Horse Boarding Business Plan Template
If you want to start a horse boarding business or expand your current horse boarding business, you need a business plan.
The following Horse Boarding business plan template gives you the key elements to include in a winning Horse Boarding business plan.
Horse Boarding Business Plan Example
I. Executive Summary
Business Overview
[Company Name], located in [insert location here] is a new horse boarding company that focuses on providing high-quality, full-care horse boarding for recreational horse owners. The company provides all the essentials every horse needs to be healthy and happy in a spacious ranch-style boarding facility. [Company Name] aims to be the premier horse boarding company providing the best horse care and customer service in the area.
Products Served
[Company Name] will provide all of the essentials every horse needs on a daily basis to be healthy and happy. Customers can rest assured their horse will be in good hands. Additionally, the Company will offer horse training and horseback riding lessons.
The following are the products and services included in the monthly boarding fees:
- Designated Stall with hay and shavings
- Food & Water
- Daily Feeding
- Grooming
- Pasture Access
- Stall Cleaning
- Exercising
- Veterinary Visits (customer pays for vet fees)
- Supplement & Medication Administration
- Horse Training
- Riding Lessons
Customer Focus
[Company Name] will primarily serve horse owners within a 10-20-mile radius of the location. The demographics of these horse owners are as follows:
- Average age of horse owners is 38-45 years old
- 37% of horseback riding participants in the area are under age 18
- Approximately 51% of horse owners are married
- 57% of horse owners are college graduates
- 59% of horse owners in the area are in managerial/professional occupations
- 32% of horse owners in the area have an income of $65,000-$100,000
Management Team
[Company Name]’s most valuable asset is the expertise and experience of its founder, [Founder’s Name]. [First name] has been in the horse boarding business for the past 20 years. During this time she developed a deep understanding of the horse boarding industry.
[Company name] will also have an experienced assistant manager who will be trained in handling the administrative tasks of the business. The desired individual will have an undergraduate business degree and years of management experience. [Company name] will also employ certified horse trainers, experienced horseback riding instructors, and an on-call veterinarian in case of medical emergencies.
Success Factors
[Company Name] is uniquely qualified to succeed due to the following reasons:
- [Company Name] will fill a specific market niche in the growing local community. In addition, the management team has surveyed the local population and received extremely positive feedback saying that they explicitly need a reliable horse boarding option in the area.
- The location is in a high-wealth area where customers are in need of horse boarding services and have the means to pay for them.
- The management team has a track record of success in the horse boarding business.
- The local area is currently under served and has very few horse boarding facilities offering an expert level of full care boarding services, training, and horseback riding.
Financial Highlights
[Company Name] is seeking a total funding of $225,000 of debt capital to open its horse boarding company.
- Boarding facility design/build-out: $100,000
- Equipment and supplies: $75,000
- Working capital: $50,000 to pay for marketing, salaries, and lease costs until [Company Name] reaches break-even
Top line projections over the next five years are as follows:
| Financial Summary | FY 1 | FY 2 | FY 3 | FY 4 | FY 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $560,401 | $782,152 | $1,069,331 | $1,379,434 | $1,699,644 |
| Total Expenses | $328,233 | $391,429 | $552,149 | $696,577 | $776,687 |
| EBITDA | $232,168 | $390,722 | $517,182 | $682,858 | $922,956 |
| Depreciation | $7,000 | $7,000 | $7,000 | $7,000 | $7,000 |
| EBIT | $225,168 | $383,722 | $510,182 | $675,858 | $915,956 |
| Interest | $6,016 | $5,264 | $4,512 | $3,760 | $3,008 |
| Pre Tax Income | $219,152 | $378,458 | $505,670 | $672,098 | $912,948 |
| Income Tax Expense | $76,703 | $132,460 | $176,985 | $235,234 | $319,532 |
| Net Income | $142,449 | $245,998 | $328,686 | $436,864 | $593,416 |
| Net Profit Margin | 25% | 31% | 31% | 32% | 35% |
II. Company Overview
Who is [Company Name]?
[Company Name], located in [insert location here] is a newly established horse boarding company that will provide full-care horse boarding services. The company will also offer horse training and horseback riding lessons. [Company Name] aims to be the premier horse boarding company in the area providing the highest quality care and best customer service around.
[Company Name]’s most valuable asset is the expertise and experience of its founder, [Founder’s Name]. [First name] has been in the horse boarding business for the past 20 years. During this time she developed a deep understanding of the horse boarding industry.
[Company name] will also have an experienced assistant manager who will be trained in handling the administrative tasks of the business. The desired individual will have an undergraduate business degree and years of management experience. [Company name] will also employ certified horse trainers, experienced horseback riding instructors, and an on-call veterinarian in case of medical emergencies.
[Company Name]’s History
[Founder] began researching what it would take to create her own horse boarding company and did a thorough analysis on the costs, market, demographics, and competition. [Founder] has compiled enough information to develop her business plan in order to approach investors.
Once her market analysis was complete, [Founder’s Name] began surveying the local available ranch property and located an ideal location for an equestrian facility. [Founder’s Name] incorporated [Company Name] as a Limited Liability Corporation on [date of incorporation].
Once the sale is finalized on the property, construction can begin to build-out the stable and ancillary facilities.
Since incorporation, the Company has achieved the following milestones:
- Located available equestrian space for sale that is ideal for a full-care horse boarding business.
- Developed the Company’s name, logo, and website located at [website].
- Hired a general contractor for the build-out of the stable and facilities.
- Determined equipment and necessary supplies.
- Began recruiting key employees with previous horse boarding, horse training, and horseback riding instruction experience.
[Company Name]’s Products/Services
Below are [Company Name]’s product and service offerings:
Monthly boarding fees include all of the following products and services:
- Designated Stall with hay and shavings
- Food & Water
- Daily Feeding
- Grooming
- Pasture Access
- Stall Cleaning
- Exercising
- Veterinary Visits (customer pays for vet fees)
- Supplement & Medication Administration
- Horse Training
- Riding Lessons
III. Industry Analysis
Horse boarding is part of the wider equestrian market. The U.S. equestrian market is a $102 billion industry. This industry is segmented into competition horse ownership ($28.3 billion) and recreation horse ownership ($18 billion).
There are 9.2 million commercial and recreational horses in the United States and 28 million people who consider themselves horse enthusiasts. Trail and pleasure riding is the most popular activity among recreational horse owners.
In the equestrian market, horse boarding is one of the top revenue generators, followed by riding lessons and horse training. Recreational horse owners spend around $8,000 per year on horse care such as veterinary visits, grooming, medicine, leather care, boarding fees (52% of spending is on boarding fees), bridles, straps, hoof treatments, and saddles.
Industry operators can compete effectively by providing top notch service and quality care for their customers’ horses. Customers are typically willing to pay more for quality service they can depend on when it comes to care for their horses.
IV. Customer Analysis
Demographic Profile of Target Market
[Company Name] will serve the horse owners in the community of [company location] and its surrounding areas.
The community of [company location] has a growing number of recreational horse owners. Horseback riding is becoming a popular past-time for both children and adults in the area. The area is also populated mostly by moderate to wealthy individuals who lead busy lifestyles; as a result, they have both the need for horse boarding services and the means to pay for it.
Customer Segmentation
The Company will primarily target the following three customer segments:
- Moderate to Wealthy Homeowners: The area in which the Company will operate has a significant population of homeowners. Many homeowners have or want horses as their pets, but have limited space to care for them effectively.
- Wealthy Renters: Many wealthy singles and couples would like to own a horse, but are not allowed or have no space to keep one on their rental property.
- Adults & Families with Busy Lifestyles: Many people would like to own a horse, but do not have the time or means to care for them properly. The Company will also cater to these customers.
V. Competitive Analysis
Direct & Indirect Competitors
The following businesses are located within a 30-mile radius of [Company Name], thus providing either direct or indirect competition for customers:
Country Horse Ranch
Country Horse Ranch is a horse boarding company in [location]. In business for over 35 years, Country Horse Ranch is well known in the community. The stable offers self-care boarding which includes a monthly rental fee for a basic stall. The customers are responsible for all feeding, care, and grooming for their own horses. Horse owners who have specific requirements for their horses and want to take a hands-on approach to horse care prefer this facility because it is one of the cheapest options available. The stable fee includes access to the riding trails available on the company’s large horse ranch.
This company does not offer horse training or horseback riding lessons.
Fanny’s Full Service Horse Stables
Fanny’s Full Service Horse Stables is a local full-care boarding facility. The company charges a boarding fee by the week or the month, so customers can choose to board their horses on a short-or-long-term basis. Fanny’s provides all the necessary horse care supplies and equipment and is ideal for customers who are looking for a hands-off approach to horse ownership. The boarding fees include pasture access and daily grooming and exercise sessions with experienced farmhands.
While this company offers many of the same services as [Company Name], it does not offer horse training or horseback riding lessons, which is something that many locals have requested. Additionally, the company’s customer service is lacking according to many customer reviews.
Hilly Land Horse Boarding
Founded in 1975, Hilly Land Horse Boarding is also a local horse boarding company that offers partial care services. The customer is responsible for providing all the supplies their horse will need, but the company will provide the care on a daily basis. This stable is a popular choice for horse owners with busy schedules who still want to use all of their own horse supplies. This company provides boarding services at a moderate price point, making it a popular choice for horse owners who can’t afford a full-care stable. Stable fees include Hilly Land’s pasture access.
This company does not offer riding lessons or horse training.
Competitive Advantage
[Company Name] enjoys several advantages over its competitors. Those advantages include:
- Customer-oriented service: [Company Name] will have a full-time sales manager to keep in contact with customers and answer their everyday questions. [Founder’s Name] realizes the importance of accessibility to her customers, and will further keep in touch with them through weekly newsletters.
- Management: [Founder’s Name] has been extremely successful working in the horse boarding business and will be able to use her previous experience to assure customers of the care that [Company Name] will take to do the job right. Her unique qualifications will serve customers in a much more sophisticated manner than [Company Name]’s competitors.
- Relationships: Having lived in the community for 35 years, [Founder’s Name] knows many of the local leaders, newspapers, and other influences. Furthermore, she will be able to draw from her ties to horse owners from her work in the equestrian industry to develop an initial client base.
- Scope of Services Available: The Company will provide a wider range of services than its competitors. No other horse boarding facility in the area offers horseback riding lessons, horse training, and full-care for a single monthly fee.
VI. Marketing Plan
[Company Name] seeks to position itself as a high-quality source of horse care, horse training, and horseback riding instruction in the equestrian industry. Consumers can expect to receive the best horse care from skilled farmhands in [location] and managed by an experienced horse boarding expert.
The [Company Name] Brand
The [Company Name] brand will focus on the Company’s unique value proposition:
- Customer-focused service that treats each horse individually with excellent care
- Superior, customized service built on long-term relationships
- Proven track record and expertise in the industry
- Full-service boarding that includes care, training, and riding lessons
Promotions Strategy
[Company Name] expects its target market to be horse owners living within a 10-20-mile radius of its location. The Company’s promotion strategy to reach these customers includes:
Social Media
[Company Name] will invest heavily in a social media advertising campaign. The brand manager will create the Company’s social media accounts and invest in ads on all social media platforms. It will use targeted marketing to appeal to the target demographics.
Local Publications
The Company will also invest in advertising in selected local publications until it has achieved significant brand awareness. Advertisements in local newspapers, magazines, and circulars will be a large part of the initial marketing strategy.
Website/SEO
[Company Name] will invest heavily in developing a professional website that displays all of the features and benefits of the company and its facilities. It will also invest heavily in SEO so that the brand’s website will appear at the top of search engine results.
Equestrian Events
[Founder] will visit multiple equestrian events to hand out brochures for the stable. The Company will ask event hosts to keep a handful of brochures on hand and pass them out to their clients. Because the founder is well-known in the industry, she believes the equestrian event organizers will be happy to hand out her brochures.
Sponsorships
[Company Name] will also invest in sponsoring certain equestrian events so that the Company’s banners and collateral material are displayed all over the event where numerous horse owners and enthusiasts will see them.
Referrals
[Company Name] understands that the best promotion comes from satisfied customers. The Company will encourage its customers to refer their friends and neighbors by providing discounts for each new customer produced. This strategy will increase in effectiveness after the business has already been established.
Direct Mail
[Company name] will blanket neighborhoods surrounding its location with direct mail pieces. These pieces will offer discounts and/or provide other incentives for horse owners to use its boarding services.
Pre-Opening Events
Before opening the horse boarding business, [Company Name] will organize pre-opening events such as an open house to draw future consumers to visit the stable and take a tour. When they witness the spacious stables, range of riding trails, and beautiful pastures, they will be more likely to board their horses at the facility.
Pricing Strategy
[Company Name]’s pricing will be premium due to the higher quality of its services over its competitors. Customers will be confident in the quality of care their horses will receive when purchasing the Company’s boarding services.
VII. Operations Plan
Functional Roles
[Company Name] will carry out its day-to-day operations as a horse boarding facility. There will also be numerous administrative functions involved.
In order to execute on [Company Name]’s business model, the Company needs to perform several functions. [Company Name] anticipates using the services of X employees, divided into the following roles.
Service Functions
- Farmhands trained in horse care
- Horse trainers on hand
- Horseback riding instructors on hand
- Assistant manager on duty
- Stable cleaning and maintenance staff
Administrative Functions
- General and administrative functions including legal/compliance, marketing, bookkeeping, etc.
- Hiring and training staff
- Brand management/social media
- Supply and materials procurement
Milestones
The following are a series of steps that lead to the Company’s vision of long-term success. [Company Name] expects to achieve the following milestones in the following [xyz] months:
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| [Date 1] | Finalize lease agreement |
| [Date 2] | Design and build out [Company Name] |
| [Date 3] | Hire and train initial staff |
| [Date 4] | Kickoff of promotional campaign |
| [Date 5] | Launch [Company Name] |
| [Date 6] | Reach break-even |
VIII. Management Team
Management Team Members
[Company Name]’s most valuable asset is the expertise and experience of its founder, [Founder’s Name]. [First name] has been in the horse boarding business for the past 20 years. During this time she developed a deep understanding of the horse boarding industry.
[Company name] will also have an experienced assistant manager who will be trained in handling the administrative tasks of the business. The desired individual will have an undergraduate business degree and years of management experience. [Company name] will also employ certified horse trainers, experienced riding experts, and an on-call veterinarian in case of medical emergencies.
Hiring Plan
[Founder] will serve as the Owner and Manager of [Company Name]. In order to launch, she needs to hire the following personnel:
- Assistant Manager: 1 full-time employee to help manage the day-to-day boarding operations and assist [Founder] with managerial duties.
- Horse Care Staff: 5-6 employees who will work varied schedules to ensure there is always enough staff on hand to care for the horses.
- Horse Trainers: 2-3 (to start) employees who will perform horse training exercises on a regular basis.
- Horseback Riding Instructors: 2-3 (to start) employees who will provide customers with individualized horse riding lessons.
- Office staff: 3-4 employees who will manage the phone calls, scheduling, accounting, marketing, clerical, bookkeeping, billing, and any administrative task required.
- Brand manager: 1 full-time employee who will be responsible for developing and launching the brand; manage the website, and social media accounts.
- Janitorial staff: 2 employees who will clean the stables on a daily basis.
IX. Financial Plan
Revenue and Cost Drivers
[Company Name]’s revenues will come primarily from its horse boarding fees. The company will charge boarding fees on a monthly basis. The boarding fees are all-inclusive.
The boarding facility purchase/build-out, equipment, supplies, and labor expenses will be the key cost drivers of [Company Name]. The major cost drivers for the Company’s operation will consist of:
- Salaries
- Horse boarding supplies and equipment
- Business Insurance
- Mortgage on business location
- Utilities
- Taxes
Ongoing marketing expenditures are also notable cost drivers for [Company Name].
Capital Requirements and Use of Funds
[Company Name] is seeking a total funding of $225,000 of debt capital to open its horse boarding and distribution company. The capital will be used for funding capital expenditures and warehouse build-out, hiring initial employees, marketing and branding expenses, and working capital.
Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:
- Boarding facility design/build-out: $100,000
- Equipment and supplies: $75,000
- Working capital: $50,000 to pay for marketing, salaries, and lease costs until [Company Name] reaches break-even
Key Assumptions
The following table reflects the key revenue and cost assumptions made in the financial model:
| Number of customers per day | |
|---|---|
| FY 1 | 25 |
| FY 2 | 35 |
| FY 3 | 45 |
| FY 4 | 55 |
| FY 5 | 75 |
| Annual Lease ( per location) | $50,000 |
| Yearly Lease Increase % | 2.50% |
5 Year Annual Income Statement
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues | ||||||
| Product/Service A | $151,200 | $333,396 | $367,569 | $405,245 | $446,783 | |
| Product/Service B | $100,800 | $222,264 | $245,046 | $270,163 | $297,855 | |
| Total Revenues | $252,000 | $555,660 | $612,615 | $675,408 | $744,638 | |
| Expenses & Costs | ||||||
| Cost of goods sold | $57,960 | $122,245 | $122,523 | $128,328 | $134,035 | |
| Lease | $60,000 | $61,500 | $63,038 | $64,613 | $66,229 | |
| Marketing | $20,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 | |
| Salaries | $133,890 | $204,030 | $224,943 | $236,190 | $248,000 | |
| Other Expenses | $3,500 | $4,000 | $4,500 | $5,000 | $5,500 | |
| Total Expenses & Costs | $271,850 | $412,775 | $435,504 | $454,131 | $473,263 | |
| EBITDA | ($19,850) | $142,885 | $177,112 | $221,277 | $271,374 | |
| Depreciation | $36,960 | $36,960 | $36,960 | $36,960 | $36,960 | |
| EBIT | ($56,810) | $105,925 | $140,152 | $184,317 | $234,414 | |
| Interest | $23,621 | $20,668 | $17,716 | $14,763 | $11,810 | |
| PRETAX INCOME | ($80,431) | $85,257 | $122,436 | $169,554 | $222,604 | |
| Net Operating Loss | ($80,431) | ($80,431) | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Income Tax Expense | $0 | $1,689 | $42,853 | $59,344 | $77,911 | |
| NET INCOME | ($80,431) | $83,568 | $79,583 | $110,210 | $144,693 | |
| Net Profit Margin (%) | - | 15.00% | 13.00% | 16.30% | 19.40% |
5 Year Annual Balance Sheet
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSETS | ||||||
| Cash | $16,710 | $90,188 | $158,957 | $258,570 | $392,389 | |
| Accounts receivable | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Inventory | $21,000 | $23,153 | $25,526 | $28,142 | $31,027 | |
| Total Current Assets | $37,710 | $113,340 | $184,482 | $286,712 | $423,416 | |
| Fixed assets | $246,450 | $246,450 | $246,450 | $246,450 | $246,450 | |
| Depreciation | $36,960 | $73,920 | $110,880 | $147,840 | $184,800 | |
| Net fixed assets | $209,490 | $172,530 | $135,570 | $98,610 | $61,650 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS | $247,200 | $285,870 | $320,052 | $385,322 | $485,066 | |
| LIABILITIES & EQUITY | ||||||
| Debt | $317,971 | $272,546 | $227,122 | $181,698 | $136,273 | |
| Accounts payable | $9,660 | $10,187 | $10,210 | $10,694 | $11,170 | |
| Total Liabilities | $327,631 | $282,733 | $237,332 | $192,391 | $147,443 | |
| Share Capital | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Retained earnings | ($80,431) | $3,137 | $82,720 | $192,930 | $337,623 | |
| Total Equity | ($80,431) | $3,137 | $82,720 | $192,930 | $337,623 | |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY | $247,200 | $285,870 | $320,052 | $385,322 | $485,066 |
5 Year Annual Cash Flow Statement
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS | |||||
| Net Income (Loss) | ($80,431) | $83,568 | $79,583 | $110,210 | $144,693 |
| Change in working capital | ($11,340) | ($1,625) | ($2,350) | ($2,133) | ($2,409) |
| Depreciation | $36,960 | $36,960 | $36,960 | $36,960 | $36,960 |
| Net Cash Flow from Operations | ($54,811) | $118,902 | $114,193 | $145,037 | $179,244 |
| CASH FLOW FROM INVESTMENTS | |||||
| Investment | ($246,450) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net Cash Flow from Investments | ($246,450) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING | |||||
| Cash from equity | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Cash from debt | $317,971 | ($45,424) | ($45,424) | ($45,424) | ($45,424) |
| Net Cash Flow from Financing | $317,971 | ($45,424) | ($45,424) | ($45,424) | ($45,424) |
| SUMMARY | |||||
| Net Cash Flow | $16,710 | $73,478 | $68,769 | $99,613 | $133,819 |
| Cash at Beginning of Period | $0 | $16,710 | $90,188 | $158,957 | $258,570 |
| Cash at End of Period | $16,710 | $90,188 | $158,957 | $258,570 | $392,389 |
