Horse Boarding Business Plan
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We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Horse Boarding businesses.
Below is a template to help you create each section of your Horse Boarding business plan.
Executive Summary
Business Overview
Medford Stables, located in Medford, Oregon 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. Medford Stables aims to be the premier horse boarding company providing the best horse care and customer service in the area.
Medford Stables’ most valuable asset is the expertise and experience of its founder, Jane Doe. Jane 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 and how to care for horses so they are always in peak health and happiness. She will use her love for horses to create the best horse boarding company in the Medford, Oregon area.
Product Offering
Medford Stables 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
Medford Stables will primarily serve horse owners within a 20 mile radius of our location in Medford, Oregon. The customer segments that are typically horse owners are wealthy residents, rural residents and farmers, and families.
Management Team
Medford Stables’ most valuable asset is the expertise and experience of its founder, Jane Doe. Jane 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 and how to care for horses so they are always in peak health and happiness. She will use her love for horses to create the best horse boarding company in the Medford, Oregon area.
Medford Stables will also have an experienced assistant 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. Medford Stables will also employ certified horse trainers, experienced horseback riding instructors, and an on-call veterinarian in case of medical emergencies.
Success Factors
Medford Stables will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:
- Customer-Oriented Service: Medford Stables will have a full-time assistant to keep in contact with customers and answer their everyday questions. Jane Doe realizes the importance of accessibility to her customers, and will further keep in touch with them through weekly newsletters.
- Management: Jane 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 Medford Stables will take to do the job right. Her unique qualifications will serve customers in a much more sophisticated manner than Medford Stables’ competitors.
- Relationships: Having lived in the community for 35 years, Jane 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.
Download the Horse Boarding business plan template (including a customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Financial Highlights
Medford Stables is seeking a total funding of $425,000 of debt capital to open its horse boarding company. The capital will be used for funding capital expenditures and location build-out, hiring initial employees, marketing expenses, and working capital. Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:
- Boarding facility design/build-out: $100,000
- Equipment and supplies: $75,000
- Three Months Of Overhead Expenses (Rent, Salaries, Utilities): $100,000
- Working Capital: $100,000
- Marketing and Advertising: $50,000
The following graph outlines the pro forma financial projections for Medford Stables.
Company Overview
Who is Medford Stables?
Medford Stables, located in Medford, Oregon 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. Medford Stables aims to be the premier horse boarding company providing the best horse care and customer service in the area.
Medford Stables’ most valuable asset is the expertise and experience of its founder, Jane Doe. Jane 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 and how to care for horses so they are always in peak health and happiness. She will use her love for horses to create the best horse boarding company in the Medford, Oregon area.
Medford Stables’ History
Jane Doe 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. Jane has compiled enough information to develop her business plan in order to approach investors.
Once her market analysis was complete, Jane began surveying the local available ranch property and located an ideal location for an equestrian facility. Jane incorporated Medford Stables as a Limited Liability Corporation on May 1st, 2023.
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.
- 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.
Medford Stables’ Services
Medford Stables 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
Industry Analysis
Horse boarding is part of the wider equestrian market. The U.S. equestrian market is a $122 billion industry. This industry is segmented into competition horse ownership and recreation horse ownership.
There are 7.2 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.
Due to the recovering economy and increased spending on horse and horse-related activities, industry revenue is expected to increase over the next several years. This is a great time to start a new horse boarding company as it is expected that many people will buy and own horses for the first time in the next couple of years.
Download the Horse Boarding business plan template (including a customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Customer Analysis
Demographic Profile of Target Market
Medford Stables will serve the horse owners in the community of Medford, Oregon and its surrounding areas.
The community of Medford 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.
The demographics of Medford, Oregon are as follows:
| Total | Percent | |
|---|---|---|
| Â Â Â Â Total population | 1,680,988 | 100% |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Male | 838,675 | 49.9% |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Female | 842,313 | 50.1% |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 20 to 24 years | 114,872 | 6.8% |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 25 to 34 years | 273,588 | 16.3% |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 35 to 44 years | 235,946 | 14.0% |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 45 to 54 years | 210,256 | 12.5% |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 55 to 59 years | 105,057 | 6.2% |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 60 to 64 years | 87,484 | 5.2% |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 65 to 74 years | 116,878 | 7.0% |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 75 to 84 years | 52,524 | 3.1% |
Customer Segmentation
Medford Stables will primarily target the following customer profile:
- Families
- Rural residents and farmers
- Wealthy horse owners
Competitive Analysis
Direct and Indirect Competitors
Medford Stables will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.
Country Horse Ranch
Country Horse Ranch is a horse boarding company in Medford, Oregon. 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. The 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 Medford Stables, 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. However, the company does not offer riding lessons or horse training.
Download the Horse Boarding business plan template (including a customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Competitive Advantage
Medford Stables offers several advantages over its competition. Those advantages are:
- Customer-Oriented Service: Medford Stables will have a full-time assistant to keep in contact with customers and answer their everyday questions. Jane Doe realizes the importance of accessibility to her customers, and will further keep in touch with them through weekly newsletters.
- Management: Jane 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 Medford Stables will take to do the job right. Her unique qualifications will serve customers in a much more sophisticated manner than Medford Stables’ competitors.
- Relationships: Having lived in the community for 35 years, Jane 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.
Marketing Plan
Brand & Value Proposition
Medford Stables will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:
- 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
The promotions strategy for Medford Stables is as follows:
Social Media
Medford Stables will invest heavily in a social media advertising campaign. Jane 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.
Website/SEO
Medford Stables 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
Jane Doe 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.
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.
Pricing
Medford Stables’ 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.
Operations Plan
The following will be the operations plan for Medford Stables.
Operation Functions:
- Jane Doe will be the Owner and President of the company. She will oversee all staff, manage client relations, and be in charge of the general operations of the company. Jane will spend the next several months hiring the following staff:
- An Administrative Assistant who will oversee all administrative aspects of running the horse boarding company. This will include bookkeeping, tax payments, and payroll of the staff. They will also be available to answer all client questions and concerns.
- Several stable hands to care for the horses and keep the stables clean.
- Several horse instructors to help train the horses.
- Veterinarians who can provide checkups and care for the horses when they are ill or injured.
Download the Horse Boarding business plan template (including a customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Milestones:
Medford Stables aims to achieve the following goals in the next six months.
- 6/202X – Finalize lease agreement
- 7/202X – Design and build out Medford Stables office
- 8/202X – Hire and train initial staff
- 9/202X – Kickoff of promotional campaign
- 10/202X – Reach break-even
- 11/202X – Reach 20 ongoing clients
Management Team
Medford Stables’ most valuable asset is the expertise and experience of its founder, Jane Doe. Jane 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 and how to care for horses so they are always in peak health and happiness. She will use her love for horses to create the best horse boarding company in the Medford, Oregon area.
Medford Stables will also have an experienced assistant 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. Medford Stables will also employ certified horse trainers, experienced horseback riding instructors, and an on-call veterinarian in case of medical emergencies.
Financial Plan
Key Revenue & Costs
Medford Stables’ 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 Medford Stables. Ongoing marketing expenditures are also notable cost drivers for Medford Stables.
Funding Requirements and Use of Funds
Medford Stables is seeking a total funding of $425,000 of debt capital to open its horse boarding company. The capital will be used for funding capital expenditures and location build-out, hiring initial employees, marketing expenses, and working capital. Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:
- Boarding facility design/build-out: $100,000
- Equipment and supplies: $75,000
- Three Months Of Overhead Expenses (Rent, Salaries, Utilities): $100,000
- Working Capital: $100,000
- Marketing and Advertising: $50,000
Download the Horse Boarding business plan template (including a customizable financial model) to your computer here <–
Key Assumptions
The following table outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and pay off the business loan.
- Number of clients per month
- Year 1: 20
- Year 2: 30
- Year 3: 40
- Year 4: 55
- Year 5: 75
Financial Projections
Income Statement
| FY 1 | FY 2 | FY 3 | FY 4 | FY 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues | ||||||
| Total Revenues | $360,000 | $793,728 | $875,006 | $964,606 | $1,063,382 | |
| Expenses & Costs | ||||||
| Cost of goods sold | $64,800 | $142,871 | $157,501 | $173,629 | $191,409 | |
| Lease | $50,000 | $51,250 | $52,531 | $53,845 | $55,191 | |
| Marketing | $10,000 | $8,000 | $8,000 | $8,000 | $8,000 | |
| Salaries | $157,015 | $214,030 | $235,968 | $247,766 | $260,155 | |
| Initial expenditure | $10,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Total Expenses & Costs | $291,815 | $416,151 | $454,000 | $483,240 | $514,754 | |
| EBITDA | $68,185 | $377,577 | $421,005 | $481,366 | $548,628 | |
| Depreciation | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | |
| EBIT | $41,025 | $350,417 | $393,845 | $454,206 | $521,468 | |
| Interest | $23,462 | $20,529 | $17,596 | $14,664 | $11,731 | |
| PRETAX INCOME | $17,563 | $329,888 | $376,249 | $439,543 | $509,737 | |
| Net Operating Loss | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Use of Net Operating Loss | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Taxable Income | $17,563 | $329,888 | $376,249 | $439,543 | $509,737 | |
| Income Tax Expense | $6,147 | $115,461 | $131,687 | $153,840 | $178,408 | |
| NET INCOME | $11,416 | $214,427 | $244,562 | $285,703 | $331,329 |
Balance Sheet
| FY 1 | FY 2 | FY 3 | FY 4 | FY 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSETS | ||||||
| Cash | $154,257 | $348,760 | $573,195 | $838,550 | $1,149,286 | |
| Accounts receivable | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Inventory | $30,000 | $33,072 | $36,459 | $40,192 | $44,308 | |
| Total Current Assets | $184,257 | $381,832 | $609,654 | $878,742 | $1,193,594 | |
| Fixed assets | $180,950 | $180,950 | $180,950 | $180,950 | $180,950 | |
| Depreciation | $27,160 | $54,320 | $81,480 | $108,640 | $135,800 | |
| Net fixed assets | $153,790 | $126,630 | $99,470 | $72,310 | $45,150 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS | $338,047 | $508,462 | $709,124 | $951,052 | $1,238,744 | |
| LIABILITIES & EQUITY | ||||||
| Debt | $315,831 | $270,713 | $225,594 | $180,475 | $135,356 | |
| Accounts payable | $10,800 | $11,906 | $13,125 | $14,469 | $15,951 | |
| Total Liability | $326,631 | $282,618 | $238,719 | $194,944 | $151,307 | |
| Share Capital | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Retained earnings | $11,416 | $225,843 | $470,405 | $756,108 | $1,087,437 | |
| Total Equity | $11,416 | $225,843 | $470,405 | $756,108 | $1,087,437 | |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY | $338,047 | $508,462 | $709,124 | $951,052 | $1,238,744 |
Cash Flow Statement
| FY 1 | FY 2 | FY 3 | FY 4 | FY 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS | ||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $11,416 | $214,427 | $244,562 | $285,703 | $331,329 | |
| Change in working capital | ($19,200) | ($1,966) | ($2,167) | ($2,389) | ($2,634) | |
| Depreciation | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | $27,160 | |
| Net Cash Flow from Operations | $19,376 | $239,621 | $269,554 | $310,473 | $355,855 | |
| CASH FLOW FROM INVESTMENTS | ||||||
| Investment | ($180,950) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Net Cash Flow from Investments | ($180,950) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING | ||||||
| Cash from equity | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| Cash from debt | $315,831 | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | |
| Net Cash Flow from Financing | $315,831 | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | ($45,119) | |
| Net Cash Flow | $154,257 | $194,502 | $224,436 | $265,355 | $310,736 | |
| Cash at Beginning of Period | $0 | $154,257 | $348,760 | $573,195 | $838,550 | |
| Cash at End of Period | $154,257 | $348,760 | $573,195 | $838,550 | $1,149,286 |
Horse Boarding Business Plan FAQs
What Is a Horse Boarding Business Plan?
A horse boarding business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your horse boarding business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.
What are the Main Types of Horse Boarding Businesses?
There are a number of different kinds of horse boarding businesses, some examples include: Full Boarding, Pasture Boarding, and Self-Care Boarding.
How Do You Get Funding for Your Horse Boarding Business Plan?
Horse Boarding businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.
What are the Steps To Start a Horse Boarding Business?
Starting a horse boarding business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.
1. Develop A Horse Boarding Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed horse boarding business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.Â
2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your horse boarding business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your horse boarding business is in compliance with local laws.
3. Register Your Horse Boarding Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your horse boarding business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.
4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your horse boarding business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.
5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.
6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.
7. Acquire Necessary Horse Boarding Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your horse boarding business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation.
8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your horse boarding business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.Â
Learn more about how to start a successful horse boarding business: