Posted by Grinshoe

I am a teacher at a nearby school. I have been teaching Phys. Ed. and gymnastics, directed and taught Summer Camps, Daycamps, and clinics, and directed Sports Programs for other businesses for about 16 years, with them always telling me they would share some of the net with me, and if I made the activites do well, I would see it in my paycheck. well, after all these years, I'm am still making about what I did 16 years ago, with a slight increase, compared to inflation. I have now ventured on my own, and after only 7 months I have had about 100 students use my facility or program (as part of my business is program oreiented, and seasonal, the students shift with the season, i.e. basketball). I have operated on my own, maintaining my teaching job for my income, and reinvesting the money coming in back to the business. I have found the lowest possible rental fee for commercial footage (half of the market normal costs), I have designed a business plan which is both short term and long term. Long term is 5 years/$50,000 with 60% return. Medium term is $35,000 with 55% return in 2 and 1/2 years, and a short term of $20,000 with 50% return in one year. All would begin with first payment being made July 1st, 2003, as the biggest single source of net for the business is operating a Summer Camp, which if I advertise hard enough and quickly enough can yield as much as $60,000. In the past, I have, for the other companies, arrived with one to two thousand of my preditions, and usually exceeded them. My window of time is almost upon me, as Summer Camps should really be advertised by end of Feb., or early march, and begin Taking Registration April 1st. I put out my first Flyers at the end of March, and my registration date begins April 17th, and I already began fielding questions concerning my camp, as people like the price, and what my camp offers compared to the other camps. Three years ago i was unemployed for about 6 mths, and fell behind in student loans, which are now in rehqbilitation, and my credit suffered. I bought a van, and paid it down for almost 3 years, and have traded in on a newer model, and have recently established my first credit card, as banks said I didn't have enough of the "right kind" of credit. I have a friend of mine's mother (who works for an investment brokerage firm) handeling finding an investor for me. I gave her my business plan, and she said it looked real good. She gave it to her boss, and the comment I got was...the business plan asked oringinally for $100,000, why am only asking for $10,000. I said that originally, the $100,000 is what I felt would actually make the business succeed over a 5 yr. period, and that was for asking for an SBA. After talking to banks, and being turned down, I revised to ask for just $10,000 to do the original investment, pay that off, and establish my "worthiness" for something greater. in the meantime, I am establishing my "credit card" history and rehabilitating my student loans out of default, and clearing any other debts which were built up. I have had four of my student's parents place small investments with me to keep the business going, as they have faith in my directing of this business. I currently have about 20 students in cheerleading, another 10 in gymnastics, and about 20 attending daycamps. My basketball season produced about 40 students from November to march, and my mini-basketball produced another 35 students. I constantly have people stopping by asking for information, or calling me by phone (through word of mouth). The problem is, I can't advertise until I take care of the Conditional Use Permit for my second unit next door, which is the bigger of the two units almost 2000 sq. ft. (of 3100 s1. ft.) I can place any signs until I pay for sign permits, etc. I have already been told by the city commisioner I would be able to get the C.U.P. as soon as I apply. It then takes 4-6 weeks before the permit is issued...thus, my dilemna for this "window" of time. If you can help please let me know. The people who said they can get an investor are being very polite and helpful, but I am afraid they will take too long, and then, I will have moved beyond the point to which I can really make a go of the summer camp, afterwhich I will draw many students for the regular programs. I realize this is a large message, but, I felt anyone who is willing to take a risk on my business has a right to know all the gory details. thank you for your taking time on this for me. My students will appreciate it. I believe that in one year i can be up to over 200 students, and in 2 years, over 400 and within 5 years, over 1000, as the potential market for what I propose is so large here, and the market is still quite untapped. People may be holding back on doing a lot with the weak economy we have, but they are still taking care of their children, they just want to do more at less cost, and I think--I know I can provide that. in fact, because parents can't afford to take their families places, they are putting their children in environments where the children can benefit in going and doing activities such as mine...just one thing, I make it more affordable.Once again than you for your interest. from "Grinshoe," of course...

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