Opening an Outdoor Activity Center?
How to Write an Outdoor Activity Center Business Plan (FAST)
Step by Step
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Case Study
If you’re looking to set up a new venture in the outdoor recreational/sports industry, this detailed Outdoor Activity Center business plan is a great place to start.
Our Team at EntrepreneursGateway.com have left no stone unturned in putting together this detailed business plan example.
Bottom Line…
If you’re looking for help and guidance on writing an Outdoor Activity Center business plan…
Then you’ll love this!
#1 Activity Centre Business Plan
Executive Summary Section
The Executive Summary section of your business plan outlines what your business does. It summarizes the company’s key points and introduces the rest of the business plan content.
Remember!
The Executive Summary is incredibly important because it might be the only section a busy person reads; so it should always include:
- Who the company is – In the Company section of the executive summary, we’ve talked about the key staff member and the expertise and experience he brings to the table, as well as the proposed project and the opportunities it will bring to the local area.
- What we sell – What the problem is and how your business will solve it.
- Target Market – Who your customers are going to be.
Check it out and feel free to lift any of it that you want.
SUMMARY
Who We Are
My name is Mr Activity, Director of Activities R Us Activity Centre. My home and the surrounding area is where I will operate the business. My premises are situated next to Lake Erie in North America. The Lake is approx. 7 miles long and nestles in beautiful surrounding scenic beauty and is steeped in history and myths. The area at the top of the lake is one of the few barren areas left in Canada with approx. 25 miles’ square area which has no human habitation what so ever. The lake is a free lake, which can be fished for Brown Trout, Perch and Char for free.
What We Sell
We aim to provide most outdoor and adventure pursuits such as hill walking, fishing, archery, clay pigeon shooting, canoeing, wind surfing, boat fishing (fly fishing), mountain and quad biking, orienteering, bird watching, star gazing, water balling, basic camping and glamping for 2, 3 or 4 days.
Who We Sell To
Our audience will be corporate groups, families from the Armed Forces, youth groups, schools, individuals as well as tourists either from USA or overseas and stag and hen parties.
Investment Opportunity
Activities R Us is seeking investment of $650,000 for a new site at Lake Erie. The investment required is to purchase 2 houses and an outbuilding to create accommodation blocks and cabins to house up to 60 people at any one time. Customers can then experience all the outdoor pursuits on offer while staying in comfort.
This beautiful area with breath-taking views and surroundings is situated in one of the last remote places of North America which is easily accessible by road.
The scenic beauty combined with life-long experiences in outdoor pursuits and activities has the potential of being a leading resort throughout
The investment will be secured on property and allows working capital to purchase all requirements of equipment and goods to ensure a quick turn into profit from a start-up company. This fantastic offer will go from strength to strength with the right marketing and management; and Activities R Us would be open to any input that could be provided to ensuring success through your investment.
The #Executive #Summary outlines what your business does, summarizes your key points, and prepares investors for the rest of your #businessplan. It’s vital you provide a solid case for your business idea, which is why your #executive #summary is so important!
#2 Activity Centre Business Plan
Company Profile Section
The Company Profile in your Outdoor Activity Center Business Plan is also known as the Company Description.
If it’s well written, your potential investors will find easy to understand your business model, your mission and goals, and how it’s going to meet the needs of your target market.
So whether it’s an activity center business plan, an indoor playground business plan or a soft play business plan that you’re after, we hope you find the following information useful.
For the purpose of this business plan, we’ve included the following:
- The Company and Management Team
- Location and Facilities
- Mission Statement
- Objectives
Let’s go…
COMPANY
Company Overview
This is a startup company, although formed a few years ago. Due to other business interests, it has been put on the back burner. The premises is owned by myself and Mrs Activity, my partner for 23 years. We have a daughter of 19 years who can also assist in operations.
Management Team
I am Mr Activity, and am presently serving as a Director of our family-owned company, which serves the whole of Canada for training purposes. I have been employed within the family businesses in many roles from Directing, Administrating, Supervision and Sales for approx. 26 years.
Mr Fitness is my father, and is acting as advisor. He has a wealth of knowledge having been in charge of many companies over the past 40 years. His portfolio of companies ranges from Security, Training, Property, Public Houses, Bookmakers, Welding Factories, and Clubs.
Having served Canada for training purposes, we have trained our staff to oversee the project. This therefore puts us in a prime position as we have a bank of qualified trainers who are available to assist us with this venture.
Locations and Facilities
Activities R Us is located at Lake Erie, Canada
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is situated approximately 5 miles from the village of Little Erie. It is approximately 7 miles long and 1 mile broad at its widest. The Lake is steeped in history and Myths.
Lake Erie Castle is believed to have been erected in the 13th century. The Castle, which was located in the middle of the Lake survived assaults by the Army and is believed to have been one of the last resting places of a queen on her journey from America to be exiled in Canada.
The castle was moved to the shores of the Lake as the Lake was raised to provide Hydro-Power. This was achieved by building a dam at the foot of the Lake. Many other stories and myths exist about the Lake and will be freely available in our brochures promoting the Centre.
Mission Statement
To deliver quality and professional performances at all times and always ensure that our customers requirements are met. We believe that communication is key in business and that one should never underestimate an understanding. Health and Safety measures are also always paramount. With civility, honesty and performance we can nurture the acorn to the oak tree.
A #mission #statement is a short statement of an organization's purpose and shows the goal of its operations: what kind of product or service it provides, its primary customers or market, and its geographical region of operation.
#3 Activity Center Business Plan
Products & Services Section
The Products and Services section needs to be much more than simply a list of what your new business is going to provide.
This is especially important if you’re looking to get funding; so make sure that you showcase the value, the quality, and the benefits of your business.
Ask yourself:
- What sets you apart from your competitors?
- Why would people come to you as opposed to your competitors?
Here’s the example.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Activities R Us Activity Centre will offer all kinds of outdoor adventure pursuits such as quad biking, mountain biking, archery, clay shooting, sailing, kayaking, fishing boat fly fishing, fishing shore, orienteering, basic camping and fishing skills, bird watching, star gazing, hill walking, zorbing and mountain balling.
Quad Biking
The participants will feel the adrenaline flow as they ride the quads down the trails through the forest, hillsides, open fields and rough terrain.
Mountain Biking
Riding a bike through mountains and hillsides while admiring the beauty of the surroundings. There are trails of varying levels of difficulty for people all ages (recommended for children aged 7 and upwards) and skills. It’s an effective and enjoyable way of working on your stamina, coordination, and fitness.
Archery
The participants will have a chance to try their hand at this ancient skill. As a one-time experience, it can be great fun and a way to check your focus, balance, and mental fitness.
Clay Shooting
It is suitable for both men and women, adults and youngsters (14 and upwards) of all skill levels. Depending on th package, the participants will shoot at a varying number of targets.
Sailing
There are several courses and packages to choose from, aimed at both advanced sailors and newbies. The proximity of the Lake Erie makes our center a perfect place to start with the adventure of sailing. We provide a number of all kinds of boats including lasers and toppers.
Kayaking
It’s a perfect activity to improve your fitness and stamina, as well as admiring the beautiful views and sinking in the wonderful atmosphere of Lake Erie. We are providing the paddlers with an opportunity to learn all they need to enjoy the experience and improve upon their skills.
Hill Walking
This is by far one of the best ways to experience the natural beauty of the area, with networks of paths providing access to a range of environments.
Fishing Shore
Anyone who wants to fish can learn how. Shore fishing is an enjoyable sport for the whole family. It provides quality time with the added excitement of feeling a bite on your line.
Orienteering
Orienteering is an exciting outdoor adventure sport which involves walking or running whilst navigating around a course using a detailed map and sometimes a compass. The aim is to navigate in sequence between a set of control points and decide the best route to complete the course in the quickest time. It does not matter how young, old or fit you are, as you can run, walk or jog the course and progress at your own pace.
Bird Watching
Canada is a fantastic destination for birders, with a wealth of specialty species and an ever changing avifauna to match the seasons.
Stargazing
The night skies here are some of the best in the world, equal to dark sky in Arizona. With countless stars and the Milky Way stretching from horizon to horizon, shooting stars, planets, comets, and the Northern Lights are all visible.
Zorbing and Mountain Balling
Sphering (AKA Zorbing) is right at the heart of adventure. Bounce down a hill in a massive inflatable ball with you secured inside! Seriously good fun!
Basic Camping and Fishing Skills
We cater to beginners as well, and welcome all ages and abilities.
COMPETITORS
While the popularity of outdoor activity centers is on the rise all over the US, there is no direct competition that is situated within a close proximity of Lake Erie.
There are two competitors in Canada, which are Active Mania and Outdoor Pursuits. However, they are situated in different areas in Canada and do not pose an immediate threat.
Product & Service Development
At the moment, we are planning to purchase or lease 6 luxury cabins near Lake Erie. These will be 10-metre square wooden camping cabins of hexagonal shape, able to accommodate between 2-6 people.
With time, we are hoping to be able to develop and increase the number of accommodation services and increase the turnover.
Technology
This is a family business endeavor and initially we are planning to use the help of Mr Activity’s father, Mr Fitness. All the administration and marketing activities will be dealt with from his company office
#4 Activity Center Business
Plan
Situation & Market Analysis Section
This section of a business plan is very often glossed over because, more often than not, the business owner is so involved within their business that it doesn’t occur to them that they can learn something by writing this down!
This section is one of the most important aspects of your Activity Center marketing plan.
In fact, it defines where you are currently in terms of your market, product, customer, and competition. It also allows you to look at both internal and external factors and to review and document the strengths and weaknesses of your business, as well as identifying any opportunities and threats within your marketplace.
It can include:
- Market Overview
- Market Needs
- Market Trends
- Market Growth
- Industry Analysis
- Key Customers
- SWOT analysis
Here’s the example.
TARGET MARKET
Market Overview
Our product appeals to all ages and genders, individual and group clients, families and corporate teams.
Market Needs
Adventure excitement experience, meet new friends and learn new pursuits. Enjoyable way for weight loss and skills.
The demand for outdoor activity centers continues to rise with more and more people looking for engaging and thrilling ways to spend their leisure time. People are increasingly interested in various survival academies, wilderness courses and extreme adventure camps, as evidenced by the popularity of adventurers like Bear Grylls.
Our activity center can also cater for the needs of solders coming home from military operations and missions. Taking part in outdoor activities is a perfect way to wind down, deal with stress and release pent-up energy.
Outdoor activities are also a perfect solution to people who are trying to lose weight and get in shape, but are bored with standard gym routine and mundane exercises. Our offer will give them a wide range of activities to choose from that will both give them a good workout and provide some challenge and excitement.
Your #Market #Analysis section of a business plan is one of the most important aspects of your marketing plan. It defines where you are currently in terms of your market, product, customer and competition. Check out this example in our #BusinessPlan!
Market Trends
Nowadays people are more afraid to travel to the Continent or any further because of the unstable situation and rise of terrorism, bombing attacks, suicide bombers. In the past the attacks were less frequent, and they were primarily limited to certain regions of conflict, but now it’s more unpredictable.
The attacks mean that people tend to avoid certain regions, change destinations; e.g. France used to be one of the most frequently visited holiday destination in Europe, but as a result of the recent attacks in Paris, the occupancy rate at hotels dropped significantly to 67% (The Nice incident probably had a similar effect). The same could be said about other once popular destinations, such as Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia.
Unsurprisingly, the trend is also visible in the US. American holidaymakers tended to choose “safer” options. A survey conducted by Travelzoo found that approximately 1 in 3 travelers from the US perceives the safety of their holiday destination as the most important factor when choosing where to go.
Market Growth
It is a high-growth business area in which investors will be interested. There are numerous tourist companies that are buying businesses like this to offer holidays.
We would like to work in conjunction with Forestry Commission to build our brand and help preserve the unique nature of the area, as we believe that location in a barren area with unspoiled surroundings is one of our biggest assets.
We are also interested in cooperation with Visit Canada, as we are planning to apply for their funding program aimed at tourism businesses supporting the development of local tourism.
Industry Analysis
In our industry, reputation is extremely crucial. There are many companies offering similar attractions, as the popularity of various survival and extreme adventure camps is on the rise. Therefore we cannot afford bad pressing. It is extremely important to carefully watch the market trends as well as the activity of other players on the market, in order to stay competitive and cater to the needs of the customers.
Our offer will be presented to the public via our website. We are also planning to build our online presence by means of social media channels, such as Facebook and Twitter.
Key Customers
Our offer is aimed at both individual holidaymakers, families, corporate directors interested in all sorts of team building activities. We believe, that the wide range of activities will also appeal to individuals struggling to lose weight, soldiers wanting to wind down after challenging military operations or just anyone interested in sports, wishing to become stronger or more confident.
Engaging in outdoor activities is also a nice idea for an original stag or hen party for people who are fond of active leisure and would like to spend that special day in an unforgettable and thoroughly enjoyable way.
SWOT Analysis
Strengths
Our undeniable strength is the fact that we have no direct competitors in the area. Other major players on the market are operating in other parts of Canada. What is more, we are based in a secluded area, where there aren’t many people living, which is also a plus because more and more people are looking for peace and quiet as they are trying to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city life.
Weaknesses
Our possible weakness is the fact that we do not have a well-established brand name and people do not know about us, nor do they associate Lake Erie area with outdoor activities. We intend to deal with this problem by means of well-prepared promotional activity.
Opportunities
We believe we have the potential to become one of Canada’s premier outdoor activity centers. In order to achieve this, we will start a marketing campaign and advertise on our website and social media channels, as we believe it is the most powerful form of selling your services, and the quickest way to reach masses.
Competitive Edge
We are competing against other activity centers with already established brands, but our main asset is that we are located in a secluded area of outstanding beauty, where no one lives. Through our offer we will be presenting people with an opportunity not only to engage in physical activity, but also to experience nature and admire its unspoilt beauty. And with more and more people being relocated north of Canada, our location gives us a great advantage, as there isn’t any outdoor activity center like this in the area.
#5 Activity Center Business
Plan
Marketing Strategy & Implementation Section
The marketing strategy section of your business plan describes who your customers are going to be and how you plan to communicate to them the services or goods you are offering.
If your potential customers are not made aware of your business, you are not going to stay in business for very long!
Defining a marketing strategy in your business plan highlights your understanding and knowledge and emphasizes what makes your business concept compelling. It also outlines how you plan to attract and maintain a customer/client base.
Ask yourself:
- How are you planning to advertise to your market?
- What is your competitive edge?
- What is your sales strategy?
So, without further ado…
Let’s look at the following example.
STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION
Marketing
Initially, we are planning to focus on promoting the center among the local citizens to gain recognition and popularity. We would like the local schools and business to get interested in our offer. We believe it to be a perfect spot for all kinds of corporate team building events, stag and hen parties or just spending time with your family in an active way. We will also address our offer to the armed forces, as we believe engaging soldiers in such outdoor activities helps them cope with stress and helps them wind down after difficult military operations.
Our website will be the main channel through which we would like to promote the center. We are also planning to use social media channels to provide information about the kinds of activities we offer and possibly build a community of outdoor activity enthusiasts.
Apart from building an online presence, we would like to reach to various councils and tourist information centers.
Milestones
Our first milestone would be the purchase of the 6 accommodation cabins to open the business to the public and start selling our services. The center already has outdoor showers and toilets setup, but we still need to build outdoor cooking facilities.
Afterwards, we will engage in promotional activities to popularize the center and get people interested in coming here and purchasing our services. With time, we are hoping to be able to develop and increase the number of accommodation services as well as increasing the turnover.
Promotional Activity
We will focus primarily on building our online presence through our website and social media channels. Apart from that, we would like to contact all the tourist information centers, government schemes and local authorities to interest them in our offer.
Sales Administration
Giving a good service.
Sales Plan
Our potential clients will be able to browse through our offer on our website and have access to all the relevant information. They will be able to check the availability of the cabins and make bookings.
Strategic Alliances
We are hoping to be able to create a strategic alliance with Visit Canada. The portal provides interesting funding opportunities that could help us develop and market our business.
We would also like to contact Forestry Commission and interest them in cooperating with us to work for the local area.
Exit Strategy
It is anticipated that there will be a refinancing after year 5 and that a multiplier of 7 will be achieved. It is anticipated that bank borrowings of 60% can be injected along with new equity.
The anticipated value is as below.
Ensuring that you have a COMPLETE #financial #plan within your business plan will DOUBLE your chances of #investment and future growth of your business!
#6 Activity Center Business Plan
Financial Section
Ensuring that you have a COMPLETE financial plan within your business plan will DOUBLE your chances of investment as well as the future growth of your business.
A lot of small businesses don’t have a financial plan and it’s essential to your long-term success and business growth.
We’ve listed here the key elements you need to have in a successful financial section:
- Initial Start Up Expenses – Especially if this is a start-up idea, it’s essential that you have a description of what you need for investment purposes.
- Sales Forecast – It’s essential to have an estimate of your monthly sales revenue as well as annual. This helps you understand your business and plan out any marketing and growth strategies.
- Direct cost of sales – Measures the amount of cash the company will have to spend to produce the goods or services sold by the company. The direct cost of sales only includes the expenses directly associated to production.
- Profit and Loss Forecast – This is a statement summarizing the revenues, costs and expenses incurred during a specific period.
- Balance Sheet – This is the financial position of the company and states its assets, liabilities and owners’ equity at a particular point in time. It illustrates the business’s net worth.
- Loan Repayment – This shows the lender or potential investor the act of paying back any monies.
So… Are you ready to look at some figures?
Sales Forecast 2018
Table
Sales Forecast 2018
Graph
Sales Forecast 3 Years
Table
Sales Forecast 3 Years
Personnel Plan
Projected Personnel Plan 3 years
Budget 2018
Budget 2018
Budget for 3 Years
Budget for 3 Years
Profit & Loss 2018
Profit & Loss 2018
Profit & Loss for 3 Years
Profit & Loss for 3 Years
Balance Sheet 2018
Projected Balance Sheet
Cash Flow
Projected Cash Flow
Additional Resources:
To help you even further in creating your business plan, why not check out the following articles? They will help you write the perfect plan to impress:Now, over to you...
Now I’d love to hear from you:
Are you going to start up your own outdoor activity business, or have you recently written a business plan?
We’d love to know what you thought about our outdoor activity business plan example.
Feel free to leave any comments below and I will be sure to answer them as soon as they come in.
