Glacier Ice Skating Center

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Executive Summary

Glacier Ice Skating Center will be a year-round indoor ice skating facility in Michigan with public skating, hockey leagues and training programs, figure skating and learn-to-skate classes, birthday parties and a small cafe. Ice skating is one of the few sports where a four-year-old trying her first glide and a serious competitive figure skater can share the same ice. We want our rink to be that place for our community.

Michigan winters bring outdoor skaters, but summers leave them without a place to skate. Many families drive 40 minutes or more to the nearest rink for hockey practices, figure skating lessons or a birthday party on the ice.

Here is what our numbers show. We expect about $338,320 in sales in Year 1, growing to about $821,480 by Year 5. We expect a loss of about $98,500 in Year 1 and a loss of about $21,900 in Year 2 as the facility builds its audience - both covered by our startup money and our SBA loan. After that we expect profits of about $15,900, $85,300 and $142,400 in Years 3 to 5. We need $446,500 to open, as the Funding Need Calculator in this plan shows, and we plan to start with $447,000: $80,000 of my own savings and a $367,000 small business loan. These figures are estimates built from the assumptions at the end of this plan, not promises.

I am Sandra Park, the owner and director.

Company Description

Glacier Ice Skating Center will be a limited liability company (LLC) owned by Sandra Park and based in Michigan. We will build or convert a large warehouse or sports facility into an NHL-sized ice sheet with a refrigeration system, dasher boards, a lobby, locker rooms, a skate rental shop and a cafe.

What we believe. Ice skating should not be a drive-away activity. Our community deserves a rink close to home.

What we offer.
- Public skating sessions with skate rental, open to all ages.
- Youth and adult hockey leagues and skills programs.
- Figure skating lessons and a US Figure Skating affiliated learn-to-skate program.
- Birthday parties with a private session and use of the party room.
- A small cafe with snacks, hot drinks and packaged food.

What we do not do. We do not allow unsupervised children under 8 on the ice without a parent or guardian. We do not allow hockey sticks during public skating sessions. We do not promise a specific skill outcome or competitive placement.

Safety and rules. We carry commercial liability insurance, require signed waivers and inspect the ice before every session. A safety attendant is on the ice during all public sessions. Hockey and figure skating sessions use appropriate protective equipment. Rules vary by jurisdiction, so we will confirm building, fire, occupancy and refrigeration permits before opening.

Where things stand today. I have identified a candidate building, obtained preliminary engineering quotes for the refrigeration system, spoken with the local hockey association about league use and confirmed interest from two figure skating coaches.

Problem & Opportunity

Many Michigan communities love ice sports but have no nearby rink.

Distance. The nearest indoor rink is a long drive for most families in our area. Hockey parents often spend entire weekends in the car to reach ice time. Figure skating students pay per hour for scarce ice.

Hockey demand. Youth hockey is one of the most popular programs where rinks exist, yet leagues have to turn away teams for lack of ice time. Adult leagues fill up in days.

Figure skating access. Learn-to-skate programs are among the most consistent drivers of rink revenue. Without a local rink, young children who want to try skating never start.

Seasonal limits. Michigan winters allow outdoor skating in some years, but outdoor ice is unreliable. A year-round facility serves the sport 12 months.

Birthdays and events. Birthday parties on ice are consistently popular and priced well. Families who want them now drive far or give up.

What we hear.
- A youth hockey league coordinator says his waiting list has 60 names and he has no ice to offer them.
- A mother says she would put her daughter in figure skating but the round trip to the nearest rink takes two and a half hours.
- A local parks director says the city has tried to attract a rink for years.
- A group of adult recreational hockey players say they play at midnight because it is the only ice time available.

We do not claim that every community that wants a rink deserves one. We have data showing ours does.

Products & Services

Glacier Ice Skating Center gives skaters of every level ice close to home, with programs that keep the rink full from morning to night.

How it works.
1. Public skating. Anyone can buy a session pass for about $14, rent skates and take the ice. A safety attendant is on the ice throughout.
2. Learn-to-skate. We run US Figure Skating affiliated learn-to-skate classes for children and adults, at about $72 per participant per session. These fill consistently and are the primary source of new figure skaters.
3. Hockey. We host youth leagues, adult recreational leagues and skills clinics. A season package costs about $820 in Year 1. Our hockey director manages the schedule and runs the skills programs.
4. Figure skating. Competitive figure skaters can rent ice time and work with our affiliated coaches. We affiliate with US Figure Skating to provide a recognized program.
5. Parties and cafe. Birthday parties include an ice session, a party room and a host. The cafe serves hot drinks, snacks and packaged food throughout the day.

Scheduling. The rink runs from early morning for adult leagues through late evening for public skating. Youth hockey and figure skating take the daytime hours on weekends. The goal is to have ice in use as many hours as possible.

What we do not promise. We do not promise a championship, a scholarship or a national team placement. We promise well-maintained ice, safe sessions and a friendly rink that treats every skater with respect.

Market Analysis

Who we serve.
- Youth hockey players and their families.
- Adults who play recreational hockey.
- Children who want to learn to skate or pursue figure skating.
- Families who want a birthday party or a weekend outing on ice.
- Competitive figure skaters who need ice time and affiliated coaching.

How we estimate demand. We plan from what we can see. The local hockey association has 60 names on a waiting list. Our Year 1 plan is for about 10,800 public skating sessions (about 900 sessions a month on average), 100 hockey league seasons, 900 figure skating and learn-to-skate participants and 960 birthday party and cafe events. By Year 5 we plan for about 22,200 public skating sessions, 226 hockey seasons, 2,000 figure skating participants and 2,040 party and cafe events.

Where customers come from.
- The local hockey association and its member families.
- Schools, preschools and parent groups who want a field trip or party destination.
- Competitive figure skating families who now drive far for ice time.
- Walk-in traffic from the community.

Seasons. Fall through spring are the busiest. Summer public skating and camps keep the rink active. We plan the schedule and pricing with slow summer periods in mind.

Capacity. An NHL-sized sheet holds a safe number of skaters at one time. We cap public skating sessions, and we keep hockey and figure skating ice times clearly separate in the schedule.

Competitive Landscape

What skaters do today, and how we are different.

1. Drive to the nearest rink. The most common answer, with all the time and cost that involves. Our goal is to be the option that makes that drive unnecessary.

2. Outdoor skating. Seasonal and unreliable. We complement outdoor skating by giving it a year-round home.

3. Inline skating and other sports. Families who cannot access ice often turn to something else. We hope to bring some of them back to the sport they actually wanted.

4. Another rink opening nearby. If that happens, we will compete on ice quality, scheduling, service and value. A growing market benefits both.

What makes us different.
- The only indoor rink within a practical distance for most families in our area.
- Programs for hockey, figure skating and public skating all in one building.
- A US Figure Skating affiliated learn-to-skate program.
- A hockey director who manages leagues and skills programs.
- Party packages and a cafe that keep families at the rink longer.

What we will not do. We will not skip the daily ice inspection or the safety attendant to save money, and we will not book the ice beyond what it can safely hold.

Marketing & Sales Strategy

How skaters will find us.

Before we open (the six months ahead):
- Sign a scheduling agreement with the local hockey association.
- Partner with US Figure Skating to affiliate our learn-to-skate program.
- Build the website with the schedule, prices and online booking.
- Hold two preview events at the facility while construction is underway.
- Post short videos of the refrigeration system being installed and the first ice being made.

After we open:
- Offer a free first public skating session on opening weekend.
- Run a birthday party promotion for the first six months.
- Hold a free learn-to-skate clinic for children who have never been on ice.
- Partner with local schools for field trips and PE days.
- Send a short monthly email with the upcoming schedule and special events.

Pricing. We publish all prices. We offer a multi-session pass and a family discount on public skating. Hockey leagues and figure skating programs have clear per-season prices.

What we watch. Public skating attendance, league fill rate, learn-to-skate enrollment, birthday party bookings and monthly revenue per ice hour. We use that to decide where to spend our $7,200 marketing budget in Year 1.

Operations Plan

How the rink will run day to day.

Hours. Open seven days a week, with early morning ice for adult leagues, daytime for learn-to-skate and figure skating, afternoons for youth hockey and evenings for public skating and more hockey.

Ice maintenance. The Zamboni resurfaces the ice between sessions. Our director and rink staff keep a log of every resurfacing and any issues with the ice surface. The refrigeration system is monitored continuously.

Safety. A safety attendant is on the ice during every public skating session. Hockey players must wear helmets and appropriate pads. Figure skating sessions use the same safety protocols as US Figure Skating affiliated programs. Waivers are signed by every customer and guardian. First aid kits and an AED are on site.

Equipment. We buy about $280,000 of equipment at the start: the refrigeration system ($145,000), dasher boards and glass ($50,000), a used Zamboni ($45,000), a skate rental fleet ($28,000) and conditioning equipment and spare parts ($18,000). We spend about $24,000 a year on Zamboni operation and maintenance.

Staffing. In Year 1 it is me as director, a contracted hockey director and two part-time skate rental and cafe staff. We add a third staff member in Year 2 and a full-time facility manager in Year 3, paid $42,000.

Money. Public skating and parties are paid at booking. Leagues are paid by the season. We keep simple books and review them monthly.

Risks and how we plan for them:
- A refrigeration failure. Maintenance contracts, a 24-hour service agreement and a reserve fund for repairs.
- Slow attendance in Year 1. Our startup money and loan cover two years of losses, giving us time to build the audience.
- A hockey league conflict. Clear written agreements with every league on pricing and scheduling.
- An injury on the ice. Safety attendants, waivers, first aid on site and liability insurance.
- Rising energy costs. Our energy budget is already high; we review it each quarter and adjust pricing if needed.
- A lease problem. We negotiate a long-term lease with renewal options.

Management & Organization

Sandra Park, owner and director. I hold a US Figure Skating gold medal in moves in the field and have spent years coaching and administering skating programs. I understand ice scheduling, league management, the learn-to-skate curriculum and what it takes to keep a rink running. I will complete any additional certifications our insurer and the hockey association require.

What I bring. I can run a session, manage a rink schedule and talk equally well with a four-year-old on her first skates and a 45-year-old hockey player arguing about ice time. I understand small business basics: clear pricing, good agreements and careful hiring.

Who helps me.
- A hockey director, contracted from the local hockey association, who manages leagues and skills clinics.
- Two part-time skate rental and cafe staff from day one.
- A bookkeeper, paid by the hour, who handles monthly books and taxes.
- An attorney who reviewed our waiver, league agreements and lease.
- A refrigeration engineer who consulted on the system design and will be on our service contract.
- An insurance agent who specializes in ice rink coverage.

My pay. I pay myself $58,000 a year from the first year. That is built into the numbers in this plan so the rink does not depend on unpaid work.

Milestones Narrative

Our goals and when we plan to reach them.

Before opening (Months 1 to 6):
- Month 1: Register the LLC, open a business bank account and finalize the building lease or purchase after confirming permits.
- Months 1 to 3: Install the refrigeration system, dasher boards and locker rooms.
- Month 3 and 4: Build the cafe, install the skate rental shop and set up the sound and lighting.
- Month 5: First ice. Test the surface, train staff and hold a private preview.
- Month 6: Open to the public.

Year 1:
- Reach about 10,800 combined public skating sessions.
- Fill at least 100 hockey league seasons.
- Enroll 900 figure skating and learn-to-skate participants.
- Host 960 birthday party and cafe events.
- Keep a clean safety record with every session log complete.

Year 2:
- Add a third staff member and reach about 22,200 public sessions.
- Expand learn-to-skate to a second class time each week.

Year 3 and beyond:
- Add a full-time facility manager in Year 3.
- Reach about 226 hockey seasons and 2,000 figure skating participants by Year 5.
- Explore adding a second sheet of ice if demand and finances support it.

Funding Request

How much we need and how we will use it.

Total needed: $446,500, as the Funding Need Calculator in this plan shows. We plan to start with $447,000, which covers that amount, with a little room to spare.

Startup costs: $352,000.
- Ice sheet refrigeration system: $145,000.
- Dasher boards and tempered glass: $50,000.
- Zamboni (used, reconditioned): $45,000.
- Locker rooms and lobby build-out: $28,000.
- Cafe build-out and kitchen equipment: $18,000.
- Skate rental fleet (300 pairs): $12,000.
- Legal and business registration: $6,000.
- Insurance first payment: $8,000.
- Signage and website: $5,000.
- Launch marketing and opening events: $7,000.
- Conditioning equipment, spare parts and opening inventory: $28,000.

Cushion. The calculator adds a cushion of about $94,300: roughly three months of Year 1 expenses, including about $19,500 for cash the business uses before it breaks even. That way a slow first season does not force us to close.

Where the $447,000 comes from. $80,000 of my own savings and a $367,000 small business loan (SBA 7(a)). An SBA 7(a) loan is a bank loan that the U.S. Small Business Administration partly guarantees, which makes banks more willing to lend to a new business. Ice rinks are capital-intensive projects and SBA loans are one of the most common ways they are financed. Loan: $367,000 at 10.5% over 10 years, which comes to $4,952 a month.

Phase 1: Open with public skating, learn-to-skate and the hockey league while the figure skating program is being built. The cafe starts on day one.
Phase 2: Expand figure skating to a competitive program, add a second hockey skills clinic and add the adult recreational league once the schedule fills the first lease block.

Sales and profit. Year 1 sales are about $338,320. We expect a loss of about $98,500 in Year 1, which is normal for a new business, and our startup money covers it, then a loss of about $21,900 in Year 2, a profit of about $15,900 in Year 3, a profit of about $85,300 in Year 4 and a profit of about $142,400 in Year 5. Year 5 sales are about $821,480.

Cash. The lowest year-end cash balance in the plan is about $83,700 at the end of Year 2. At the end of Year 1 customers owe us about $16,916, so we follow up on unpaid bills each week.

Where each Year 1 dollar goes. Pay: Owner / Director (US Figure Skating) $58,000; Hockey Director (contracted) $44,000; Skate Rental and Cafe Staff (part-time) $26,000. Direct costs of goods and services: about $43,000. Other yearly costs: Refrigeration Energy about $96,000; Zamboni Operation and Maintenance about $24,000; Insurance and Facility about $18,000; Marketing and Software about $7,200.

Appendix Notes

Documents to attach before you share this plan:

- Your business registration, zoning and refrigeration permits.
- Your insurance certificate, including ice rink and equipment coverage.
- Your building lease or purchase agreement.
- Your membership and league agreements.
- Equipment quotes for the refrigeration system, dasher boards, Zamboni and rental skates.
- Your floor plan, occupancy plan and emergency plan.
- Your refrigeration service contract.
- Letters of interest from the local hockey association and figure skating coaches.
- Your ice safety plan and staff training policy.
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):
- Public Skating and Skate Rental (per session): 10,800 in Year 1 at $14, growing to 22,200 at $16 in Year 5. About $1 each goes to direct costs.
- Hockey Leagues and Programs (per season): 100 in Year 1 at $820, growing to 226 at $940 in Year 5. About $80 each goes to direct costs.
- Figure Skating and Learn-to-Skate (per participant per session): 900 in Year 1 at $72, growing to 2,000 at $80 in Year 5. About $12 each goes to direct costs.
- Birthday Parties and Cafe (per event or sale): 960 in Year 1 at $42, growing to 2,040 at $46 in Year 5. About $14 each goes to direct costs.
- Pay (a full year, per person, including payroll taxes and workers' compensation): Owner / Director (US Figure Skating) $58,000; Hockey Director (contracted) $44,000; Skate Rental and Cafe Staff (part-time) $26,000; Facility Manager $42,000.
- Other yearly costs in Year 1: Refrigeration Energy $96,000; Zamboni Operation and Maintenance $24,000; Insurance and Facility $18,000; Marketing and Software $7,200. These grow between 4% and 5% a year.
- Equipment: $280,000 at the start, then $8,000 to $18,000 a year.
- Startup costs: $352,000, paid once from $447,000 in startup money.
- Public skating: about 10,800 sessions in Year 1 (about 900 a month on average), growing to about 22,200 in Year 5.
- Hockey leagues: about 100 seasons in Year 1, growing to about 226 in Year 5.
- About 5% of each year's sales is still owed to us at year end.
- Taxes: 21%, as a simple estimate. Check with a tax professional about how your business is taxed.
- Every dollar amount is an estimate. Replace them with your own prices, quotes and real costs.

Startup Costs