What should a business plan to buy a horse boarding stable include?

A lender or investor reading your plan wants to see that you know how a barn runs and that you have thought about the first year under new ownership. A generic template is a start, but a horse business has features it will not cover. Build the plan around the actual barn you are buying, using records you have checked.

The barn and its clients

Describe the property, the buildings, the arena and the pasture. Then summarize the boarders: how many, what kind of board each takes, how long they have stayed and what you will do to keep them. Include the lessons, training and other services the barn sells, and say which ones you will keep, change or drop, and why.

Money in and out

Show how income and costs have behaved through the year, since feed, bedding, heating and boarder numbers all shift with the seasons. Set out your plan for hay and bedding supply, and the cost of staff, insurance and utilities. Be clear about who does the work. If the seller worked long hours unpaid, show how you will cover that labour.

Repairs, equipment and your own role

List the repairs and replacements you expect, such as footing, fencing, roofs and equipment, and say how you will fund them. Explain your own experience with horses, with people and with managing a property. Lenders also look for a clear transition plan: how you will meet boarders, keep staff and learn the barn’s routines.

Your accountant can help shape the financial pages. The BDC business plan template offers a structure you can adapt, and buying a horse boarding business or starting one may help you test your reasoning.