for a one-off sample run. **Caveat:** Can size (150ml vs standard sizes) can be a constraint—smaller or non-standard formats may be harder to source from established producers, so confirm they have the right tooling before approaching.
Where can we find affordable freelance designers for hospitality and drinks marketing materials?
Members recommend a mix of platforms and direct referrals for freelance design work. **Platforms:** - **Fiverr** — praised by members as fabulous for personal and commercial projects, offering reasonable rates **Direct referrals:** - A designer based in **Manchester** — described as reliable and consistent, worth enquiring if taking new clients - A designer specialising in **illustrations** — members have recommended as excellent, available for introductions - Multiple members have in-house designers they've worked with successfully and can introduce on request For hospitality-specific work like table talkers and tent cards, members suggest asking for examples of venue marketing materials in your initial brief. Get an intro through the community for vetted, trusted freelancers rather than cold-sourcing.