Braided Crown Studio

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

Executive Summary

Braided Crown Studio is a small hair braiding studio in Georgia. We braid and twist hair by appointment, take styles down gently, wash and care for natural hair, and sell a few hair care products. Our clients are women, men and children who want protective styles done by someone who is on time, careful and clean.

The problem is simple. Good braiders are often booked weeks ahead, work from a kitchen or a salon chair with no clear prices, and clients do not know how long a style will take or what it will cost. We give every client a clear price, a set start time, a clean station and a braider who explains what to expect.

Here is what our numbers show. We expect sales of $124,000 in Year 1, growing to $423,060 by Year 5 as we add braiders and build a base of regular clients. We expect a loss of about $1,200 in Year 1 while we build our client list, then a profit from Year 2 (about $23,000), growing to about $46,000 by Year 5.

We need $60,000 in total. That covers $34,400 in startup costs (chairs, stations, supplies, a washer and dryer, the lease deposit, insurance and licenses) and a cash cushion for the first months. I am putting in $15,000 of my own money, and I am asking for a $35,000 SBA loan plus $10,000 from an investor or partner.

I am Monique Hayes, the owner. These numbers are estimates based on the assumptions listed at the end of this plan, not promises.

Company Description

Braided Crown Studio will be a limited liability company (LLC) in Georgia, owned by Monique Hayes. An LLC is a business type that generally keeps your home and savings separate from the business's debts and lawsuits, although a lender may still ask for a personal guarantee. A business attorney or the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) can explain how it works in our state.

What we believe. Protective styles should protect hair and the scalp. We never braid too tight, we say so when a style is not a good idea, and we keep the studio spotless.

What we offer:
- Braiding and twist styles. Box braids, knotless braids, cornrows, twists and similar styles, booked by appointment with a set price for each style and length.
- Takedown, wash and natural hair care. Gentle takedown of an old style, shampoo, deep conditioning and a simple blow dry or air dry, either on its own or before a new style.
- Hair care products and extras. Braiding hair, edge control, oils, bonnets, scarves and hair ties.
- Later, as we grow: kids' braiding days and styles for weddings, proms and photo shoots. The numbers in this plan do not include these.

The space. In Year 1 we will lease a small studio suite of about 1,000 square feet with room for three stations, a shampoo bowl and a waiting area. We budget $19,200 a year ($1,600 a month) for rent and utilities, and the plan assumes this grows about 15% a year as we move to a larger space.

Licenses and insurance. Rules for hair braiding differ a lot from state to state. Some states require a cosmetology or braiding license, some ask for a short registration or training course, and some ask only for a business license. Before I sign a lease I will call the state licensing board and the city or county to learn exactly what applies to me and to every braider I hire, and I will not open or hire until I have the answer in writing. We will register the LLC with the state, get a business license and an EIN (the business tax number from the IRS, free at irs.gov), and carry general liability insurance, property insurance and workers' compensation once we hire. Ask your accountant how sales tax applies to products in your state.

Where things stand today. This plan is my starting point. Before I sign a lease or buy equipment, I will ask at least 20 people who get braids how often they book, what they pay, and what they dislike about their current braider. I will also line up at least 30 people who say they would book with us at our prices. If I cannot, I will change the plan before I spend money.

Problem & Opportunity

Getting braided should not take a whole day of waiting and guessing.

1. Long, unpredictable appointments. A style can take many hours, and clients are often not told how long it will take until they are in the chair.
2. Unclear prices. Prices change with length, size and hair, and clients may find out the total only at the end.
3. Hard to find an opening. Good braiders are often booked weeks ahead, and many take bookings only by text or social media.
4. Comfort and safety. Some clients have been left with tight styles, sore scalps or hair breakage, and some shops are not as clean as they should be.
5. Kids and families. Parents want a place where children are welcome, the chair is comfortable and the style will last through school.
6. Braiders have few good places to work. Many work alone from home or rent a chair with no support for booking, cleaning and payments.

How we will find out if people want this before we spend money. I will talk with at least 20 clients and 5 braiders in our area. I will ask what they pay, how long they wait for an appointment and what they wish were different. Our Year 1 plan needs about 10 braiding appointments a week, so I will ask at least 30 people to say in writing that they would book with us.

Products & Services

What we sell. We have three services and products, each priced simply.

1. Braiding and twist styles. Each style has a posted price by size and length. The plan assumes an average of about $185 per appointment in Year 1, rising to about $205 by Year 5. That price includes the braiding hair for most styles, and clients who bring their own hair get a lower price. Braiding hair, gel, edge control, bands and disposable items cost us about $34 per appointment in Year 1. We expect about 520 appointments in Year 1 (about 10 a week), growing to about 1,600 a year by Year 5.
2. Takedown, wash and natural hair care. We take down old styles, wash, condition and dry the hair. The plan assumes about $55 per visit in Year 1, rising to about $63. Shampoo, conditioner and supplies cost about $6 per visit. We expect about 200 visits in Year 1, growing to about 620.
3. Hair care products and extras. Oils, edge control, bonnets, scarves, extra braiding hair and hair ties. The plan assumes about $24 per item in Year 1, rising to about $28, and about $11 per item in the cost of buying them. We expect about 700 items sold in Year 1, growing to about 2,000.

Our prices. Every client sees one price sheet that lists each style by size and length, the price of takedown and wash, and the deposit. The $185 in this plan is the average we expect across all styles, since small and long styles cost more than medium ones.

How it works for a client:
1. The client books online or by text and pays a deposit that comes off the final price.
2. We send a short message with the style, the expected time, what to bring, and how to prepare the hair.
3. The client arrives at the booked time. We check the scalp, talk about tension and comfort, and confirm the style and price before we start.
4. The braider works at a clean station. We offer breaks, and children can bring a tablet or a book.
5. The client leaves with care instructions and a reminder to book the next visit in about six to eight weeks.

Gross margin, explained. "Gross margin" is the share of each sale left after paying for hair, supplies and the products we sell. Our plan shows about 79% in Year 1. That money pays the braiders, rent, insurance, software and other bills. Pay is counted separately, under payroll.

Market Analysis

Who will use us:
- Women and girls who wear braids and twists regularly and book every few weeks.
- Men and boys who get cornrows, braids or twists.
- Families who book several people on the same day.
- People preparing for a wedding, prom, graduation, trip or photo shoot.

Where we will work. Clients within about 20 to 30 minutes of the studio. Most clients return every six to eight weeks, so the studio's location and parking matter more than almost anything else.

How we sized the plan. Our Year 1 plan needs about 10 braiding appointments a week, plus takedown and wash visits and product sales. That is about 2 appointments on a normal day across the studio. I will check the real number by asking local clients, braiders and beauty shops before spending money.

Season. Back to school, the holidays, spring break and wedding season are the busiest times. The numbers show a yearly average. We plan ahead by opening extra weekend hours, taking deposits early and asking clients to book their next appointment before they leave.

We are careful on purpose. About 520 appointments in Year 1 is a small number for a studio with two braiders, which leaves room for training and for days when someone is out sick.

Competitive Landscape

Other choices clients have:
1. Independent braiders working from home. Prices can be lower, but there is often no set schedule, no clear cleaning routine and no place for children.
2. Full-service hair salons that offer braids. They are clean and professional, but braiding may not be their main skill and the price may be higher.
3. Braiding shops with walk-in service. Convenient, but waits can be long and prices can vary.
4. Mobile braiders who come to the client. Good for convenience, but prices are often higher and the space is not designed for a long appointment.
5. Doing it at home. It costs less, but takes many hours and can damage hair if done wrong.

How we will win clients: clear prices, a set start time, a clean station, a braider who explains the style before starting, a comfortable place for children, and a note on tension and scalp comfort. These are promises we have to keep, and any competitor could make them too, so we will measure ourselves on them every week.

Marketing & Sales Strategy

How clients will find us.
- Instagram, Facebook and TikTok photos and short videos of finished styles, posted with the client's permission, plus a simple website with our price sheet and a booking link.
- A free Google business listing with photos and reviews.
- Referrals. A client who refers a friend gets a discount on her next product purchase, and the friend gets a small discount on her first visit.
- Local partnerships. Hair and beauty supply shops, wedding planners, dance and cheer teams, school events and community centers.
- A launch weekend with models and a few free or low-cost styles to build photos and reviews.

Marketing budget. About $5,200 a year in Year 1 (about $433 a month), growing about 10% a year. The sign, website and photos are paid for from startup costs ($2,400).

Operations Plan

How the business runs day to day.

The space and layout. A front desk and waiting area, three styling stations with comfortable chairs, a shampoo bowl, a small supply closet and a laundry area. Everything is lit, clean and labeled.

A normal day:
1. Opening: wipe down stations, check supplies, and review the day's bookings and deposits.
2. Each braider works from a set schedule with buffer time between appointments, so clients do not wait and braiders do not rush.
3. After each client, tools are cleaned and disinfected, capes and towels go into the laundry, and the station is wiped down before the next person sits down.
4. Closing: count the register, send tomorrow's reminders, restock supplies and post a photo of the day's best work.

Booking and policies. Deposits are taken online. A late arrival of more than 20 minutes may mean a shorter style or a new booking, and we write that on the booking page so clients can see it. Children under a certain age must have a parent or guardian in the studio.

Health and safety. Combs, clips and shears are cleaned and disinfected between clients. We do not offer chemical services such as relaxers or hair color, which need a separate license in most states. We do not diagnose or treat scalp conditions, hair loss or skin problems, and we suggest the client see a doctor or dermatologist when we notice something concerning. We ask about allergies before using any product. We never braid so tight that it causes pain, and clients can ask us to loosen a style at any time.

Equipment. About $19,000 to start: styling stations and chairs, a shampoo bowl, a reception desk and computer, and a washer and dryer. We set aside about $3,000 a year after that to replace and add equipment as we grow.

Software. Booking software with deposits and text reminders, which is paid for in the yearly budget for software and card fees.

Running costs in Year 1: rent and utilities about $19,200, booking software and card fees about $4,200, marketing about $5,200, insurance about $2,400, studio supplies and laundry about $3,000, and accounting, licenses and legal about $2,400. That is $36,400 in all.

Payment. Most clients pay by card or phone at the end of the visit, so the plan assumes only a small amount of money is owed to us at any time, mostly card payments that have not reached the bank yet.

Management & Organization

Who runs the business. Monique Hayes, owner and lead braider. As owner I will braid clients, manage the schedule, buy supplies, train new braiders and handle the money side of the business. I plan to pay myself $36,000 a year in salary.

The team. Pay figures include payroll taxes and workers' compensation insurance.
- Full-time braider: none in Year 1, one in Year 2, two in Year 3 and three in Years 4 and 5, at about $32,000 a year each.
- Part-time braider: one in Years 1 to 3, two in Year 4 and three in Year 5, at about $18,000 a year each (about 20 hours a week).
- Front desk (part-time): one starting in Year 3, at about $17,000 a year.

We hire people who are patient, on time and good with clients, check each braider's work before they take clients alone, confirm every license the state requires, and run background checks (with the person's permission and following the law) on everyone who works with children.

People who will help us: a bookkeeper or tax preparer, an insurance agent who understands salons, a business attorney for a one-time review of the lease and our service policies, and a free mentor from SCORE or the Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

Milestones Narrative

Our goals and when we plan to reach them.
- Before opening (4 to 6 months ahead): call the state licensing board and the city or county to confirm what is required, interview at least 20 clients and 5 braiders, line up at least 30 people who say they would book, register the LLC and get an EIN, open a business bank account, get insurance and equipment quotes, find a suite, have an attorney review the lease, and set up booking software with practice bookings. Sign the lease only after the licensing answers and the client list are in hand.
- Year 1: open with the owner and one part-time braider, with about 10 braiding appointments a week, $124,000 in sales and a loss of about $1,200.
- Year 2: add our first full-time braider, with about 860 braiding appointments a year, $209,710 in sales and a profit of about $23,000.
- Year 3: two full-time braiders and a front desk helper, with about 1,150 braiding appointments a year, $287,910 in sales and a profit of about $27,900.
- Year 4: three full-time braiders and two part-time, with about 1,400 braiding appointments a year, $360,190 in sales and a profit of about $27,800.
- Year 5: grow to about 1,600 braiding appointments a year with a team of eight, $423,060 in sales and a profit of about $46,000.
Growth depends on booking and keeping regular clients and hiring good braiders, so treat the later years as goals, not promises.

What we check every week: appointments booked and kept, no-shows, average ticket, rebooking rate, product sales per visit, reviews and cash in the bank.

Funding Request

How much we need and how we will use it. Total we are raising: $60,000.

How we got that number. The Funding Need Calculator in this plan adds up three things:
- Startup costs of $34,400, listed item by item in the Startup Costs section: $9,500 for styling stations, chairs and shampoo bowl, $3,200 for braiding supplies, hair and product opening stock, $4,000 for reception desk, computer, card reader and music, $3,000 for lighting, mirrors, sink hookup and paint, $5,500 for washer, dryer and sanitation equipment, $3,200 for lease deposit and first month of rent, $900 for business and cosmetology-related licenses and permits, $1,500 for legal and accounting setup, $2,400 for sign, website and photos, and $1,200 for first insurance payment.
- A cash cushion of about $22,600: about 3 months of running costs. Our cash stays above zero in every year of the plan, but lenders still want a cushion in the bank for slow weeks and surprises. They call this "working capital."
- Together that comes to about $57,000, rounded up to the nearest $500: $57,000.
We are raising $3,000 more than that, $60,000 in all, to leave extra room for loan payments in the first years and for the rent and pay that come due before every chair is full.

Where the money comes from:
- My own money: $15,000.
- Amount requested as a loan: $35,000.
- From an investor or partner: $10,000.

Kind of funding we are looking for. An SBA 7(a) small loan through a local bank or community lender, plus investor or partner money. SBA Microloans, which go up to $50,000 through nonprofit lenders, are another place to ask; their repayment times are usually shorter, so the monthly payment would be higher. Investor or partner money is not paid back with interest, but the person gets a share of the business. A family member, a friend, a local investor or a business partner could fill this part. Put any agreement in writing.

How we will pay it back. We expect a loss of about $1,200 in Year 1 while we build our client list, then a profit from Year 2 (about $23,000), growing to about $46,000 by Year 5. With this funding, the business has money in the bank at the end of every year of the plan, and the lowest year-end balance is about $40,700, at the end of Year 1. The loan is planned at 12.75% interest over 10 years, so payments of about $517 a month (about $6,209 a year) are already included in our cash flow. We chose 12.75% as a cautious planning rate. Ask the lender for the real rate, which may be lower or higher.

What we are offering the lender: our equipment as collateral (something the lender can claim if the loan is not repaid) and my personal guarantee (my promise to repay from my own money if the business cannot).

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 as a single braider renting a booth or chair in an existing licensed salon, or working in a licensed space allowed by the local rules (check first), taking about 10 appointments a week while keeping your current job. Startup can be roughly $4,000 to $6,000 for a chair, supplies, insurance and a booking page. Get your own quotes.
- Phase 2: once you are booked three or four weeks ahead, lease a small studio, hire your first braider 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 training 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 price sheet, booking policy and a sample client consent and care form.
- A letter or quote for the studio space, and the lease once you have it.
- Proof of any license or registration required by the state, or the licensing board's written answer.
- Quotes for the stations, chairs and equipment.
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):
- Braiding and Twist Styles: about $185 per appointment in Year 1, rising to $205; about $34 per appointment in direct costs, rising to $38; about 520 appointments in Year 1, growing to 1,600.
- Takedown, Wash and Natural Hair Care: about $55 per visit in Year 1, rising to $63; about $6 per visit in direct costs, rising to $7; about 200 visits in Year 1, growing to 620.
- Hair Care Products and Extras: about $24 per item in Year 1, rising to $28; about $11 per item in direct costs, rising to $13; about 700 items in Year 1, growing to 2,000.
- Pay: Owner / Lead Braider $36,000 (1/1/1/1/1); Braider (full-time) $32,000 (0/1/2/3/3); Braider (part-time) $18,000 (1/1/1/2/3); Front Desk (part-time) $17,000 (0/0/1/1/1). The numbers in parentheses are how many people we plan to have in Years 1 through 5. Pay figures are yearly and include payroll taxes and workers' compensation.
- Other yearly costs in Year 1: studio rent & utilities $19,200, booking software & card fees $4,200, marketing $5,200, business insurance $2,400, studio supplies & laundry $3,000, and accounting, licenses & legal $2,400. These grow between 5% and 20% a year as the business grows.
- Clients pay at the end of the visit by card or phone, so what is owed to us is small. At the end of Year 1 about $1,240 (1% of Year 1 sales) is card payments or gift card sales still on the way to our bank.
- Tax rate: 21%.
- Every dollar amount is an estimate. Replace them with your own quotes and research.

Startup Costs