Tasks

#1 Write mission statement and core values ✏️
One page. Who it's for, what you stand for, what success looks like in 3 years.
📁 Concept & Vision high
#2 Define target audience and programs mix ✏️
Age ranges, skill tiers, women's gymnastics + acro + tumbling + trampoline + fitness + ballroom.
📁 Concept & Vision high
#3 Name the business and check trademark + domain ✏️
USPTO TESS search, buy the .com, reserve social handles.
📁 Concept & Vision high
#5 Align with American Ballroom Company on partnership structure ✏️
Revenue split, scheduling authority, branding, insurance responsibilities.
📁 Concept & Vision high
#7 Map all gymnastics/dance/trampoline competitors within 15 miles ✏️
Addresses, hours, class sizes, pricing pages. Spreadsheet.
📁 Market Research high
#8 Compare competitor pricing and capacity ✏️
Monthly tuition, class sizes, wait lists. Identify price anchors.
📁 Market Research high
#11 Get 3 insurance quotes to baseline operating costs ✏️
GL + professional liability + property. Specialty carriers: K&K, Sadler, Philadelphia.
📁 Market Research high
#13 Draft executive summary and business plan document ✏️
1-page summary + 10-15 page plan. Use SBA template.
📁 Business Plan & Financials high
#14 Build 3-year P&L and cash flow projection ✏️
Monthly for year 1, quarterly for years 2-3. Include ballroom revenue share.
📁 Business Plan & Financials high
#15 Calculate break-even membership count ✏️
Fixed costs / contribution margin per member. Stress-test ±20%.
📁 Business Plan & Financials high
#16 Build detailed startup cost spreadsheet ✏️
Equipment + build-out + permits + insurance + working capital (6 months).
📁 Business Plan & Financials high
#19 Choose entity type (LLC vs S-Corp) ✏️
Consult CPA/attorney. LLC simplest for single owner; S-Corp for tax savings above ~$60K profit.
📁 Legal & Entity Formation high
#20 Register business with state Secretary of State ✏️
File articles of organization/incorporation. ~$100-300 depending on state.
📁 Legal & Entity Formation high
#21 Apply for EIN with IRS ✏️
Free online application — takes 10 minutes.
📁 Legal & Entity Formation high
#22 Open business bank account ✏️
Bring EIN, articles, operating agreement, ID. Get debit card + online banking.
📁 Legal & Entity Formation high
#23 Draft partnership agreement with American Ballroom Company ✏️
Revenue split, liability, scheduling, termination clauses, IP ownership. Attorney review required.
📁 Legal & Entity Formation high
#24 Bind general liability + professional liability insurance ✏️
Minimum $1M/$2M GL, coach professional liability, accident medical for students.
📁 Legal & Entity Formation high
#27 Determine total capital needed and runway target ✏️
Startup cost + 6 months operating runway. Add 15% contingency.
📁 Funding high
#29 Apply for SBA 7(a) or 504 loan if needed ✏️
Expect 60-90 day approval. Need business plan, financials, personal guarantee.
📁 Funding high
#33 List required amenities and non-negotiables ✏️
Min 8,000 sqft, 20ft+ ceilings for rod floor, 3-phase power, parking ratio, ADA access.
📁 Location Scouting high
#34 Hire a commercial real estate broker ✏️
Tenant-rep broker is free to you (landlord pays commission).
📁 Location Scouting high
#35 Walk 5+ candidate properties ✏️
Measure clear ceiling heights. Check HVAC, columns, loading dock, restrooms.
📁 Location Scouting high
#36 Verify zoning allows recreational/athletic use ✏️
Call city planning dept. Some areas require conditional use permit.
📁 Location Scouting high
#38 Get environmental Phase I and structural reports on top 2 candidates ✏️
Non-negotiable before signing — expose flooding, asbestos, foundation issues.
📁 Location Scouting high
#39 Negotiate TI allowance, free rent period, and escalation cap ✏️
Build-out for a gym is expensive — ask for $20-40/sqft TI and 3-6 months free rent.
📁 Location Scouting high
#40 Sign commercial lease (after attorney review) ✏️
Never sign without attorney review of personal guarantee, CAM, and exit clauses.
📁 Lease & Build-out high
#41 Hire licensed general contractor ✏️
Get 3 bids. Check license + insurance + references from similar projects.
📁 Lease & Build-out high
#42 Obtain building permit and plan check approval ✏️
Submit stamped plans. Budget 6-12 weeks for approval depending on municipality.
📁 Lease & Build-out high
#43 Design detailed floor plan to scale ✏️
Gymnastics floor, tumble track, trampolines, fitness area, ballroom studio, parent viewing, office, restrooms, changing rooms, storage.
📁 Lease & Build-out high
#44 Install specialized flooring ✏️
Spring floor for gymnastics, rod floor for tumbling, sprung wood for ballroom.
📁 Lease & Build-out high
#47 Pass final building inspection and get certificate of occupancy ✏️
Without CofO you cannot legally operate.
📁 Lease & Build-out high
#48 Finalize Resilite mat order ✏️
Partial list already in Equipment tab — review quantities vs floor plan.
📁 Equipment Purchase high
#49 Order gymnastics apparatus ✏️
Uneven bars, balance beam, vault table, rings, pommel horse (or trainer versions). Gibson, AAI, Spieth.
📁 Equipment Purchase high
#50 Order tumble track and trampolines ✏️
Rod floor tumbling strip, primary competitive trampolines, rebounders, mini tramps.
📁 Equipment Purchase high
#54 Order cleaning and facility supplies ✏️
Wide-area vacuum, mop system, disinfectant, first aid kits, AED.
📁 Equipment Purchase high
#55 Draft all job descriptions ✏️
Head coach, gymnastics coaches, acro/tumbling/tramp coach, fitness trainer, front desk, facility manager.
📁 Staff Hiring & Training high
#56 Post jobs and screen applications ✏️
Indeed, USAG job board, local university kinesiology programs.
📁 Staff Hiring & Training high
#57 Verify USAG Safety Certification for all coaches ✏️
Non-negotiable for insurance and liability.
📁 Staff Hiring & Training high
#58 Run background checks on all hires ✏️
Required in most states for anyone working with minors.
📁 Staff Hiring & Training high
#59 Schedule first aid, CPR, and AED training ✏️
Red Cross or AHA certification.
📁 Staff Hiring & Training high
#60 Write staff handbook and emergency action plan ✏️
Code of conduct, injury reporting, evacuation procedures, incident response.
📁 Staff Hiring & Training high
#62 Build class schedule grid by discipline and age ✏️
Account for peak (3-7pm weekdays, Saturday mornings).
📁 Programs & Pricing high
#63 Set membership tier prices and drop-in fees ✏️
Tier 1: 1x/week. Tier 2: 2x/week. Tier 3: unlimited. Drop-in = 1.5x per-class rate.
📁 Programs & Pricing high
#64 Draft waivers and release forms ✏️
Attorney-reviewed. Cover gymnastics, trampoline (highest-risk), tumbling, fitness, ballroom.
📁 Programs & Pricing high
#65 Set up class registration software ✏️
iClassPro, Jackrabbit, or Mindbody. Trial all 3 before committing.
📁 Programs & Pricing high
#68 Design logo, brand colors, typography ✏️
Hire a designer or use 99designs. Brand guidelines doc for consistency.
📁 Marketing & Pre-launch high
#69 Register social media handles ✏️
Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube. Same handle everywhere.
📁 Marketing & Pre-launch high
#70 Launch teaser website with email capture ✏️
Single page with mission, opening date, and sign-up form.
📁 Marketing & Pre-launch high
#72 Set up Google Business Profile and Maps listing ✏️
Free and critical for discoverability.
📁 Marketing & Pre-launch high
#75 Invite friends, family, and founding members for demo classes ✏️
Free or $1 trial. Get honest feedback.
📁 Soft Opening high
#76 Run full registration flow with 50+ real families ✏️
Load-test waivers, payment, class assignment, check-in.
📁 Soft Opening high
#79 Compare actual revenue vs projected ✏️
Flag any 20%+ variances. Understand why.
📁 Soft Opening high
#81 Run opening-week promotions ✏️
Free drop-ins, referral bonuses, founding member discount deadline.
📁 Grand Opening high
#83 Run parent open-house tours ✏️
Scheduled slots, staff on hand to answer questions.
📁 Grand Opening high
#85 Set up monthly books close cadence ✏️
Day 5: reconcile. Day 10: review P&L. Day 15: pay vendors.
📁 Operations high
#86 Schedule quarterly safety inspection routine ✏️
Equipment, mats, bolts, trampoline springs, first aid, AED.
📁 Operations high
#87 Build retention metric dashboard ✏️
Churn rate, avg tenure, class utilization, referral rate.
📁 Operations high
#4 Sketch rough floor plan ✏️
Gymnastics floor, fitness area, parent viewing, ballroom studio, reception, office, changing rooms.
📁 Concept & Vision normal
#9 Survey local parents for demand and gaps ✏️
Facebook mom groups, school PTAs, neighborhood lists. Target 50+ responses.
📁 Market Research normal
#10 Identify underserved niches ✏️
Adult gymnastics, adaptive classes, home-school day programs, competitive track.
📁 Market Research normal
#17 Get CPA review of the plan and projections ✏️
Find a CPA with small business / recreation experience. Budget $500-1500.
📁 Business Plan & Financials normal
#18 Research SBA loan eligibility and grant opportunities ✏️
SBA 7(a), 504, microloans; state small business grants; women/minority owned programs.
📁 Business Plan & Financials normal
#25 Register for state sales/use tax account ✏️
Required for merchandise, drop-in fees, camps, and retail.
📁 Legal & Entity Formation normal
#26 Get workers comp insurance ✏️
Required in most states once you hire employees.
📁 Legal & Entity Formation normal
#28 Open business line of credit ✏️
Even if unused — establishes credit history and emergency buffer.
📁 Funding normal
#30 Contact equipment financing vendors (Resilite, AAI, etc.) ✏️
Vendor financing often beats bank rates on equipment-only deals.
📁 Funding normal
#37 Check three-phase power and HVAC load capacity ✏️
Gymnastics floors don't need it but trampolines + ballroom AC loads might.
📁 Location Scouting normal
#45 Install mirrors, ballet barres, and sound system in ballroom studio ✏️
Coordinate with American Ballroom Company on specs.
📁 Lease & Build-out normal
#46 Install parent viewing area (glass wall + seating) ✏️
Sightlines to gymnastics floor + tumbling area.
📁 Lease & Build-out normal
#51 Order ballroom sound system and HVAC supplementals ✏️
Coordinate specs with American Ballroom Company.
📁 Equipment Purchase normal
#52 Order fitness equipment ✏️
Cardio (treadmills, rowers), free weights, squat rack, cable tower, kettlebells.
📁 Equipment Purchase normal
#53 Order office + front-desk equipment ✏️
POS, check-in kiosk, waiver tablet, receipt printer, label printer, safe.
📁 Equipment Purchase normal
#61 Onboard ballroom staff via American Ballroom Company ✏️
Clarify who handles payroll, taxes, training, scheduling for ballroom instructors.
📁 Staff Hiring & Training normal
#66 Define competitive team structure and tryout process ✏️
Levels, practice hours, meet fees, parent commitment.
📁 Programs & Pricing normal
#67 Build pricing for private lessons, camps, and birthday parties ✏️
High-margin add-ons — critical for year-1 revenue.
📁 Programs & Pricing normal
#71 Run community awareness campaign ✏️
Flyers at schools, sponsor a local rec event, partner with kids' birthday vendors.
📁 Marketing & Pre-launch normal
#74 Schedule grand opening event date ✏️
Target weekend, 6-8 weeks after soft opening.
📁 Marketing & Pre-launch normal
#77 Collect structured feedback ✏️
Short Google Form: what worked, what didn't, what's missing. Anonymous.
📁 Soft Opening normal
#78 Iterate schedule and staffing based on first-week attendance ✏️
Drop poorly-attended classes, add waitlist classes.
📁 Soft Opening normal
#80 Coordinate ribbon-cutting with chamber of commerce ✏️
Free press + local business goodwill.
📁 Grand Opening normal
#82 Host media day for local press and influencers ✏️
Pitch 2 weeks in advance. Provide photo-friendly setups.
📁 Grand Opening normal
#88 Plan first competitive team training season ✏️
Meet calendar, training blocks, team uniforms, parent meetings.
📁 Operations normal
#89 Schedule quarterly staff reviews and training ✏️
Skills, certifications, team culture, compensation.
📁 Operations normal
#90 Review insurance coverage annually before renewal ✏️
Limits, exclusions, rate changes, claims history.
📁 Operations normal
#6 Write elevator pitch (30 seconds and 2 minutes) ✏️
Use both when talking to landlords, lenders, and community.
📁 Concept & Vision low
#12 Benchmark industry retention and churn ✏️
USAG & IHRSA reports, Sports & Fitness Industry Association data.
📁 Market Research low
#31 Draft investor pitch deck (if raising outside capital) ✏️
10 slides max. Problem, solution, market, traction, team, ask.
📁 Funding low
#32 Launch pre-sale memberships for launch capital ✏️
Founding member discount in exchange for upfront payment.
📁 Funding low
#73 Pitch local news for opening coverage ✏️
Community section of local paper + TV morning show.
📁 Marketing & Pre-launch low
#84 Publicly recognize staff, partners, and supporters ✏️
Post their names, photos, and contributions.
📁 Grand Opening low