Masonry Company

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Executive Summary

Stone and Hearth Masonry is a masonry company serving homeowners, builders and small businesses in our county and the nearby towns. We build and repair brick, block and stone walls, chimneys, steps, patios, retaining walls and paver hardscapes. Good masonry lasts for generations, and poor masonry cracks, leans or leaks within a few years. Skilled masons are hard to find and book. We will win customers by building to code, using the right materials and drainage, giving a written price and standing behind our work. Here is what our numbers show. We expect sales of about $181,400 in Year 1, growing to about $724,400 by Year 5 as we add masons and take on more structural and decorative projects. We expect losses of about $28,500 in Year 1 and $11,700 in Year 2 while we build our customer base, then a profit from Year 3 (about $50,400), growing to about $117,800 by Year 5. We need $84,500 in total. That covers $25,000 in startup costs (a mixer, saws, scaffolding, a trailer, opening supplies, license fees, insurance and advertising) and a cash cushion of about three months of bills. I am putting in $14,000 of my own money, and I am asking for $70,500. In Year 1 I will use my own truck to haul the trailer and materials. I am William Bennett, the owner. These numbers are estimates based on the assumptions listed at the end of this plan, not promises.

Company Description

Stone and Hearth Masonry will be a limited liability company (LLC) in West Virginia, owned by William Bennett. We will work from my home, with the trailer parked on my property and materials stored in a locked shed. What we believe. Build it solid, build it to code, give a clear written price and stand behind our work. What we offer:
- Brick, block and stone walls and repairs. - Chimney and fireplace repair and rebuilding. - Patios, walkways and paver driveways. - Retaining walls and garden walls. - Steps, columns and decorative stonework. Licenses and insurance. Masonry rules vary. Many states and cities require a contractor license above a set dollar amount, permits for structural work such as retaining walls, and an engineer's plan for taller walls. Our state requires a contractor license for jobs over $2,000, so I will get my license before taking larger jobs. We will carry general liability insurance, and workers' compensation once we hire. When cutting stone, brick or block, we control silica dust as workplace safety rules require. Where things stand today. I have worked as a mason for five years, I own hand tools, and I have built a patio and repaired chimneys for neighbors.

Problem & Opportunity

Homeowners and builders near us want masonry that lasts, and a mason who shows up. 1. Hard to find. Skilled masons are in short supply and often booked for months. 2. Poor drainage. Walls and patios built without proper base and drainage crack and lean. 3. Unclear prices. Quotes often leave out materials, base prep or removal. 4. Mess. Mortar, dust and waste are often left behind. How we know people want this. Four neighbors asked me to repair chimneys or build patios last year, and a builder said he needs a reliable mason for two houses.

Products & Services

What we sell. 1. Structural masonry jobs. Brick and block walls, chimneys, foundations and retaining walls. Our plan assumes an average of about $7,200 per job in Year 1, rising to about $8,103 by Year 5. Materials and direct costs run about $3,100 per job. We expect about 12 jobs in Year 1, growing to about 44 a year by Year 5. 2. Decorative masonry and hardscape jobs. Patios, walkways, steps, garden walls and stonework. Our plan assumes an average of about $3,800 per job in Year 1, rising to about $4,278. Materials cost about $1,500 per job. We expect about 25 jobs in Year 1, growing to about 86. Our prices. Chimney repair from $600. Patio from $12 a square foot. Retaining wall from $30 a square foot. Steps from $1,500. How it works for the customer:
1. A free estimate, with a site visit, measurements and a written price. 2. A clear plan: materials, base prep, drainage and timeline. 3. Careful work, with the site protected and cleaned every day. 4. A final walk-through, care instructions and a warranty on our work. Gross margin, explained. "Gross margin" is the share of each sale left after paying for materials and direct job costs. Our plan shows about 59% in Year 1. That money pays the owner and crew, vehicle costs, insurance and other bills.

Market Analysis

Who will hire us:
- Homeowners with chimneys, walls or steps that need repair. - Homeowners who want a patio, walkway or retaining wall. - Builders and general contractors who need a reliable mason. - Landlords, churches and small businesses with older masonry. Where we will work. A service area close enough to reach jobs easily, starting with our county and the two neighboring towns, within 30 minutes of my home. Season. Masonry is busiest from spring to fall, since mortar and pavers need mild weather. We use winter for estimates, planning and indoor work. Our plan is careful on purpose. About 12 structural jobs and 25 decorative jobs in Year 1 is a pace the owner and one mason can handle well.

Competitive Landscape

Other choices customers have:
1. Larger masonry and landscaping companies. Heritage Masonry (a made-up name) charges about $9,000 for a typical chimney rebuild; known for quality, but booked for months. 2. Handymen and day laborers. Cheaper, but quality and insurance can be poor. 3. Doing it yourself. Cheaper, but hard to do well, and mistakes are costly to fix. How we will win customers: solid workmanship, proper base and drainage, clear written prices, permits when needed and a warranty on our work.

Marketing & Sales Strategy

How people will find us. - A free Google business listing with photos of finished work, and a simple website. - Yard signs (with permission) and truck magnets. A good patio is our best ad. - Relationships with builders, landscapers, real estate agents and chimney sweeps. - Asking every happy customer for a review and a referral. - Photos on social media and in neighborhood groups. Marketing budget. About $5,000 a year. Yard signs, truck magnets and the website are paid for from startup costs.

Operations Plan

How the business runs day to day. Estimates and jobs. The owner measures, quotes, orders materials and schedules jobs. In Year 1 the owner works with one mason, and we grow to four masons by Year 5. Each job has a plan, a materials order, a base and drainage plan and a final walk-through. Equipment. About $16,000 to start: mortar mixer; wet saw and brick saw; scaffolding and planks; trowels, levels and hand tools; used utility trailer; wheelbarrows and mixing tubs; plate compactor for pavers. We set aside about $2,000 to $3,000 a year for repairs and replacements. Upkeep. Mixers and saws cleaned after every job, blades replaced on schedule, scaffolding inspected before each use and the trailer checked before each trip. Safety. Dust control with water or ventilation when cutting, eye, ear and respiratory protection, safe scaffold use, safe lifting of heavy stone and block, and careful handling of wet mortar and cement. Running costs in Year 1: tools and equipment about $9,000, insurance and licensing about $7,000, marketing about $5,000. Scheduling and billing. A simple scheduling and invoicing app on my phone, with customers billed a deposit at booking, progress payments and the rest at completion.

Management & Organization

Who runs the business. William Bennett, owner. As owner I will lay brick and stone, measure and quote jobs, order materials, schedule jobs and handle the money side of the business. I plan to pay myself $56,000 a year in salary in Year 1. Crew. Masons at about $46,000 a year each (or part-time pay): one in Year 1, two in Year 2, two in Year 3, three in Year 4 and four 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 Martinez serves as a key volunteer advisor.

Milestones Narrative

Our goals and when we plan to reach them. - Before starting: register the business, get insurance, buy the mixer, saws, scaffolding and trailer, and put out yard signs. Target start: March 2027. - First year: complete about 12 structural jobs and 25 decorative jobs, for about $181,400 in sales. - Year 2: add a second mason, about $289,600 in sales, and a loss of about $11,700. - Years 3 to 5: grow to four masons and about $724,400 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: estimates given, jobs finished, callbacks, material and fuel costs, and cash in the bank.

Funding Request

How much we need and how we will use it. Total needed: $84,500. This number comes from the Funding Need Calculator in this plan. It adds up: - Startup costs of $25,000, listed item by item in the Startup Costs section (about $16,000 for the mixer, saws, scaffolding, tools, trailer and compactor, $2,500 for opening mortar, sand and sealer, $800 for a business license and contractor registration, $3,200 for the first insurance payment, $700 for business setup and bookkeeping software, and $1,800 for truck magnets, yard signs and a website). - A cash cushion of about $59,500: 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 $84,500 (rounded up to the nearest $500), which is the total we are planning for. Where the money comes from: - My own money: $14,000. - Amount requested: $70,500. Kind of funding we are looking for: an SBA 7(a) loan through a local bank or community lender. How we will pay it back. We expect losses of about $28,500 in Year 1 and $11,700 in Year 2 while we build our customer base, then a profit from Year 3 (about $50,400), growing to about $117,800 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 $1,042 a month are already included in our cash flow. What we are offering the lender: our equipment and trailer as collateral 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 small repairs, steps and patios on evenings and weekends using hand tools and rented equipment, while keeping your current job. Startup can be under $2,500. - Phase 2: once you have more jobs than you can handle part-time, buy the mixer, saws and trailer 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. - Quotes for the equipment and vehicle. - Your price list and a sample written estimate. - Photos of past work and references, if you have them. 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):
- Structural Masonry Jobs: about $7,200 per job in Year 1, rising to $8,103; about $3,100 per job in direct costs; about 12 jobs in Year 1, growing to 44. - Decorative Masonry & Hardscape Jobs: about $3,800 per job in Year 1, rising to $4,278; about $1,500 per job in direct costs; about 25 jobs in Year 1, growing to 86. - Owner salary: $56,000 a year. Crew: $46,000 a year each, from one in Year 1 to four in Year 5. - Other yearly costs in Year 1: tools and equipment about $9,000, insurance and licensing about $7,000, marketing about $5,000. - Tax rate: 21%. - Every dollar amount is an estimate. Replace them with your own quotes and research.

Startup Costs