AAU / Youth Sports Club Team

Words in [brackets] are blanks you fill in with your own details when you adopt this sample in Supreme Plan AI.

Executive Summary

Rising Stars Basketball Club is a youth basketball club in our city and the nearby suburbs. We field teams by age group, train players year-round and compete in tournaments, with a focus on skills, character and fun. Young athletes want real coaching and real competition, and families want a club that is honest about costs, playing time and what it takes to improve. Many clubs overpromise on college scholarships, hide fees or ignore safety. We will win families by being open about costs, honest about development and committed to every player. Here is what our numbers show. We expect sales of about $92,800 in Year 1, growing to about $373,200 by Year 5 as we add teams, coaches and training programs. We expect losses of about $46,600 in Year 1, $36,900 in Year 2 and $8,200 in Year 3 while we build our customer base, then a profit from Year 4 (about $19,000), growing to about $31,000 by Year 5. We need $118,500 in total. That covers $21,400 in startup costs (training equipment, uniforms, league membership and background checks, insurance, waivers, a registration website and a gym deposit) and a cash cushion of about three months of bills. I am putting in $12,000 of my own money, and I am asking for $92,000 as an SBA 7(a) loan, plus $14,500 from an investor or partner. I will rent gyms for practices and travel in my own vehicle, so no building or van purchase is needed. I am Elena Patel, the owner. These numbers are estimates based on the assumptions listed at the end of this plan, not promises.

Company Description

Rising Stars Basketball Club will be a limited liability company (LLC) in Oregon, owned by Elena Patel. We will work from my home, with equipment stored in my garage and practices in a rented gym. What we believe. Develop every player, be open about costs and playing time, keep every child safe and make sure it is fun. What we offer:
- Competitive teams by age group. - Year-round skills training. - Tournaments and travel. - Camps and clinics. - Family education on development, recruiting and character. Licenses and insurance. Youth sports clubs need a business license, liability and accident insurance, and a safe-sport policy. Coaches and volunteers pass background checks and complete safety training, and many clubs join a league or association such as AAU that sets rules and provides insurance. AAU membership requires background checks and safe-sport training for coaches. We use written agreements that list fees, refund rules and playing time expectations, require waivers for every player and make no promises about scholarships or college recruitment. Where things stand today. I have coached youth basketball for ten years, I have run a small team for two seasons and I have a gym rental agreement.

Problem & Opportunity

Families near us want a youth club that develops players and treats them fairly. 1. Hidden costs. Fees for travel, uniforms and tournaments add up. 2. Little development. Some clubs focus on winning, not on improving players. 3. Unrealistic promises. Many families are told their child will get a scholarship. 4. Safety gaps. Some clubs skip background checks and safety plans. How we know people want this. My small team had 28 players try out for 12 spots, and parents asked for more teams.

Products & Services

What we sell. 1. Player registration fees. A season fee for each player on a team. Our plan assumes an average of about $1,450 per player in Year 1, rising to about $1,625 by Year 5. Uniforms, tournaments and direct costs run about $550 per player. We expect about 45 players in Year 1, growing to about 157 a year by Year 5. 2. Skills training programs. Training packages open to club and non-club players. Our plan assumes an average of about $230 per package in Year 1, rising to about $255. Direct costs run about $70 per package. We expect about 120 packages in Year 1, growing to about 463. Our prices. Season fee $1,450 per player. Skills training package $230 for eight sessions. How it works for the customer:
1. An open tryout or evaluation, with clear information on fees. 2. A written agreement that lists costs, schedules and expectations. 3. Regular practices, games and tournaments with trained coaches. 4. Parent updates and a player development plan. Gross margin, explained. "Gross margin" is the share of each sale left after paying for materials and direct job costs. Our plan shows about 64% in Year 1. That money pays the owner and crew, vehicle costs, insurance and other bills.

Market Analysis

Who will hire us:
- Players ages 8 to 17 who want more competition. - Parents who want a well-run, honest club. - Players who want extra skills training. - Local businesses that want to sponsor a team. Where we will work. Practices in gyms in two school gyms and a recreation center within 20 minutes of my home, and tournaments across the region. Season. Club seasons run most of the year, with the main season in the fall, winter and spring. Summer is for camps, training and tournaments. Our plan is careful on purpose. About 45 players in Year 1 is about five teams, which the owner can coach well, with more coaches added in Year 2 and later.

Competitive Landscape

Other choices customers have:
1. Other clubs. Elite Hoops Club (a made-up name) charges about $1,800 a season; known for winning, but high fees and little playing time. 2. School teams. Free, but limited roster spots. 3. Recreation leagues. Cheap, but less competitive. How we will win customers: honest communication, real coaching, fair prices and a safe, positive environment.

Marketing & Sales Strategy

How people will find us. - A simple website with tryouts, schedules and online registration. - Social media posts with highlights, with permission from families. - Relationships with schools, recreation centers and coaches. - Free clinics and open gyms to meet new players. - Asking every family for feedback and referrals. Marketing budget. Marketing is part of the facility and uniform budget. The brand, website and online registration are paid for from startup costs.

Operations Plan

How the business runs day to day. Teams and seasons. The owner coaches, schedules practices and tournaments and manages the club. In Year 1 the owner coaches alone with volunteer help. We add two age-group coaches in Year 2 and grow to seven by Year 5. Each team has a schedule, a roster, a budget and a communication plan for parents. Equipment. About $8,000 to start: basketballs and training equipment; portable hoops and cones; scoreboard and timers; tablet and video analysis equipment; first aid and ice equipment; equipment bags. We set aside about $2,000 to $3,000 a year for repairs and replacements. Upkeep. Equipment inventoried after each season, gym rental agreements kept current and coaches' background checks and training renewed. Safety. Background checks and safety training for every coach and volunteer, a policy against one-on-one contact between adults and players, medical forms and a plan for emergencies, heat and injuries. Running costs in Year 1: tournament travel and entry fees about $22,000, facility rental about $14,000, uniforms and equipment about $9,000. Scheduling and billing. Online registration and payment, with families billed in three installments.

Management & Organization

Who runs the business. Elena Patel, owner. As owner I will coach, schedule teams, manage tournaments, talk with families and handle the money side of the business. I plan to pay myself $48,000 a year in salary in Year 1. Crew. Age-group coaches at about $12,000 a year each (or part-time pay): none in Year 1, two in Year 2, three in Year 3, four in Year 4 and seven in Year 5. People who will help us: a bookkeeper or tax preparer, an insurance agent, and a free mentor from SCORE or the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Rachel Walker serves as a key volunteer advisor.

Milestones Narrative

Our goals and when we plan to reach them. - Before starting: register the business, join a league, get insurance, rent a gym, build the registration website and hold tryouts. Target start: September 2027. - First year: field about five teams with about 45 players and 120 training packages, for about $92,800 in sales. - Year 2: add age-group coaches, about $149,100 in sales, and a loss of about $36,900. - Years 3 to 5: grow to seven age-group coaches and about $373,200 in sales by Year 5. Growth depends on hiring good people and winning the work, so treat the later years as goals, not promises. What we check every week: attendance, payments, injuries, coach feedback, and cash in the bank.

Funding Request

How much we need and how we will use it. Total needed: $118,500. The Funding Need Calculator in this plan shows a minimum, and we plan to raise a little more than that so the loan payments in the early years are also covered. The calculator's number adds up: - Startup costs of $21,400, listed item by item in the Startup Costs section (about $8,000 for balls, hoops, timers, video equipment and first aid, $4,000 for the first order of uniforms and warm-ups, $1,500 for league membership and background check fees, $2,500 for the first insurance payment, $900 for waivers, agreements and bookkeeping, $2,500 for the brand, website and online registration, and $2,000 for the gym rental deposit). - A cash cushion of about $97,100: the deepest cash dip in the early months plus about three months of bills, so slow weeks do not put the business at risk. Lenders call this "working capital." - Together that comes to about $104,000 (rounded up to the nearest $500), which is the minimum the calculator shows. We are planning for $118,500, which adds room for the early loan payments. Where the money comes from: - My own money: $12,000. - Amount requested: $92,000. - From an investor or partner: $14,500. Kind of funding we are looking for: an SBA 7(a) loan through a local bank or community lender, plus investor or partner money, which is not paid back with interest but gives that person a share of the business. How we will pay it back. We expect losses of about $46,600 in Year 1, $36,900 in Year 2 and $8,200 in Year 3 while we build our customer base, then a profit from Year 4 (about $19,000), growing to about $31,000 by Year 5. With this funding, the business has money in the bank every year of the plan. The loan is planned at 12.75% interest over 10 years, the most the SBA allows for a loan this size, so payments of about $1,360 a month are already included in our cash flow. What we are offering the lender: our equipment and my personal guarantee A smaller first step, if needed. If we cannot raise the full amount right away, we can start smaller and grow into this plan: - Phase 1: start with one team and a small training group at a rented gym, while keeping your current job. Startup can be under $2,500. - Phase 2: once you have more players than you can handle part-time, add teams, coaches and tournaments and follow this plan. To plan the smaller start, make a copy of this plan (use Duplicate) and lower the numbers to match. All numbers in this plan are estimates. We will update them as real results come in.

Appendix Notes

Documents to attach before you send this plan:

- Your resume (one page is fine) and any licenses or certificates. - A personal financial statement (a list of what you own and what you owe; lenders usually provide a form). - Business registration papers and your EIN (your business tax number from the IRS, free at irs.gov). - Proof of insurance, or a quote. - Your league or association membership. - A sample fee schedule, parent agreement and safety policy. - Your coaches' background checks and certifications. If you don't have any of this yet, no worries - let's continue. The assumptions behind our numbers (change them in the Financials section to match your own):
- Player Registration Fees: about $1,450 per player in Year 1, rising to $1,625; about $550 per player in direct costs; about 45 players in Year 1, growing to 157. - Skills Training Program Fees: about $230 per training package in Year 1, rising to $255; about $70 per training package in direct costs; about 120 training packages in Year 1, growing to 463. - Owner salary: $48,000 a year. Crew: $12,000 a year each, from none in Year 1 to seven in Year 5. - Other yearly costs in Year 1: tournament travel and entry fees about $22,000, facility rental about $14,000, uniforms and equipment about $9,000. - Tax rate: 21%. - Every dollar amount is an estimate. Replace them with your own quotes and research.

Startup Costs