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Bottled Water Business Plan

Your bottled water business will give your clients plenty of hydration whether it uses; filtered, distilled, or natural spring water. Thus are you ready to hydrate people and start your business out of it? But before starting it you will need careful planning.

Need help writing a business plan for your bottled water business? You’re at the right place. Our bottled water business plan template will help you get started.

Free Business Plan Template

Download our free bottled water business plan template now and pave the way to success. Let’s turn your vision into an actionable strategy!

• Fill in the blanks – Outline
• Financial Tables

How to Write A Bottled Water Business Plan?

Writing a bottled water business plan is a crucial step toward the success of your business. Here are the key steps to consider when writing a business plan:

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is the first section planned to offer an overview of the entire business plan. However, it is written after the entire business plan is ready and summarizes each section of your plan.

Here are a few key components to include in your executive summary:

• Market Opportunity: Summarize your market research, including market size, growth potential, and marketing trends. Highlight the opportunities in the market and how your business will fit in to fill the gap.
• Marketing & Sales Strategies: Outline your sales and marketing strategies—what marketing platforms you use, how you plan on acquiring customers, etc.
• Financial Highlights: Briefly summarize your financial projections for the initial years of business operations. Include any capital or investment requirements, associated startup costs, projected revenues, and profit forecasts.
• Call to Action: Summarize your executive summary section with a clear CTA, for example, inviting angel investors to discuss the potential business investment.

Ensure your executive summary is clear, concise, easy to understand, and jargon-free.

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2. Business Overview

The business overview section of your business plan offers detailed information about your company. The details you add will depend on how important they are to your business. Yet, business name, location, business history, and future goals are some of the foundational elements you must consider adding to this section:

Describe what kind of bottled water company you run and the name of it. You may specialize in one of the following bottled water businesses:

• Natural spring water
• Purified water
• Mineral water
• Artesian water
• Functional water
• Describe the legal structure of your bottled water company, whether it is a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, or others.
• Explain where your business is located and why you selected the place.
• Owners: List the names of your bottled water company’s founders or owners. Describe what shares they own and their responsibilities for efficiently managing the business.
• Mission Statement: Summarize your business’ objective, core principles, and values in your mission statement. This statement needs to be memorable, clear, and brief.
• Future Goals: It’s crucial to convey your aspirations and vision. Mention your short-term and long-term goals; they can be specific targets for revenue, market share, or expanding your services.

This section should provide a thorough understanding of your business, its history, and its future plans. Keep this section engaging, precise, and to the point.

3. Market Analysis

The market analysis section of your business plan should offer a thorough understanding of the industry with the target market, competitors, and growth opportunities. You should include the following components in this section.

• Competitive Analysis: Identify and analyze your direct and indirect competitors . Identify their strengths and weaknesses, and describe what differentiates your bottled water services from them. Point out how you have a competitive edge in the market.
• Regulatory Environment: List regulations and licensing requirements that may affect your bottled water company, such as labeling regulations, quality & safety testing, compliance & inspections, etc.

Here are a few tips for writing the market analysis section of your bottled water company business plan:

• Conduct market research, industry reports, and surveys to gather data.
• Provide specific and detailed information whenever possible.
• Illustrate your points with charts and graphs.
• Write your business plan keeping your target audience in mind.

4. Products And Services

The product and services section should describe the specific services and products that will be offered to customers. To write this section should include the following:

• Single-serve bottles
• Multipack bottles
• Premium & specialty bottles
• Water filtration
• Water delivery services
• Customized bottles
• Describe the health benefits: If relevant, draw attention to any unique mineral composition or health advantages of your water, such as high mineral content, alkaline characteristics, or the presence of extra electrolytes.
• Quality measures: Describe your water’s sources and the steps you took to ensure their quality and purity. Talk about any accreditations, testing protocols, or quality control systems you have in place to ensure product safety and regulatory compliance.
• Additional Services: Mention if your bottled water company offers any additional services. You may include services like customized labeling & branding, subscription services, event & catering services, water education & workshops, etc.

In short, this section of your bottled water plan must be informative, precise, and client-focused. By providing a clear and compelling description of your offerings, you can help potential investors and readers understand the value of your business.

5. Sales And Marketing Strategies

Writing the sales and marketing strategies section means a list of strategies you will use to attract and retain your clients. Here are some key elements to include in your sales & marketing plan:

• Pricing Strategy: Describe your pricing strategy—how you plan to price your products or services and stay competitive in the local market. You can mention any discounts you plan on offering to attract new customers.
• Marketing Strategies: Discuss your marketing strategies to market your services. You may include some of these marketing strategies in your business plan—social media marketing, Google ads, brochures, content marketing, and print marketing.
• Sales Strategies: Outline the strategies you’ll implement to maximize your sales. Your sales strategies may include partnering with other businesses, influencer collaboration, offering referral programs, etc.
• Customer Retention: Describe your customer retention strategies and how you plan to execute them. For instance, introducing loyalty programs, discounts & offers, personalized service, etc.

Overall, this section of your bottled water production business plan should focus on customer acquisition and retention.

Have a specific, realistic, and data-driven approach while planning sales and marketing strategies for your bottled water business, and be prepared to adapt or make strategic changes in your strategies based on feedback and results.

6. Operations Plan

The operations plan section of your business plan should outline the processes and procedures involved in your business operations, such as staffing requirements and operational processes. Here are a few components to add to your operations plan:

• Staffing & Training: Mention your business’s staffing requirements, including the number of employees or staff needed. Include their qualifications, the training required, and the duties they will perform.
• Operational Process: Outline the processes and procedures you will use to run your bottled water business. Your operational processes may include water source & treatment, bottling & packaging, quality control & testing, inventory management, etc.

Adding these components to your operations plan will help you lay out your business operations, which will eventually help you manage your business effectively.

7. Management Team

The management team section provides an overview of your bottled water business’s management team. This section should provide a detailed description of each manager’s experience and qualifications, as well as their responsibilities and roles.

• Founders/CEO: Mention the founders and CEO of your bottled water company, and describe their roles and responsibilities in successfully running the business.
• Organizational structure: Explain the organizational structure of your management team. Include the reporting line and decision-making hierarchy.
• Compensation Plan: Describe your compensation plan for the management and staff. Include their salaries, incentives, and other benefits.

This section should describe the key personnel for your bottled water business, highlighting how you have the perfect team to succeed.

8. Financial Plan

Your financial plan section should provide a summary of your business’s financial projections for the first few years. Here are some key elements to include in your financial plan:

• Profit & loss statement: Describe details such as projected revenue, operational costs, and service costs in your projected profit and loss statement . Make sure to include your business’s expected net profit or loss.
• Cash flow statement: The cash flow for the first few years of your operation should be estimated and described in this section. This may include billing invoices, payment receipts, loan payments, and any other cash flow statements.
• Balance Sheet: Create a projected balance sheet documenting your bottled water business’s assets, liabilities, and equity.
• Financing Needs: Calculate costs associated with starting a bottled water business, and estimate your financing needs and how much capital you need to raise to operate your business. Be specific about your short-term and long-term financing requirements, such as investment capital or loans.

Be realistic with your financial projections, and make sure you offer relevant information and evidence to support your estimates.

9. Appendix

The appendix section of your plan should include any additional information supporting your business plan’s main content, such as market research, legal documentation, financial statements, and other relevant information.

• Add a table of contents for the appendix section to help readers easily find specific information or sections.
• In addition to your financial statements, provide additional financial documents like tax returns, a list of assets within the business, credit history, and more. These statements must be the latest and offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.
• Provide data derived from market research, including stats about the industry, user demographics, and industry trends.
• Include any legal documents such as permits, licenses, and contracts.
• Include any additional documentation related to your business plan, such as product brochures, marketing materials, operational procedures, etc.

Use clear headings and labels for each section of the appendix so that readers can easily find the necessary information.

Remember, the appendix section of your bottled water manufacturer business plan should only include relevant and important information supporting your plan’s main content.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

This sample bottled water business plan will provide an idea for writing a successful bottled water plan, including all the essential components of your business.

After this, if you still need clarification about writing an investment-ready business plan to impress your audience, download our bottled water business plan pdf .

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Frequently asked questions, why do you need a bottled water business plan.

A business plan is an essential tool for anyone looking to start or run a successful bottled water business. It helps to get clarity in your business, secures funding, and identifies potential challenges while starting and growing your business.

Overall, a well-written plan can help you make informed decisions, which can contribute to the long-term success of your bottled water company.

How to get funding for your bottled water business?

There are several ways to get funding for your bottled water business, but self-funding is one of the most efficient and speedy funding options. Other options for funding are:

• Bank loan – You may apply for a loan in government or private banks.
• Small Business Administration (SBA) loan – SBA loans and schemes are available at affordable interest rates, so check the eligibility criteria before applying for it.
• Crowdfunding – The process of supporting a project or business by getting a lot of people to invest in your business, usually online.
• Angel investors – Getting funds from angel investors is one of the most sought startup options.

Apart from all these options, there are small business grants available, check for the same in your location and you can apply for it.

Where to find business plan writers for your bottled water business?

There are many business plan writers available, but no one knows your business and ideas better than you, so we recommend you write your bottled water business plan and outline your vision as you have in your mind.

What is the easiest way to write your bottled water business plan?

A lot of research is necessary for writing a business plan, but you can write your plan most efficiently with the help of any bottled water business plan example and edit it as per your need. You can also quickly finish your plan in just a few hours or less with the help of our business plan software .

Can a good bottled water business plan help me secure funding?

Indeed. A well-crafted bottled water business plan will help your investors better understand your business domain, market trends, strategies, business financials, and growth potential—helping them make better financial decisions.

So, if you have a profitable and investable business, a comprehensive business plan can certainly help you secure your business funding.

What's the importance of a marketing strategy in a bottled water business plan?

Marketing strategy is a key component of your bottled water business plan. Whether it is about achieving certain business goals or helping your investors understand your plan to maximize their return on investment—an impactful marketing strategy is the way to do it!

Here are a few pointers to help you understand the importance of having an impactful marketing strategy:

• It provides your business an edge over your competitors.
• It helps investors better understand your business and growth potential.
• It helps you develop products with the best profit potential.
• It helps you set accurate pricing for your products or services.

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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Bottled Water Business

Back to All Business Ideas

How to Start a Bottled Water Business: A Step by Step Guide

Written by: Carolyn Young

Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.

Edited by: David Lepeska

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Published on April 13, 2022 Updated on July 5, 2024

Investment range

$6,550 - $15,100

Revenue potential

$130,000 - $416,000 p.a.

Time to build

1 – 3 months

Profit potential

$46,000 - $83,000 p.a.

Industry trend

Here are the most important things to consider when starting a bottled water business:

• Source of water — Find a location close to a clean and sustainable water source. Consider natural water sources such as springs and aquifers.
• Grants — There are a few grants available that can help you start your bottled water business such as Small Business Grants , Drinking Water Grants , and Environmental Grants.
• Licenses — As bottled water is a consumable product, you will need many licenses, such as approval from the health department , FDA approval , environmental permits, water rights , and state-specific permits. 
• Equipment — Invest in high-quality equipment like pumps, pipes, and storage tanks for the water. To treat the water further, add filtration, reverse osmosis units, and UV systems. Your facilities also need bottling, packaging, and shipping equipment.
• Niche — Find a niche and stand out. Think about eco-friendly bottles, flavored and enhanced water, fitness-focused products, kids’ water, etc.
• Register your business — A limited liability company (LLC) is the best legal structure for new businesses because it is fast and simple. Form your business immediately using ZenBusiness LLC formation service or hire one of the best LLC services on the market.
• Legal business aspects — Register for taxes, open a business bank account, and get an EIN .

Interactive Checklist at your fingertips—begin your bottled water business today!

You May Also Wonder:

Can a bottled water business be profitable?

Yes, bottled water has good profit margins. Your key will be to brand your water in a way that is appealing to consumers. You also need to find a reliable manufacturer.

How can I start a bottled water business without opening my own plant?

You can find a water company that will produce your water and packaging and put your own brand and label on it.

Who buys the most bottled water?

The  United States is the country  that buys the most bottled water in the world.

How can I increase the sales of my bottled water?

To increase the sales of your bottled water, focus on marketing and branding by highlighting the quality and unique features of your product. Target your advertising efforts to reach your desired market through various channels. Consider product placements and partnerships to increase visibility and availability. 

What distribution channels should I consider for selling my bottled water?

To distribute your bottled water effectively, consider selling through retail stores, online platforms, beverage distributors, direct sales at events and via subscriptions, and B2B partnerships with establishments like restaurants and gyms. This strategy broadens your market reach and simplifies logistics.

Step 1: Decide if the Business Is Right for You

Pros and cons.

Starting a bottled water business has pros and cons to consider before deciding if it’s right for you.

• Good money — Profit margins on bottled water are fairly high
• Flexibility — Run your business from home as a white label company
• Hot market — Demand for bottled water is strong
• Saturated market — Competition is fierce in the bottled water industry
• Partner needed — Finding a white label water company can be challenging

Bottled Water Industry Trends

Industry size and growth.

• Industry size and past growth — The global bottled water industry was worth $303 billion in 2022 and it’s been steadily growing.(( https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/bottled-water-market )) The US market share is worth $9.3 billion.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/bottled-water-production-industry/ ))
• Growth forecast — The global bottled water industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% annually by 2032 to reach more than half a trillion dollars.(( https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/non-alcoholic-drinks/bottled-water/worldwide ))
• Number of businesses — There are 476 bottled water production businesses in the US.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/bottled-water-production-industry/ )) 
• Number of people employed — The US bottled water production industry employs 15,708 people.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/bottled-water-production-industry/ )) 

Trends and Challenges

• Alkaline waters, which have a higher pH level than regular bottled water, are increasingly popular because they are thought to improve energy. The same is true for electrolyte-enhanced water.
• New to the market is hydrogen water, made with more hydrogen and thought to increase energy and endurance as well as to provide antioxidants. Though it’s new, it’s increasing in popularity quickly despite its higher price. 
• Plastic water bottles are piling up in landfills, leading to environmental concerns and increased governmental regulation. This has spurred manufacturers to look for alternative bottling. Many manufacturers are using recycled plastic, but some are moving to cans and paper cartons as better alternatives.
• Plastic bottle production in the United States requires about 17.6 million barrels of oil annually, which is of increasing concern due to the current energy situation.

Consumer Spending

• Average consumer spend — The average person in the US consumes about 46.5 gallons of bottled water per year.(( https://www.statista.com/statistics/183377/per-capita-consumption-of-bottled-water-in-the-us-since-1999/ )) 
• Potential customer base — A recent survey shows that 49 million Americans consume bottled water.(( https://tappwater.co/blogs/blog/how-many-people-consume-bottled-water-globally ))
• Average prices — Consumers tend to buy bottled water in bulk. The average price for a 24-bottle case is $6.99, while specialty waters sell for up to $15 or more. They are commanding a higher price due to the way they are presenting their water to consumers, creating the impression of more health benefits.(( https://bottledwater.org/bottled-water-prices-advertising/ ))

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Bottled Water Business?

Startup costs for a bottled water business range from $6,500 to $15,000. Your costs will depend on the minimum your manufacturer will allow you to order since the bulk of your startup costs are for your initial inventory. 

You could start your search for a manufacturer on this online platform .  

How Much Can You Earn From a Bottled Water Business?

The average price for a private-label specialty case of bottled water is about $10. You can either sell your water online on a site like Amazon, or you can try to find local stores that will stock your water. Your profit margin after manufacturing and packaging costs will be around 35%. 

In your first year or two, you might sell 250 cases a week, bringing in $130,000 in annual revenue. This would mean nearly $46,000 in profit, assuming that 35% margin. As your brand gains recognition and you get your products into grocery stores, sales could climb to 800 cases per week. At this stage, you’d rent out a distribution center and hire staff, reducing your margin to about 20%. With an annual revenue of $416,000, you’d still have a nice profit of more than $83,000.

What Barriers to Entry Are There?

There are a few barriers to entry for a bottled water business. Your biggest challenges will be:

• Finding a manufacturing partner
• Competition from established firms

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Step 2: hone your idea.

Now that you know what’s involved in starting a bottled water business, it’s a good idea to hone your concept in preparation to enter a competitive market. 

Market research will give you the upper hand, even if you’re already positive that you have a perfect product or service. Conducting market research is important, because it can help you understand your customers better, who your competitors are, and your business landscape.

Why? Identify an Opportunity

Research bottled water businesses in your area to examine their products, price points, and what sells best. You’re looking for a market gap to fill. For instance, maybe the local market is missing a spring water or sachet water company. Sachet water is pre-filtered water heat-sealed in plastic bags instead of bottles.

You might consider targeting a niche market by specializing in a certain aspect of your industry, such as mineral water or purified water.

This could jumpstart your word-of-mouth marketing and attract clients right away. 

What? Choose Your Product Line and Define the Product Range

Bottled water companies are legally allowed to offer:

• Mineral water from an underground source with naturally occurring trace minerals
• Spring water
• Well water, artesian well water 
• Purified water, or treated tap water 

You can choose any of those. Your key will be your labeling and how you brand your product. You could decide to offer vitamin or flavored water, but that would move you out of the bottled water category and into the soft drink category and would make production much more difficult. 

How Much Should You Charge for Bottled Water?

If you present your water as a high-end specialty water, you can charge about $10 per case. The key to this is in packaging and branding that creates the impression of a superior product. Using phrases like “natural spring water” and giving your bottles a confident, appealing design goes a long way. If you go to Amazon and search for bottled water, you’ll see many ways in which water is presented as high-end and commands prices as high as $15 or even $20. 

You should aim for a profit margin of about 35% after manufacturing and packaging costs.

Once you know your costs, you can use our profit margin calculator to determine your markup and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.

Who? Identify Your Target Market

Your target market will be broad, but it may tend to be a younger crowd. You can find them on sites like TikTok and Instagram, but you could also advertise on Facebook, LinkedIn, and beyond.  

Where? Choose a Location

When selecting a location for a bottled water company, the approach varies depending on whether you have a partner manufacturer or not:

• Water source — Prioritize a location near a high-quality, sustainable water source like a spring or well.
• Regulatory compliance — Ensure compliance with water extraction and bottling regulations.
• Market proximity — Choose a location close to your target market to reduce transportation costs.
• Infrastructure and accessibility — Look for adequate infrastructure for bottling and packaging, and good transportation links.
• Water source — The same priority for a sustainable, high-quality water source applies.
• Manufacturing facilities — You’ll need space for your own bottling and packaging facilities.
• Labor availability — Ensure access to a skilled workforce for various operational roles.
• Environmental and community impact — Assess and minimize environmental impact and build positive community relations.

In both scenarios, consider the local climate, the potential for natural disasters, and the legal and political environment. Future expansion possibilities and overall costs are also important factors.

Step 3: Brainstorm a Bottled Water Business Name

Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:

• Short, unique, and catchy names tend to stand out
• Names that are easy to say and spell tend to do better 
• Name should be relevant to your product or service offerings
• Ask around — family, friends, colleagues, social media — for suggestions
• Including keywords, such as “mineral water” or “spring water,” boosts SEO
• Name should allow for expansion, for example, “AquaSource Bottling” over “AquaSource Sparkling Water” or “Coconut Bay Water”
• A location-based name can help establish a strong connection with your local community and help with the SEO but might hinder future expansion

Discover over 280 unique bottled water brand name ideas here . If you want your business name to include specific keywords, you can also use our bottled water name generator. Just type in a few keywords, hit Generate, and you’ll have dozens of suggestions at your fingertips.

Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these. 

Find a Domain

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Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead with domain registration and social media account creation. Your business name is one of the key differentiators that sets your business apart. However, once you pick your company name and start with the branding, it is hard to change the business name. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your choice before you start a business entity.

Step 4: Create a Bottled Water Business Plan

Here are the key components of a business plan:

• Executive summary — A concise overview of your bottled water business, highlighting key points and objectives.
• Business overview — Detailed information about the bottled water industry, your company’s mission, and its structure
• Product and services — Explanation of the types of bottled water you offer, including any unique features or benefits
• Market analysis — Examination of the target market for bottled water, considering demographics, trends, and potential growth
• Competitive analysis — Assessment of other bottled water companies in the market, identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
• Sales and marketing — Strategies for promoting and selling your bottled water, including distribution channels and advertising plans
• Management team — Introduction of key individuals involved in running the business, emphasizing their qualifications and roles
• Operations plan — Details on how your bottled water business will operate, covering production, quality control, and distribution
• Financial plan — Projections of your business’s financial performance, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow forecasts
• Appendix — Supplementary materials such as supporting documents, charts, and additional information to enhance the business plan

If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist to create a top-notch business plan for you.

Step 5: Register Your Business

Registering your business is an absolutely crucial step — it’s the prerequisite to paying taxes, raising capital, opening a bank account, and other guideposts on the road to getting a business up and running.

Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business! 

Choose Where to Register Your Company

Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you’re planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as some states could offer real advantages when it comes to bottled water businesses. 

If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind that it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state. 

Choose Your Business Structure

Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your bottled water business will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely. 

Here are the main options:

• Sole proprietorship — The most common structure for small businesses makes no legal distinction between company and owner. All income goes to the owner, who’s also liable for any debts, losses, or liabilities incurred by the business. The owner pays taxes on business income on his or her personal tax return.
• General partnership — Similar to a sole proprietorship, but for two or more people. Again, owners keep the profits and are liable for losses. The partners pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC) — Combines the characteristics of corporations with those of sole proprietorships or partnerships. Again, the owners are not personally liable for debts.
• C Corporation — Under this structure, the business is a distinct legal entity and the owner or owners are not personally liable for its debts. Owners take profits through shareholder dividends, rather than directly. The corporation pays taxes, and owners pay taxes on their dividends, which is sometimes referred to as double taxation.
• S Corporation — This refers to the tax classification of the business but is not a business entity. An S Corp can be either a corporation or an LLC , which just needs to elect this structure for tax status. In an S Corp, income is passed through directly to shareholders, who pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.

We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using an online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization , and answer any questions you might have.

Form Your LLC

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Step 6: Register for Taxes

The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identification Number or EIN. You can file for your EIN online, or by mail/fax. Visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind that, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship, you can simply use your social security number as your EIN. 

Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.

The IRS website also offers a tax-payers checklist , and taxes can be filed online.

It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you’re completing them correctly.

Step 7: Fund Your Business

Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:

• Bank loans — This is the most common method but getting approved requires a rock-solid business plan and a strong credit history.
• SBA-guaranteed loans — The Small Business Administration can act as a guarantor, helping gain that elusive bank approval via an SBA-guaranteed loan .
• Government grants — A handful of financial assistance programs help fund entrepreneurs. Visit Grants.gov to learn which might work for you.
• Friends and family — Reach out to friends and family to provide a business loan or investment in your concept. It’s a good idea to have legal advice when doing so because SEC regulations apply.
• Crowdfunding — Websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo offer an increasingly popular low-risk option, in which donors fund your vision. Entrepreneurial crowdfunding sites like Fundable and WeFunder enable multiple investors to fund your business.
• Personal — Self-fund your business via your savings or the sale of property or other assets.

Bank and SBA loans are probably the best options, other than friends and family, for funding a bottled water business. You might also try crowdfunding if you have an innovative concept. 

Step 8: Apply for Bottled Water Business Licenses and Permits

Starting a bottled water business requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments.

Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits. 

You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more. 

You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package . They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.

This is not a step to be taken lightly, as failing to comply with legal requirements can result in hefty penalties.

If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.

Step 9: Open a Business Bank Account

Before you start making money, you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account .

Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your bottled water business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.

Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account. 

Step 10: Get Business Insurance

Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.

Here are some types of insurance to consider:

• General liability — The most comprehensive type of insurance, acting as a catch-all for many business elements that require coverage. If you get just one kind of insurance, this is it. It even protects against bodily injury and property damage.
• Business property — Provides coverage for your equipment and supplies.
• Equipment breakdown insurance — Covers the cost of replacing or repairing equipment that has broken due to mechanical issues.
• Worker’s compensation — Provides compensation to employees injured on the job.
• Property — Covers your physical space, whether it is a cart, storefront, or office.
• Commercial auto — Protection for your company-owned vehicle.
• Professional liability — Protects against claims from a client who says they suffered a loss due to an error or omission in your work.
• Business owner’s policy (BOP) — This is an insurance plan that acts as an all-in-one insurance policy, a combination of the above insurance types.

Step 11: Prepare to Launch

As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business. 

Essential Software and Tools

Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats — from marketing to sales to accounting — which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks. 

You may want to use industry-specific software, such as LS Retail , Vend , or Retail Pro , to manage purchasing, inventory, and invoicing.

• Popular web-based accounting programs for smaller businesses include Quickbooks , FreshBooks , and Xero . 
• If you’re unfamiliar with basic accounting, you may want to hire a professional, especially as you begin. The consequences of filing incorrect tax documents can be harsh, so accuracy is crucial. 

Develop Your Website

Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism.

You can create your own website using website builders . This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.

However, people are unlikely to find your website unless you follow Search Engine Optimization ( SEO ) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google. 

Here are some powerful marketing strategies for your future business:

• Website & SEO — Optimize your website and online listings to increase visibility in search results, focusing on bottled water and hydration solutions.
• Engaging social media campaigns — Highlight the purity and source of your water on platforms like Instagram and Twitter to engage a health-conscious audience.
• Interactive website features — Develop an engaging website that educates visitors on the health benefits and sustainability efforts of your brand.
• Health and wellness blogging — Share content on the importance of hydration, water purity, and eco-friendly practices.
• Customer testimonials — Utilize positive feedback to build trust and encourage trial of your water.
• Hydration stations at events — Set up branded stations at local sports and wellness events to promote your product.
• Partnerships with fitness centers — Collaborate with gyms and yoga studios to supply your bottled water, reinforcing a healthy lifestyle image.
• Rewards program — Implement a program that rewards repeat purchases with discounts or other incentives.
• Targeted advertising campaigns — Reach health-conscious consumers and sustainability advocates through targeted digital ads.
• Influencer marketing — Work with health and wellness influencers to amplify the benefits of your water.
• Striking branding and packaging — Design distinctive labels and packaging that reflect the quality and values of your brand.
• Email marketing — Maintain engagement with your customer base through newsletters that provide hydration tips, company updates, and special promotions.

Focus on USPs

Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the characteristics of a product or service that set it apart from the competition. Today, customers are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they are able to quickly grasp how your bottled water business meets their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire. 

Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your bottled water business could be: 

• Refreshing natural spring water to live your healthiest life 
• Fortifying mineral water so you’re always at your best 
• Hydrogen water to give you an energy boost

You may not like to network or use personal connections for business gain but your personal and professional networks likely offer considerable untapped business potential. Maybe that Facebook friend you met in college is now running a bottled water business, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been working in bottled water for years and can offer invaluable insight and industry connections. 

The possibilities are endless, so it’s a good idea to review your personal and professional networks and reach out to those with possible links to or interest in bottled water. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership. 

Step 12: Build Your Team

If you’re starting out small from a home office, you may not need any employees. But as your business grows, you will likely need workers to fill various roles. Potential positions for a bottled water business include:

• Distribution center workers — preparing bottled water for shipping
• General manager — ordering, accounting
• Marketing lead — SEO strategies, social media

At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need. 

Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Jobs.com. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed , Glassdoor , or ZipRecruiter . Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent. 

Step 13: Run a Bottled Water Business — Start Making Money!

Ready to get in on the action? The bottled water industry is set to double, which means now is the perfect time to create your own bottled water brand. You can start for a relatively low investment if you can find a white-label manufacturer and make a nice return on that investment. You just have to come up with an identity for your water and design your packaging well, and you can bring in some good money.

Now that you understand the business, it’s time to hit the ground running and launch your bottled water business!

This business model is informative and beneficial for entrepreneurs. Many thanks for such a great help.

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• Decide if the Business Is Right for You
• Hone Your Idea
• Brainstorm a Bottled Water Business Name
• Create a Bottled Water Business Plan
• Register Your Business
• Register for Taxes
• Fund Your Business
• Apply for Bottled Water Business Licenses and Permits
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get Business Insurance
• Prepare to Launch
• Build Your Team
• Run a Bottled Water Business — Start Making Money!

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Starting Bottled Water Business Plan (PDF)

The bottled water business industry has been steadily growing all across the world. This is due to a plethora of reasons which vary from place to place. For instance, big beverage companies have diversified into bottled water as one of their products over the years. Due to their wide reach it means bottled water has increasingly become more available than ever before. In some parts of the world the surge in mineral water businesses has been triggered by lack of access to clean and reliable water. Thus for drinking purposes or other related uses people there now prefer to use bottled water. Another interesting factor is global warming which has seen temperatures getting much higher in most parts of the world. This has resulted in the increased demand for commercially produced mineral water. Bottled water offers convenience and tends to taste better. Plus there is general perception that bottled water is safer. That is why starting a bottled water business can pay off immensely. All this is meant to show you that starting a bottled water business is a noble idea. This article will outline how to start a bottled water business, and the bottled water business plan (PDF, Word & Excel).

Market Research

The most important aspect you will look at here is finding out about existing players to draw insights from them. The market for bottled water is usually available anywhere but it is important to know of any competitors beforehand. Your focus will be to learn how they conduct their businesses paying particular attention to scale of operation, water sources, processing methods, target clients, pricing, marketing approaches and so on. Knowing these things will be central to your ultimate unique selling point. Things like packaging and pricing can put you over your competitors if well considered. As much as many players already exist and more are entering the bottled water business field, there is always a market segment that is unattended or insufficiently attended. Thus it essential to have a detailed mineral water business before you start.

Location, Premises And Equipment

In your choice of location of the purified water business, there are some considerations that you should make. Since any bottled water business entails the need to have a seamless distribution framework, it is a factor to consider. This means you must chose a location connected to strategic road networks for easy accessibility to clients and suppliers and the ultimate distribution of the bottled water. How secure is the location you are choosing – that is another important factor to consider. What about availability of water supply? Proximity to prospective clients, suppliers and human resources is also very vital. The mineral water business plan should include the costs of purchasing or leasing the premises.

The core thing you must work on from the onset is a water treatment plant. Some of the basic inclusions are bottling machines, filling machines, purification and treatment machines, labelling machines and a water source eg a borehole. The specific equipment you need will depend on the water purification methods you are going to use for your business. For example if you decide to purify water using reverse osmosis, that means you will require reverse osmosis machinery. Water storage tanks are also required. The costs of all the equipment should be catered for in your purified water business plan.

Types Of Bottled Water

There are different types of bottled water. In fact, there is still an evolution that is leading to the emergence of new types of bottled water. Your bottled water business plan should outline the type of water you are selling.

Mineral Water

This is water comprising of substantial amounts of dissolved minerals. Some of those minerals are calcium, sodium, and magnesium. Typically the water would have also gone through certain processes such as aeration or filtration. Note that there are strictly no chemical processes involved here. This water would have been sourced from some underground source. There must be ascertained and provable pollution-free qualities regarding the source. Most importantly, the water must have certain stipulated minerals in certain prescribed concentrations. That is what can earn it the label of ‘mineral water’.

Spring Water

This is water that would have been sourced from a spring. It is important to note that most of what is termed spring water is not from springs. It is usually a marketing gimmick and the water is often just tap water. Thus if you are going to sell spring water it must truly be from a spring. People often use ‘mineral water’ and ‘spring water’ interchangeably. This is because there are some similarities. Often time the distinction is that spring water is specifically sourced from a spring.

Purified Water

This is water that would have undergone a number of purification processes. These purification processes will be meant to get rid of chemical and solid contaminants. The original source of the water can be tap water or ground water. The common purification processes involved are filtration, reverse osmosis, and distillation, amongst others.

Sparkling Water

This can also be called soda water; it is also known as carbonated water. When you drink it feels as if you are drinking a fizzy drink. That is why some call it fizzy water. It is also commonly known as club soda. Sparkling water is a result of infusing water with carbon dioxide under pressure.

Flavoured Water

This is water that would have had natural or artificial flavors added to it. The flavors can be added as one or as a blend of several flavors. They are usually fruit flavors e.g. lemon, lime, orange, raspberry, mint, and blackberry, amongst others.

Staff And Management

This depends on the scale of operations and level of sophistication of your purified water business. Anything from 6 employees going up will do for a small-scale factory. The idea is there are pertinent areas that needed to be manned e.g. management, production, financial management, sales, distribution, and housekeeping amongst other areas. Your bottled water business plan should cater for the wages and employees of all your employees.

Customer Segmentation

Primary usage.

Customer segmentation for the bottled water production business is informed by several variables. For example, the primary usage of the bottled water can give an idea. Bottled water can be for everyday use, it can be sporting use, or it can be travel. These examples translate into customers segments with specific needs or preferences.

Type Of Bottled Water

Customer segments are also a function of the type of bottled water in question. For instance, in many places the most consumed type of bottled water is purified water. Consumption dynamics for the different types of bottled water helps you understand the customer segments.

Distribution Channel

People purchase their bottled water from different outlets. Maybe they purchase from supermarkets or shops. Zoning in on one you can know whether or not they buy in bulk. There will be much to learn about customer segments by looking into the various distribution channels.

Marketing Plan

Bottled water is the easiest to market. You just have to ensure your bottled water is properly branded. The best marketing strategy is to get your bottled water in front of as many people as possible. Avail it to commercial buildings, have it used at all sorts of events. You can target hospitality and catering outlets. Target wellness and fitness centres. Sporting events are also a strategic focus. Find ways to sell your purified water there or promote it through those locations. Sponsor worthy causes by donating free bottled water. Have it sold in supermarkets and shops. Consider traders especially street vendors, where applicable. These people can push your mineral water brand faster, far, and wide. In principle, have a wide distribution network so that people see your bottled water brand everywhere. Consider working with social media influencers and even celebrities if possible. Build a website and have active social media accounts to publicize your bottled water brand. Leverage on print and electronic media as well. A proper marketing strategy should be included in your bottled water business plan.

Approaches For Bottled Water Business

Regarding bottled water there two types of service providers, namely, large-scale and small or medium scale. The large scale ones tend to be companies already established like Coca Cola as an example. This can be an approach to take i.e. starting large-scale but this is not a smart move because it is costly. Most preferably you must start small or medium scale by targeting reasonably-sized markets e.g. small towns. Then depending on the performance of the bottled water business you scale up operations in due course. In order to push sales there is a unique strategy one can use for their bottled water. You can always have an eye out for big events such entertainment or corporate events. You go ahead and pitch up an idea to supply them with custom-labelled bottled water. Many people will jump onto that since it would give an exclusive flare to an event. In terms of sales you can also enter working agreements with big clients such as food outlets, hospitality spots (e.g. hotels, spars) and so on. This will be strategic in that you guarantee a steady and consistent flow of repeat purchases.

Do not be hesitant to start a mineral water business because it is not that difficult to start one. The demand for bottled water is very high and will always be so you can always carve out your own niche. Just adhere to strict codes of quality assurance and integrity – do not be one of those frauds who package unsafe water as bottled water yet it is neither treated nor purified. It is wise to take insurance cover and to make sure you have all the required certification or licenses that might be mandatory. Find out about this from local authorities, health inspection boards, environmental agencies and the like. Packaging and pricing are crucial but to top it off you must have a robust and active marketing strategy using all available channels.

Pre-Written Bottled Water Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel): Comprehensive Version, Short Funding/Bank Loan Version and Automated Financial Statements

For an in-depth analysis of the bottled water manufacturing business, we encourage you to purchase our well-researched and comprehensive bottled water business plan. We introduced the business plans after discovering that many were venturing into the purified water business without enough knowledge and understanding of how to run the business, lack of understanding of the financial side of the business, lack of understanding of : the industry, the risks involved , costs and profitability of the business; which often leads to disastrous losses.

The StartupBiz Global mineral water business plan will make it easier for you to launch and run your water bottling plant business successfully, fully knowing what you are going into, and what’s needed to succeed in the business. This is a complete business plan for a packaged water business. It will be easier to plan and budget as you will be aware of all the costs involved in setting up and running the purified water business.

Uses of the Mineral Water Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

The bottled water business plan can be used for many purposes including:

• Raising capital from investors/friends/relatives
• Applying for a bank loan
• Start-up guide to launch your bottled water business
• As a mineral water business proposal
• Assessing profitability of the bottled water business
• Finding a business partner
• Assessing the initial start-up costs so that you know how much to save
• Manual for current business owners to help in business and strategy formulation

Contents of the Bottled Water Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

The business plan for purified water includes, but not limited to:

• Marketing Strategy
• Financial Statements (monthly cash flow projections, income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, break even analysis, payback period analysis, start-up costs, financial graphs, revenue and expenses, Bank Loan Amortization)
• Industry Analysis
• Market Analysis
• Risk Analysis
• SWOT & PEST Analysis
• Operational Requirements
• Operational Strategy
• Why some people in the bottled water business fail, so that you can avoid their mistakes
• Ways to raise capital to start your bottled water business

The purified water business plan package consists of 4 files

• Bottled Water Business Plan – PDF file (Comprehensive Version – 101 Pages)
• Bottled Water Business Plan – Editable Word File (Comprehensive Version – 101 Pages)
• Bottled Water Business Plan Funding/Bank Loan Version- Editable Word File (Short version for applying for a loan/funding – 48 pages)
• Bottled Water Business Plan Automated Financial Statements – (Editable Excel File)

The business plan can be used in any country and can be easily edited. The financial statements are automated. This implies that you can change eg the costs, salaries etc, and all the other financial statements will automatically adjust to reflect the change. 

Click below to download the Contents Page of the Bottled Water Business Plan (PDF)

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Get the Bottled Water Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

Click Buy Now  below to purchase using Paypal, Credit Card, or Debit Card. After you have purchased, you will immediately see the download link for the business plan package on the screen. You will also immediately get an email with the business plan download link. The Pre-written business plan package (PDF, Word, and Excel) costs $30 only!

If you want to purchase multiple business plans at once then click here: Business Plans Store.

The business plan package is a zipped compressed file containing the PDF, Word and Excel documents. To open the package after downloading it, just right click, and select Extract All. If you have any problems in downloading and opening the files, email us on [email protected] and we will assist you.

We wish you the best in your bottled water business! Check out our collection of business plans  , and more business ideas .

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Water Purification and Bottling Business Plan Template

Published Mar.14, 2022

Updated Apr.24, 2024

By: Jakub Babkins

Average rating 4.5 / 5. Vote count: 2

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Table of Content

Water purification and bottling business plan for starting your own business

Bottled water is one commodity consumed in all parts of the world, and of course, those in the business of producing bottled water are known to generate sales all year round if the company is well-managed. The economic downturn hardly affects the consumption of bottled water simply because it is a commodity that is as important as the air we breathe.

Production companies in the bottled water industry purify bottled water into plastic and glass bottles for consumption. The process involves use of a comprehensive business plan for bottled water and detailed franchise business planning .

If you plan on having a water purification and bottling business of your own, here is a purified drinking water business plan developed for Aqua Dreams. If you are confused about how to start a packaged drinking water business, this plan will provide you with all the details you need to know before going forward with your startup idea. 

The business plan for Aqua Dreams is as detailed as a business plan for Starbucks . Hence it is assured that it will answer all your questions regarding how to start a purified water business.

Executive Summary

2.1 the business.

Aqua Dreams will be a licensed and standard bottled water production company situated in an industrial area in Orleans, Massachusetts. We have been able to secure a long-term lease for a facility in a strategic location with an option of a long-term renewal on agreed terms and conditions favorable to us. The reason behind this successful execution is a well-thought-out water purification and bottling business plan .

2.2 Management of water purification and bottling business

While taking an entrepreneurial initiative, it is essential to ensure that all aspects of your business are coherent. Hence, you must prepare a unique bottled water business plan that helps you seek sufficient funding. 

Having said that, while writing a bottled water business proposal, you must analyze all the available resources. If you intend to raise loans, you should also study some business plans for banks because the process of getting loans can be exhaustive. 

2.3 Customers of water purification and bottling business

While thinking of how to start water bottle business, you must understand who your target market is. Including this detail in your water purification business plan will help you in subsequent planning. The recurring customers of Aqua Dreams are identified as:

• Restaurants and Canteens
• Event Planners

2.4 Business Target

Our vision is to establish a standard bottled water Production Company whose products will be sold in Orleans – Massachusetts, and throughout the United States of America and  Canada . There would be no compromise on the quality of the product, and complete transparency would be offered concerning our filtering processes.

Company Summary

3.1 company owner.

Aaron Finch will be the owner of Aqua Dreams. Aaron has strong leadership and organizational skills that he acquired while working at different water filtration plants since 2009. He graduated with a major in resource management from the University of Texas and researched this field ever since. He identified a lack of efficient purification systems in existing firms in the market and hence felt the need to introduce an innovative bottling water business plan.

3.2 Why the water purification and bottling business is being started

The bottled water production industry is profitable, and it is open for any aspiring entrepreneur to come in and establish their business. Aaron thought of coming up with a packaged drinking water business plan so that he doesn’t miss on any important aspect.

3.3 How the water purification and bottling business will be started

Step1: Planning for the business

Before setting up your business, looking into all the available resources and planning your way forward is essential. It gives you an idea of the availability of human resources and capital. If you are adding farm-related aspects to your business, it would be beneficial to also read out farmers market business plan before making a business plan for your startup.

Step2: Get Recognized

The next step is to be recognized by defining your business’s services and values. Having the proper business structure is very important to us at Aqua Dreams. Besides, producing healthy, portable, and well-packaged bottled water, we aim to impart perfect customer care service.

Step3: Offices 

The cooperate office of Aqua Dreams will be located in the industrial zone of Orleans. It will be a feasible location since it would grant easy access to resources. Consequently, the cost of acquiring production factors would be low. The market trends in this water purification business plan pdf can help you strategically choose your corporate office’s location. 

Step4: Online Presence

Living in an age of social media and digitalization, having a web presence is imperative for a company’s success. The website for Aqua Dreams would entail the company’s purification and bottling methods to educate the consumers about the sustainable processes we use.

Step5: Marketing

The last step is developing and executing a marketing plan to promote your services. In your business plan for bottled water , you must add marketing strategies that you will be using to reach out to the target customers. For diverse and unique advertisement ideas, research is imperative. You may need to visit several business operational models such as a liquor store business plan to gain an insight into the expectations of your target market.

Services of water purification and bottling business

Ideas to start your own bottled water business can be daunting and confusing. If you are new to the business and are unaware of the facilities to offer, you can refer to the services available at Aqua Dreams mentioned below:

• Bulk Purified water

The most preferred processes used for the purification process are reverse osmosis, deionization, and distillation. Aqua Dreams will use reverse osmosis systems as they remove up to 99% of organic substances and ions from the water. This process is discussed in detail in our water purification plant business plan.

• Still bottled water

This type of bottled water is the most often used to replace tap water. It has varying levels of dissolved minerals and does not contain added carbonation. In this bottling water business plan, we will list how much sales of this product were expected in a period lasting three years.

• Sparkling bottled water

Sparkling water, also known as seltzer, soda, or tonic water, is infused with carbon dioxide to create tons of bubbles and fizziness. It is often used as a healthy substitute for sugary sodas and other beverages because it is lower in calories and sugar. We will offer different flavors of the product to meet the expectations of our customers.

• Flavored bottled water

Flavored water is a beverage with added natural or artificial flavors, herbs, and sweeteners. Aqua Dreams will offer different options to its customers for a wider target market.

If you are new to the industry and are thinking how to start a water bottling plant, it is recommended that you go through this water bottling business plan pdf and learn about the technicalities involved.

Marketing Analysis of water purification and bottling business

Excellent work.

excellent work, competent advice. Alex is very friendly, great communication. 100% I recommend CGS capital. Thank you so much for your hard work!

In this water bottling plant business plan, you will find a detailed marketing analysis conducted by Aqua Dreams. This is the perfect water purification business plan sample for your reference if you are confused about how to start a water purification business.

5.1 Market Trends

Research conducted by IBIS World shows that the level of concentration in the purified drinking water business is modest in the USA. The top four players are expected to generate 65.5 percent of revenue. The industry is responsible for the employment of well over 14,360 people. Experts project the bottled water production industry to grow at a 4.0 percent annual rate.

5.2 Marketing Segmentation

While analyzing how to start a water purification business, you must investigate your target audience. Market segmentation is vital to understanding the scope of your filtered water business. If you don’t know who you will be interacting with, you can refer to the customer groups of Aqua Dreams mentioned below:

Business plan for investors

5.2.1 hotels.

The minibars you see in your hotel rooms are usually stocked with bottled water of all kinds, let it be still, sparkling, or flavored. Hence, Aqua Dreams will be supplying bottled water to different hotels on a contractual basis. Since they place large orders, their revenue would be the main reason behind the success of our water purification business. 

5.2.2 Restaurants 

Since sparkling water is also often used in cocktails and other drinks to create a fizzy sensation, restaurants in the city will be the primary customer group for this specific product for Aqua Dreams. Our products will also assist them with their purification systems installed in the kitchens.

5.2.3 Event Planners

Nowadays, instead of serving water in glasses, it is preferred to offer bottled water to the guests. Hence event planners are expected to procure bottled water from us and provide it to the customers they are dealing with.

5.2.4 Retailers

Carbonated and fizzy drinks are loved by almost everyone these days, which can be bad for their health. Our flavored water, supplied to retailers nationwide is relatively less unhealthy and therefore we expect to have great sales of it.

5.3 Business Target

• Start a bottled water delivery service based on a courier services business plan
• Have a customer satisfaction score of 93%
• Capture 30% market share within the first year of business
• Install two new purification plants in the next five years of operations 

5.4 Product Pricing

Our prices will conform to what is obtainable in the industry. We have put in place those business strategies that will help us run on low profits for six months.

Marketing Strategy of water purification and bottling business

Regardless of whether you are thinking of having a bottled water company business plan or a water purifying business plan, you need to have an effective marketing strategy. It would help you stand out amidst competition and capture market share. 

Aqua Dreams will use a robust set of marketing and sales strategies mentioned in this water bottle business plan pdf. Hence it would be helpful for you to read it thoroughly if you are wondering how to start a packaged drinking water business.

6.1 Competitive Analysis

• The services at Aqua Dreams would be supervised by water purification experts who have insights worth 5+ years of experience.
• Sustainable practices such as environmentally friendly purification systems will be employed at Aqua Dreams.
• Calorie Check will be done thoroughly in our flavored bottled water.
• The introductory prices offered by Aqua Dreams would be lower than the market rates without compromising on the quality of services.

6.2 Sales Strategy

• Introduce our bottled water by sending introductory letters to hotels, water merchants, and restaurants.
• Advertise in local directories.
• Use social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram for sponsored ads.

6.3 Sales Monthly

6.4 Sales Yearly

6.5 Sales Forecast

Personnel plan of water purification and bottling business

The average cost involved in a bottled water production water business plan is similar to that in a donut shop business plan .

It is important to account for different kinds of costs to forecast financial returns accordingly. These costs also include the salaries of employees at the purification plants. To give you an idea of average salaries in the market, the salaries of our employees are quoted in this purified water business plan.

7.1 Company Staff

While thinking of water business ideas, the following are the positions you would essentially recruit for:

• 1 Plant Manager
• 1 Operations Manager
• 5 Production Assistants
• 1 Marketing Officer
• 3 Delivery Drivers
• 1 QA Engineer

7.2 Average Salary of Employees

Financial Plan of water purification and bottling business

A sole focus on increasing sales does not ensure that your business has become successful. For generating profits, you need to do a thorough analysis of your water company profile and estimate the operations’ capacity for your business accordingly.

In your financial plan, you must identify when and how to cover your investment amount with the earned profits. Moreover, you should evaluate the business projections and ratios to assess how the financial trajectory of your enterprise will go in the coming years. These assessments are important to highlight in your business plan for a water purification plant because they help investors decide whether to fund your bottled water startup or not. Besides, they help you direct your efforts to achieve your business goals.

If you don’t know how to conduct a financial analysis, you can refer to this water bottle business plan pdf.

Here we’re providing a business plan used by Aqua Dreams for you to use as a reference.

8.1 Important Assumptions

8.2 Break-even Analysis

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

8.3.1 Profit Monthly

8.3.2 Profit Yearly

8.3.3 Gross Margin Monthly

8.3.4 Gross Margin Yearly

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

8.6 Business Ratios

• Is water bottling a profitable business?

A bottled water plant is profitable, provided a strategic business plan is in place. The average bottled water profit margin ranges between 25-30% for small and medium-scale water plants. It can be as high as 60% for large bottle production. Hence, the question “is bottled water business profitable” really depends on your scale of operations and management.

• How do I start a water purification business?

You can make a business plan and execute it in a set time frame. The most common mistake made when starting a new business is neglecting to write up a business plan. A good purified water business plan establishes a framework and a roadmap for your water purification business. If you try starting a bottled water business without a well-defined plan, your venture might not get successful.

• Is packaged drinking water business profitable?

The profit margin in the mineral water business is highly dependent on your products and location. This business can be profitable if you research what is in demand in the market and come with up unique sales ideas to let your customers know about you.

• How much does it cost to manufacture a bottle of water?

The cost of manufacturing a bottle of water differs from business to business based on the technology that is being used. Moreover, the scale and production level will also affect the cost incurred during manufacturing.

To get an idea of how you can cut costs, you can see a butcher shop business plan . It is generally assumed that mass production leads to lower manufacturing costs and in turn prices.

Download Water Purification and Bottling Business Plan Template in pdf

OGSCapital’s team has assisted thousands of entrepreneurs with top-rate business plan development, consultancy and analysis. They’ve helped thousands of SME owners secure more than $1.5 billion in funding, and they can do the same for you.

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Water Purification Business Plan for Package Drinking Water

• By Rakesh Patel
• Last Updated: November 7, 2023

• With a growing number of consumers, the water purification industry has opportunities for entrepreneurs to drive further growth.
• Starting a water purification business, your top priority should be recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, and counseling employees.
• Also, it is important to comply with regulations and invest in quality equipment to ensure the safety and purity of the water distribution.

Bottled water remains one of the leading commodities people consume worldwide.

According to estimates, the Bottled Water segment’s revenue in 2022 will reach $302.50 billion. The market is expected to grow annually by 8.03% between 2022-2026.

This is simply because bottled water is an essential amenity, so of course, efficient water service companies will never be out of demand. In fact, package drinking companies will generate per-person revenues of $39.74 in 2022. 

This article will be an excellent starting point to help you understand a water purification business plan . If you want to break into water purification services and achieve very healthy gross sales, read along.

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Table of Content

• List of Water purification services
• Why to start a water purification business?
• Roles and responsibilities of Water Purification Business owner
• Water purification business plan template
• How to start a water purification business?
• Let Upper help you reach your client’s location on time

List of Water Purification Services

Creating ideas for a water purification business can take time and effort. You can refer to the list of services below if you are new to the industry and need clarification on what you can offer: 

• Bulk Purified water – Purified water typically comes from reverse osmosis, deionization, or a combination of these methods.
• Still bottled water – Bottled still water is the leading alternative to tap water. It comes in a range of mineral concentrations.
• Sparkling bottled water – Making sparkling water involves adding carbon dioxide. People often use it as a healthy alternative because it has fewer calories and less sugar than other sodas.
• Flavored bottled water – Flavoured water is a beverage with additional natural or artificial flavors, herbs, and sweeteners. Water purification is vital to provide safe drinking water for your community. 

Why to Start a Water Purification Business?

There are multiple reasons why water purification businesses are the need of the hour and why you must start one. 

As per Fortune Business Insights , the global water purifier market is set to grow from $30.62 billion in 2022 to $50.66 billion by 2029. So it’s a growing market, and you can ride the wave by starting your own business.

By 2026, 36% of spending and 9% of volume consumption in the Bottled Water segment will be attributable to out-of-home consumption. That tells us that your services will always be in high demand. 

Also, a growing number of consumers are concerned about their health and the environmental impacts of using untreated water from rivers or lakes. This is expected to drive further growth of the market for water purification services.

Roles and Responsibilities of Water Purification Business Owner

As a water purification business owner, here are your roles and responsibilities: 

• Your top priority is recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, and counseling managers. Communicate values, assign roles, develop strategies and define primary objectives, monitor results, and create incentives. 
• You’re also responsible for fixing your pricing strategy and signing business deals.
• Your employees will look up to you for providing direction to your water purification business.
• You also need to create, communicate, and implement the mission and vision statement of your organization.
• You’re the face of your organization, so you’ll sign the high-level documents.
• Finally, you’ll evaluate the success of your organization and be responsible for formulating profit-boosting strategies. As a small business owner, if you’re the one managing the water purification plant, these will be your added responsibilities: 
• You’ll oversee the smooth running of your water purification (industrial) plants. 
• As a water purification plant manager , you’ll need to ensure that all equipment is functional and focus on preventative maintenance and repairs.
• It’s your job to ensure that your plant meets the safety and hygiene standards at all times. 

Water Purification Business Plan Template

A well-defined plan relies on market research and stresses quality. It also helps you secure funding and start-up assets, fulfill an unsatisfied market need, attract customers, monitor start-up expenses, and prevents very expensive shut down. 

Here’s an elaborate water purification business plan template using which you can create your own business plan.

1. Executive and company summary 

This executive summary aims to summarise the critical points of this comprehensive business plan, saving you time and preparing you for the upcoming content.

An executive summary for a company includes:

• The business opportunity – describes the need for your services.
• Services – tell how your business will serve the market.
• The target market – represents the customer base you will be targeting.
• Business model – how your services create, deliver, and capture value.
• Marketing plan and sales strategy – describe how you will market and sell your products to a potentially unsatisfied market.
• Discuss your competition and how you plan to gain market share – how can you differentiate yourself from your competitors, i.e., what do you offer to customers that nobody else can?

2. Services offered 

The products and services section of your business plan should include a description of the products or services you are offering or plan to offer. 

You should explain how your products and services will be priced and compare the products.

Your product and service section outlines your product or service, why your market needs it, and how it will compete with other businesses selling similar products and services.

3. Market analysis 

Market analysis is about figuring out the needs of your target market, whether the existing products on the market meet those needs, and what competitors are doing to meet those needs.

You’ll also want to figure out how much people in your industry make per year, how fast the industry is growing or shrinking, and what kind of barriers exist for new players entering it, so you can decide if the environment is suitable for your business idea.

Essentially: Market analysis helps you determine if there’s an actual need for your product or service.

4. Human resources plan 

The importance of a solid human resources plan cannot be overstated, especially in specialized industry sectors. A business needs the right people to do the jobs, and you need a solid plan to hire the right talent.

A well-executed human resources business plan will help you attract and retain talent, which is essential for any company looking to grow.

5. Financial Plan 

A financial plan is not just a list of numbers and projections. It overviews your current business financials and the direction they are progressing in.

Your financial plan will help you set realistic expectations regarding the overall costs and success of your business. You are more likely to be prepared for any eventuality, whether a crisis or incredible growth if you know your financials inside and out.

6. Marketing strategy

Starting a business, ensuring quality service, and promoting operational efficiency are undoubtedly necessary. But you’ll struggle with reaching your ideal consumers if you don’t have actionable marketing and business strategies. To ensure your business thrives, create marketing strategies that increase brand visibility and keep bringing quality leads. 

How to Start a Water Purification Business? 

Follow these steps to start a water purification business: 

1. Use the business plan template for your water purification business

A comprehensive plan is essential for new water purification business owners. This plan should include all aspects of the company, including start-up costs, funding, and day-to-day operations. 

New business owners also need to be realistic about their goals and expectations. Finally, it’s essential to have a solid understanding of the competition.

Businesses with well-thought-out plans are more likely to succeed.

2. Form the legal entity

When starting your business, you must know what kind of liability exposure you want and your company goals. A sole proprietorship may be enough if you sell to limited consumers. 

But a corporate organization or LLC may be better if you want more protection or to grow the business.

3. Obtain permissions and business licenses

If you’re looking to start a new business, it’s important to remember that specific licenses and permits are required by law. However, this varies depending on the type of water purification business you’re looking to start and where your business will be located.

Contact your local business licensing office or chamber of commerce to find out which permits and licenses you need.

4. Purchase equipment

The most critical elements of starting a water purification business are equipment, tools, and supplies.

You’ll need some things for everyday use, like wrenches and screwdrivers, but you’ll also need more specialized items, like meters or pumps. And remember your safety equipment. You’ll want to ensure you have all the protection you need when working with chemicals or other hazardous materials. 

To ace this step, document everything you might need and research different suppliers that fulfill your requirements. You can also consider renting equipment you won’t regularly require; buying expensive equipment that you wouldn’t use frequently doesn’t make sense.

5. Market your services

Now that you’ve built your water purification business, it’s time to get it out there and start generating revenue. Your own sales force will prove most helpful here. Start with building a brand identity to stand apart from your competitors, reach monthly sales target, and keep sales growing gradually. This includes naming your business and creating a logo and color schemes to remain consistent across social media platforms. It is branding that helps you charge a premium price and stay afloat in economic downturn.

You can then work on creating a website for your business with all the details. Finally, it’s time to create a launch strategy for such a niche product—leverage word of mouth via friends and family, social media shout-outs, and influencer marketing. Advertising in local newspapers, paid ads on social media, yellow page ads (local directories), and more are also game changers for your high purity water business.

Let Upper Help You Reach Your Client’s Location on Time 

Now that you know how to create an elaborate business plan, let’s discuss how you’ll fulfill all your orders. 

With Upper’s route planning and optimization software , though, businesses like yours save 10 hours per week and get more deliveries done on time. You’ll get more done, and your customers will get all their fresh water right when needed.

With Upper, you’ll get the most efficient routes for your bottled water delivery.

• Your drivers can take advantage of the shortest routes as per specific constraints, driving preferences, time windows, and more, so you’ll always deliver on time.
• You can mark your shipments low, medium, or high as per priority. You can also add multiple stops and details such as service time, importance, or other notes for your drivers to manage their jobs better.
• Upper sends automatic notifications regarding the ETA of delivery to your customers to save your drivers from failed deliveries. It helps them get more deliveries done and ensures items safely reach the end customers.

Try the 7 days free trial today. 

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The water purifier will cost around $2,500. The cost of installing new plumbing lines and connections will be $195. Water softener treatment will cost $1,500. The total cost comes to around $4,195 approximately.

The 5 Types of Filters are as follows:

• Mechanical Filters.
• Absorption Filters.
• Sequestration Filters.
• Ion Exchange Filters.
• Reverse Osmosis Filters.

Water treatment steps often used in water systems include:

• Coagulation.
• Flocculation.
• Sedimentation.
• Filtration.
• Disinfection.

A purification plant is a water system that treats or improves water quality by complying with the state board of health standards. The purification plant can be a stand-alone facility or a portion of a more extensive system.

Conclusion 

Water purification for the bottled water industry is brimming with opportunities. The demand for convenience and high disposable income is driving the consumption of bottled water across the globe. However, you need a comprehensive plan for overall company success. A business plan will help you set realistic goals and expectations, and you can use this plan to get an edge over your competition.

To further grow your business, invest in robust route planning and scheduling software like Upper so that you can provide your services to your customers in time and ditch poor or slow servicing. Try the 7 days free trial today. 

Rakesh Patel, author of two defining books on reverse geotagging, is a trusted authority in routing and logistics. His innovative solutions at Upper Route Planner have simplified logistics for businesses across the board. A thought leader in the field, Rakesh's insights are shaping the future of modern-day logistics, making him your go-to expert for all things route optimization. Read more.

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Water Refill Station Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Food Processing Industry » Water Refill Station

Are you about starting a water refill station ? If YES, here is a complete sample water refill station business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE .

Water, what a fundamental need of life!  It is something we all cannot do without. The need for clean and drinkable water will continue to exist as long as human exist. Water is one of the commodities in our world that doesn’t have any substitute. If you want to take a bath; you use water.

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The essence of going into any form of business should be basically to fill in a need or solve a problem. Therefore, going into the water refill business would surely help you solve the challenges people who don’t have access to clean and drinkable water go through and you will be hugely rewarded for it.

A Sample Water Refill Station Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

Water is an essential commodity. As such The Public Health Department ensures that all Water Refill Stations meet certain health and safety standards. It’s important to note that if the water in a community is contaminated; it can result to epidemic in that community.

A water refill station must enforce strict hygiene standards and the environment must be clean at all times if they want to continue to be in business. A breach of these measures might result in the Public Health Department shutting down the business.

Be sure that all the storage tanks and delivery tankers undergo routine cleaning and chlorination. You can visit your Public Health Department to know more about health measures to adopt in your water refill station. It is important to state that you would be required to obtain a license before you are permitted to drill a bore hole for your water refill station.

This measure is put in place to guide against people drilling bore holes in places that are prone to earth quakes and tremors or places that have sanitary issues. Your choice of location would be supervised and screened before you can be issued the permission to go ahead and install your water refill station.

Establishments in the water refill station line of business sell water as a public utility to households, businesses and public entities throughout the united states. Water refill station business has performed well over the decade. Population growth, as well as occurrence of drought and other hostile weather conditions, have indeed increased demand for water supplied by industry operators.

Going forward, per capita water consumption is projected to decline, as increasing concerns regarding water conservation drive policy aimed at reducing consumption. Nonetheless, while per capita consumption rates are expected to depreciate, cumulative water consumption is projected to expand as the population and economy grow.

The Water Supply and Irrigation Systems industry that water refill station is a part of is a thriving sector of the economy of the United States of America and they generate a whooping sum of well over $73 billion annually from more than 48,738 registered and licensed water supply and irrigation systems companies scattered all around the United States of America.

The industry is responsible for the employment of well over 232,714 people. Experts project the Water Supply and Irrigation Systems industry to grow at a 1 – 3 percent annual rate within the next 5 years. American Water Works Company Inc. has the lion market share of the available market in the United States of America.

Over and above, water refill station business is a profitable industry and it is open for any aspiring entrepreneur to come in and establish his or her business; you can choose to start on a small scale servicing a community or you can choose to start on a large scale with several outlets in key cities all around the United States of America.

2. Executive Summary

Brian Colbert Water Refill Company is a licensed and standard water refill company that will be located in a residential area in Bay Orleans – Massachusetts. We have been able to secure a long-term lease for a facility in a strategic location on a major road with an option of a long – term renewal on an agreed terms and conditions that is favorable to us.

The facility has government approval for the kind of business we want to run and it is easily accessible and we are deliberate about that. We are in the water refill business to engage in the sale and supply of treated water to residential apartment, offices and industrial plants.

We are also in business to make profits at the same to give our customers value for their money; we want to give people and businesses who patronize our water the opportunity to be part of the success story of Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company.

We are aware that there are several big scale and small scale water refill stations scattered all around Bay Orleans – Massachusetts which is why we spent time and resources to conduct our feasibility studies and market survey so as to enable us locate the business in an area that will support the growth of the business and also for us to be able offer much more than our competitors will be offering.

We ensured that our facility is easy to locate and we have mapped out plans to develop a wide supply network for offices and manufacturing plants all around Bay Orleans – Massachusetts and neighboring cities.

Much more than selling and supplying treated water, our customer care is going to be second to none. We know that our customers are the reason why we are in business which is why we will go the extra mile to get them satisfied when they purchase water from us and also to become our loyal customers and ambassadors.

We have a CRM software that will enable us manage a one on one relationship with our customers no matter how large the numbers of our customer base may grow to. We will ensure that we get our customers involved when making some business decisions that will directly or indirectly affect them.

Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company is family business that will be owned and managed by Brian Colbert and his immediate family members. Brian Colbert who is the Manager of the Company has a Diploma in Water Resources.

He has well over 15 years of experience working in related industry as a senior manager prior to starting Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company. He will be working with a team of experienced employees (family members inclusive) to build the business and grow it to enviably height.

3. Our Products and Services

Brian Colbert Water Refill Company is going to operate a standard and licensed water refill station in Bay Orleans – Massachusetts.

We are in the water refill station line of business to sale and supply treated water to households, offices and industrial plants via of hygienic water tankers and we are going to do all that is permitted by the law in the United States of America to achieve our business goals and objectives.

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision is to establish standard water refill station in Bay Orleans – Massachusetts and in other cities throughout the United States of America that will become the number one choice for households, offices and industrial plants.
• Our mission is to establish a standard and world class water refill station that in our own capacity will favorably compete with leaders in the industry.
• We want to build a water refill station business that will be listed amongst the top 20 water refill station brands in the United States of America.

Our Business Structure

Brian Colbert Water Refill Company is a business that is established with the aim of competing favorably with other leading water refill station brands in the industry and also to open our outlets all across key cities in the United States of America.

This is why we will ensure that we put the right structure in place that will support the kind of growth that we have in mind while setting up the business. We will ensure that we only hire people that are qualified, honest, hardworking, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stake holders (the owners, workforce, and customers).

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more depending how fast we meet our set target. In view of that, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

• Chief Executive Officer (Owner)

Water Refill Station Manager

• Sales and Marketing Officers
• Accountants / Cashiers
• Pump Operators

Water Tanker Drivers

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Officer – CEO (Owner):

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; developing incentives; developing a climate for offering information and opinions; providing educational opportunities.
• Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Creating, communicating, and implementing the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of the water refill station
• Map out strategy that will lead to efficiency amongst workers
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of workers
• Ensures that the steady flow of both raw materials to the plant and easy flow of finished products through wholesale distributors to the market
• Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; calling for repairs.
• Ensures that the water refill station meets the expected safety, hygiene and health standard at all times.
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
• Enhances department and organization reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.
• Defining job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carrying out staff induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees

Sales and Marketing Manager

• Manage external research and coordinate all the internal sources of information to retain the organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
• Model demographic information and analyze the volumes of transactional data generated by customer purchases
• Identify, prioritize, and reach out to new partners, and business opportunities et al
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Develop, execute and evaluate new plans for expanding increase sales
• Document all customer contact and information
• Represent the company in strategic meetings
• Help increase sales and growth for the company

Accountant / Cashier

• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports; analyzes financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts market research to forecast trends and business conditions.
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensuring compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for the organization
• Serves as internal auditor for the organization

Pump Operators:

• Responsible for selling and refilling water for customers as requested
• Ensures that the pumps are performing and dispensing treated water as required
• Assist in filling water tankers with water as requested
• Handles any other duty as assigned by the water refill station manager
• Assist in loading and unloading treated water.
• Maintain a logbook of their driving activities to ensure compliance with federal regulations governing the rest and work periods for operators.
• Keep a record of vehicle inspections and make sure the water tanker / truck is equipped with safety equipment
• Assist the water refill station manager in planning their route according to a delivery schedule.
• Local-delivery drivers may be required to sell products to households and businesses on their route, obtain signatures from recipients and collect cash.
• Inspect vehicles for mechanical items and safety issues and perform preventative maintenance
• Comply with water tanker / truck driving rules and regulations (size, weight, route designations, parking, break periods etc.) as well as with company policies and procedures
• Collect and verify delivery instructions
• Report defects, accidents or violations
• Responsible for handling core services that revolve around tanks, water containers and reservoirs cleaning, parking lot sweeping , snowplowing, drain, duct and gutter cleaning, parking lot and driveway washing, equipment cleaning and maintenance, chemical adjustments and other related cleaning services
• Maintain a clean working area by sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning of glass doors and windows, etc. if required.
• Ensure that toiletries and supplies don’t run out of stock
• Handle any other duty as assigned by the water refill station manager.

6. SWOT Analysis

We are quite aware that there are several water refill stations both large and small in Bay Orleans – Massachusetts which is why we are following the due process of establishing a business so as to compete favorable with them.

We know that if a proper SWOT analysis is conducted for our business, we will be able to position our business to maximize our strength, leverage on the opportunities that will be available to us, mitigate our risks and be welled equipped to confront our threats.

Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company employed the services of an expert HR and Business Analyst with bias in start – up business to help us conduct a thorough SWOT analysis and to help us create a Business model that will help us achieve our business goals and objectives. This is the summary of the SWOT analysis that was conducted for Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company;

Part of what is going to count as positives for Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company is the vast experience of our management team, we have people on board who are highly experienced and understands how to grow business from the scratch to becoming a national phenomenon.

So also, the location of our water refill station (centrally located in major road prone to both human and vehicular traffic, our large distribution network and of course our excellent customer service culture will definitely count as a strong strength for the business.

A major weakness that may count against us is the fact that we are a new water refill station in Bay Orleans – Massachusetts and we don’t have the financial capacity to engage in the kind of publicity that we intend giving the business especially when big names like American Water Works Company Inc. and co are already determining the direction of the market all across the United States America.

• Opportunities:

The opportunities for water refill stations are enormous. This is due to the fact that water is an essential commodity that we use on a daily basis for different purposes.

As a result of that, we were able to conduct a thorough market survey and feasibility studies so as to position our water refill station in the right location to be able to take advantage of the existing market for treated water and also to create our own new market. We know that it is going to requires hard work, and we are determined to achieve it.

We are quite aware that just like any other business, one of the major threats that we are likely going to face is economic downturn and unfavorable government policies . It is a fact that economic downturn affects purchasing power. Another threat that may likely confront us is the arrival of a new water refill station in same location where ours is located.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

If you are conversant with water refill station business, you will quite agree that you would not necessarily need aggressive marketing skills to be able to market your water business. People that need your water will most likely look for ways to get to your water refill station.

The reason why you would need to market your water refill station is to let people know the uniqueness of your water refill station and to create general awareness.

It is advisable you visit companies that are into cleaning services and laundry services to inform them that you are new in town; because they are always in need of water and you might become a repeat water supplier. Schools, public facilities, homes and even companies are other sources where your water might be needed. This is especially when their existing water supply system fails or is under repairs and general maintenance.

Lastly, another trend in water refill stations is the adoption of eco – friendly approach towards the treatment and supply of water. As a matter of fact, the industry’s adoption of eco-friendly practices will likely persuade environmentally conscious consumers to buy its products, while increasing operators’ efficiency.

8. Our Target Market

When it comes to selling treated water, there is indeed a wide range of available customers. In essence, our target market can’t be restricted to just a group of people, but all those who resides in our target market locations. In view of that, we have conducted our market research and we have ideas of what our target market would be expecting from us. We are in business to engage in sale and supply of treated water to the following groups of people;

• Industrial Plants
• Laundries and Laundromats
• Restaurants and Canteens
• Event Planners, Parties and Corporate Functions
• Corporate Executives
• Government Officials
• Business People
• Everybody in our target market location

Our competitive advantage

A close study of the water refill station business reveals that the market has become much more intensely competitive over the last decade. As a matter of fact, you have to be highly creative, customer centric and proactive if you must survive in this industry.

We are aware of the stiffer competition and we are well prepared to compete favorably with other water refill stations in Bay Orleans – Massachusetts and throughout the United States of America where we intend opening outlets of our water refill stations.

Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company is launching a standard water refill station brand that will indeed become the preferred choice of residence of Bay Orleans – Massachusetts and every city where we intend opening our outlets.

Part of what is going to count as competitive advantage for Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company is the vast experience of our management team, we have people on board who are highly experienced and understands how to grow business from the scratch to becoming a national phenomenon.

Lastly, our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category (startups water refill stations) in the industry, meaning that they will be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our aims and objectives.

We will also give good working conditions and commissions to freelance sales agents that we will recruit from time to time.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Brian Colbert Water Refill Company is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the water refill station line of business in the United States of America and we are going to go all the way to ensure that we do all it takes to sell and supply our treated water to a wide range of customers. In essence, Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company will generate income by selling and supplying treated water;

10. Sales Forecast

One thing is certain when it comes to water refill station business, if your water is well – treated and your water tanker hygienic and if your water refill station is centrally positioned and easily accessible, you will always attract customers cum sales and that will sure translate to increase in revenue generation for the business.

We are well positioned to take on the available market in Bay Orleans – Massachusetts and every city where we intend opening outlets of our water refill stations and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income / profits from the first six month of operations and grow the business and our clientele base.

We have been able to critically examine the water refill station line of business and we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projections are based on information gathered on the field and some assumptions that are peculiar to similar startups in Bay Orleans – Massachusetts.

Below are the sales projection for Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company, it is based on the location of our business and other factors as it relates to small scale and medium scale water refill stations / company start – ups in the United States;

• First Fiscal Year-: $100,000
• Second Fiscal Year-: $250,000
• Third Fiscal Year-: $550,000

N.B : This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and there won’t be any major competitor offering same products and customer care services as we do within same location. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Before choosing a location for Brian Colbert Water Refill Company, we conduct a thorough market survey and feasibility studies in order for us to be able to be able to penetrate the available market in our target market locations.

We have detailed information and data that we were able to utilize to structure our business to attract the numbers of customers we want to attract per time and also for our treated water to favorable compete with other leading brands in the water refill station line of business in the United States of America and Canada.

We hired experts who have good understanding of the water refill station line of business to help us develop

In other to continue to be in business and grow, we must continue to sell our treated water to the available market which is why we will go all out to empower or sales and marketing team to deliver our corporate sales goals. In summary, Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company will adopt the following sales and marketing approach to sell our distilled alcoholic drinks;

• Introduce our water refill station by sending introductory letters to residence, offices, laundries and Laundromats, industrial plants, event planners and other stakeholders in Bay Orleans – Massachusetts and other cities both in the United States of America
• Open our water refill station with a party so as to capture the attention of residence who are our first targets
• Engage in road show in targeted communities from time to time to sell our brand
• Advertise our water refill station in community based newspapers, local TV and radio stations
• List our business and products on yellow pages ads  (local directories)
• Leverage on the internet to promote our water refill station
• Engage in direct marketing and sales
• Encourage the use of Word of mouth marketing (referrals)

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Despite the fact that our bottled water refill station is a standard and licensed one and centrally located in a location that has good human and vehicular traffic, we will still go ahead to intensify publicity for all our product and brand. We are going to explore all available means to promote Brian Colbert Water Refill Company.

Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company has a long – term plan of opening our water refill station outlets in various locations all around the United States of America which is why we will deliberately build our brand to be well accepted in Bay – Orleans, Massachusetts before venturing out.

As a matter of fact, our publicity and advertising strategy is not solely for selling our product but to also effectively communicate our brand. Here are the platforms we intend leveraging on to promote and advertise Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company;

• Place adverts on both print (community based newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
• Sponsor relevant community programs
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, et al to promote our bottled water brand
• Install our Bill Boards on strategic locations all around major locations in Bay Orleans – Massachusetts
• Engage in road show from time to time in targeted communities
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
• Position our Flexi Banners at strategic positions in the location where we intend getting customers to start patronizing our treated water
• Ensure that all our staff members wear our customized clothes, and all our official cars and water tankers and water storage facilities are customized and well branded.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

When it comes to pricing for products such as treated water, there are two sides to the coin. We are aware of the pricing trend in the water refill station line of business which is why we have decided to have various sizes of gallons and water tankers.

In view of that, our prices will conform to what is obtainable in the industry but will ensure that within the first 6 to 12 months our treated water are sold a little bit below the average prices of various water refill stations in the United States of America.

We have put in place business strategies that will help us run on low profits for a period of 6 months; it is a way of encouraging people to buy into our water refill station brands.

• Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America.

Here are the payment options that Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company will make available to her clients;

• Payment via bank transfer
• Payment with cash
• Payment via credit cards / Point of Sale Machines (POS Machines)
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check
• Payment via mobile money transfer
• Payment via bank draft

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make payment for the purchase of our treated water without any stress on their part. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials to clients who may want to deposit cash or make online transfer for our treated water.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

In setting up any business, the amount or cost will depend on the approach and scale you want to undertake. If you intend to go big by renting a place, then you would need a good amount of capital as you would need to ensure that your employees are well taken care of, and that your facility is conducive enough for workers to be creative and productive.

This means that the start-up can either be low or high depending on your goals, vision and aspirations for your business. The tools and equipment that will be used are nearly the same cost everywhere, and any difference in prices would be minimal and can be overlooked.

As for the detailed cost analysis for starting a water refill station; it might differ in other countries due to the value of their money. These are the key areas where we will spend our start – up capital in setting up Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company;

• The total fee for registering the business in the United States of America – $750.
• Legal expenses for obtaining licenses (Health department license and business license)and permits (Fire department permit, Air and water pollution control permit, and Sign permit et al) as well as accounting services (CRM software, Payroll software, P.O.S machines and other software- $2,300.
• Marketing promotion expenses for the grand opening of Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company in the amount of $3,500 and as well as flyer printing (2,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of – $3,580.
• The cost for hiring business consultant (including writing business plan) – $2,500.
• The cost for insurance (general liability, theft, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $2,400.
• Cost for payment of rent for 12 month at $1.76 per square feet in the total amount of $105,600.
• Cost for construction of a standard water refill station (drilling borehole and water treatment channel inclusive) – $100,000.
• Other start-up expenses including stationery ( $500 ) and phone and utility deposits ( $2,500 ).
• Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $50,000
• The cost for start-up inventory (Storage Tanks, Gallons, Funnels with Filters, Granular Activated Carbon, Magnetic Flow Meter, Pressure Tank with Pump, Automatic Wash with Stainless Steel Jackets, Water Purifier, Chlorine and other required approved chemicals for water purification and preservation et al) – $80,000
• Cost for store equipment (cash register, security, ventilation, signage) – $3,750
• Cost of purchase of water supply tankers / trucks – $100,000
• The cost for the purchase of furniture and gadgets (Computers, Printers, Telephone, Fax Machines, tables and chairs et al) – $4,000.
• The cost for building and hosting a website: $600
• The cost for our opening party – $5,000
• Miscellaneous – $5,000

We would need an estimate of four hundred and fifty thousand Dollars ( $450,000 ) to successfully set up our water refill station in Bay – Orleans, Massachusetts. Please note that this amount includes the salaries of all the staff for the first 3 month of operation.

Generating Funds / Startup Capital for Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company

Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company is a private business that is solely owned and financed by Brian Colbert and his immediate family members. We do not intend to welcome any external business partner, which is why we have decided to restrict the sourcing of the start – up capital to 3 major sources.

These are the areas we intend generating our start – up capital;

• Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings
• Source for soft loans from family members and friends
• Apply for loan from my Bank

N.B: We have been able to generate about $100,000 ( Personal savings $80,000 and soft loan from family members $20,000 ) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $350,000 from our bank. All the papers and document have been signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited with the amount.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have, the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

One of our major goals of starting Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to retail our well – treated water a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are well prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

Brian Colbert Water Refill® Company will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare is well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and re – training of our workforce is at the top burner.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of three years or more. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List / Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Registration: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
• Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Leasing of facility and construction of standard water refill station: In Progress
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating capital from family members and friends: Completed
• Applications for Loan from the bank: In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: In Progress
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the needed Storage Tanks, Gallons, Funnels with Filters, Granular Activated Carbon, Magnetic Flow Meter, Pressure Tank with Pump, Automatic Wash with Stainless Steel Jackets, Water Purifier, Chlorine and other required approved chemicals for water purification, preservation, computers, office appliances and CCTV: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business both online and around the community: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement (License): Secured
• Opening party / launching party planning: In Progress
• Purchase of water tankers – Completed
• Establishing business relationship with vendors – wholesale suppliers / merchants: In Progress

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Water Purification Business Plan

Start your own water purification business plan

H2O Industries

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">.

H20 Industries, Inc. (H20 Industries) provides the service of ion exchange portable tanks. This is the process of purifying water for industrial purposes. H20 Industries will take advantage of an unsatisfied market need for segregated resin regeneration on a portable basis. The company will primarily focus its marketing strategies on offering segregated regeneration services to the untapped market of customers who require high-quality regeneration for their deionized (DI) water treatment facilities. The facility that H20 Industries will utilize is located in Newark, California and is already in limited production. Full production will begin at the end of September, with sales growing gradually to near capacity by the end of the first year, with very healthy gross sales in the first year, and increasing in the second and third years.

1.1 Objectives

The primary objectives are:

• To segment the market for portable regeneration service by stressing H20 Industries’s capability at providing segregated regeneration. The goal is to reach monthly sales of 1,710 cu ft of segregated resin by the end of the first year.
• To build up a dealership network of 15 knowledgeable and efficient water service companies who will represent H20 Industries in areas outside direct sales from the factory.
• To set up a bulk regeneration facility with a capacity of 40 cu ft daily, and sell its full capacity in the large general portable exchange service market through its own sales force, and through a dealership network.

1.2 Mission

H20 Industries’s mission is to segment the market for pure water by providing niche products to specialized industry sectors who are otherwise not properly serviced by large pure water suppliers. Segregating a customer’s H20 Industries resin and regenerating it on a portable tank basis to hospital dialysis units is an excellent example of such a niche product that stresses quality and service to users who are prepared to pay a premium price.

1.3 Keys to Success

H20 Industries’s primary keys to success are:

• Good quality control in the factory . Customers for high purity water business have a very low tolerance threshold for flaws.
• Fast response . In the case of most of H20 Industries’s customers, the cost of the water is not a major element in their over-all costs, but a very expensive shut-down could result due to poor or slow servicing.
• High-profile allegiances . Key to over-all company success is connected closely with success in achieving the goal of developing a dealership network of service-oriented water companies.

Company Summary company overview ) is an overview of the most important points about your company—your history, management team, location, mission statement and legal structure.">

H20 Industries took over a customer base and a small quantity of assets from a predecessor company. By moving to a new location with more space, and by designing an efficient productive capability, H20 Industries will be ready to aggressively penetrate the growing market for portable DI exchange by October 1999.

2.1 Company Ownership

H20 Industries was established in October 1998 through the purchase of the assets of Commercial Waters Systems, Inc. (CWSI). CWSI was an under-capitalized, cash flow-starved DI exchange tank service provider. Three hundred sixty of the shares of H20 Industries are owned by David R. Smith, vice president sales and applications of PROSYS, a large manufacturer and system designer of water treatment equipment. Five hundred sixty of the shares are owned by John Jones who is regional sales manager for DUFF. The remaining 200 shares are currently held by the daughter of the seller, but are expected to soon be transferred to the new owners.

Additional investors have expressed a willingness to invest. This would help bring in needed administrative expertise, while also increasing the equity base.

2.2 Start-up Summary

Assets of a former operating company were bought out and customers of the former company continue to be serviced by the purchasing company, H20 Industries, partly from continuing operations and partly from farming regeneration work out. However, this plan is being written as a start-up primarily because there are no reliable financial figures for prior years for comparison purposes, and partly because of the move to new facilities and the sizable investment in new plant and equipment involved. Due to certain misrepresentations by the seller, the agreed sales price is under protest. It is expected that the matter will be satisfactorily resolved by payment of a much reduced amount.

The chart and table below summarize the start-up requirements for H20 Industries.

2.3 Company Locations and Facilities

The facilities are located in a rented building on an industrial estate in Newark, California.

A description of the technology involved in the production can be found in section 3.5 (Technology). The following is a description of the production layout.

• City water is fed into the building and goes directly to a carbon filter tank to remove organic materials and chlorine.
• A centrifugal pump is installed, in the unlikely event that city water pressure falls below 40 pounds per square inch (psi).
• A hot water boiler is provided to supply hot water (100 degrees F) from part of the incoming city water. This water is needed for anion treatment due to the specific gravity of the caustic material.
• The heated water then passes through a cation and an anion filter tank.
• The deionized hot water goes to the caustic tank where it mixes with the caustic material used to regenerate at the anion pad.
• Part of the unheated incoming city water is deionized by passage through similar cation and anion tanks. These tanks, as well as the tanks deionizing the heated in-coming water, are regenerated automatically at night when production is shut down.
• Water, not H20 Industries, is used at the spent tank staging area to empty the incoming tanks into the separation cones, and more water (H20 Industries) goes to the cation regeneration pad for use in adduction as well as flushing of the regenerate.
• The rinse water, as well as the acid and caustic solutions, now pass into an 8,000-gallon blue tank where, with the help of compressed air for mixing, neutralization takes place to obtain the allowed Ph level.
• A 500-gallon neutralization tank and a 250-gallon polishing tank are provided prior to disposal of the waste water into the city sewer system.

Products and Services

The company is in the water purification business. H20 Industries is engaged in a specific branch of this business called “Service deionization.” Within this branch, the company plans to emphasize a further service specialization known as “segregated regeneration,” as opposed to “bulk regeneration.” This concept is explained in the following sections.

3.1 Product and Service Description

The service products offered by H20 Industries are segregated as well as bulk regeneration of portable H20 Industries exchange tanks. The service is offered in three tank sizes of 3.6, 2.5, and 1.4 cubic feet (cu ft). In these sizes, the company will offer:

• Mixed bed (combination of anion and cation regenerated resin)
• Cation regenerated resin
• Anion regenerated resin
• Carbon (used for pre-filtering)

The application of portable deionized water is broad. Practically all industries using water in processing are potential accounts. Size of company is rarely a determining factor. There are applications in electronics and high pressure boilers where flow rates of several hundred gallons per minute are provided by portable exchange systems. The main unique benefits are:

• The client does not have to incur substantial capital costs to install an in-house deionization plant. This could run over $50,000. The company can merely rent the portable tanks (or buy them for approximately $1,200 each) and pay for the regeneration service when the tanks become depleted.
• The company also saves by not needing experienced technicians to maintain an in-house plant.
• Space is another important factor. An in-house H20 Industries capability requires a great deal of space, whereas a portable tank system using flexible hose connections can fit virtually anywhere in minimal space.
• Ease of installation. H20 Industries capability can be arranged virtually in a day and can be easily expanded to accommodate growth.
• There are no chemicals, nor regenerate waste to be handled or concerned with on-site..
• Flexibility in water quality provided. Resin types can be easily changed in tanks if water quality requirements change.
• Even locations that have their own in-house H20 Industries system often use portable DI as a back-up since a shut down can be very expensive.

Providing the service to a customer is simple, usually requiring only minimal equipment. H20 Industries is available from a large competitor, US Filter and a few small competitors, such as Fluid Solutions of Lowell, MA. However, none of the competition can provide segregated regeneration (See Competitive Analysis below).

3.2 Competitive Comparison

In the Northern California area, outside of a small company in Lowell which has to farm out its regeneration business to a “DI” company in Nevada, Simply Clean in Oregon, and a couple of independent Culligan agents, there is only the very large, fully-integrated US Filter (owner of Culligan) to compete with. This company, by virtue of its size and involvement in all fields of water treatment, is not suited to satisfying small users of DI, nor are they able to respond to niche needs. For example, US Filter cannot handle segregated resin. All resin treated by US Filter is regenerated on a bulk basis, which means that various customers’ depleted resin tanks are combined. This is not a problem for many users of DI, but the dialysis department of a hospital might well object to their resin being co-mingled with resin used in the metal plating industry. H20 Industries plans to specialize in portable segregated resin service. US Filter can try to service customers with a desire for segregated DI by promising to always supply tanks with new resin, however, there are technical problems with this.

US Filter’s prices for cation and anion regeneration are $31.25/cu ft and mixed bed $43.05/cu ft. H20 Industries’s prices for the same bulk regeneration are $32 and $43, respectively. The primary market thrust of H20 Industries’s sales will be the segregated regeneration which US Filter does not offer. This product sells at a premium ($57/cu ft and $63/cu ft, respectively). Some small players in the market offer regenerated resin (not segregated) in a price range of $63 to $80 per cu ft (mixed bed).

3.3 Sales Literature

Sales literature will be written and printed. A provision for this has been made in the projected sales and marketing expenses.

3.4 Fulfillment

The service provided by H20 Industries is the regeneration of ion exchange portable tanks. The tanks themselves are supplied to customers on either a monthly rental basis or offered for sale. These tanks, and any other hardware, are readily available from a number of suppliers. By virtue of the owners’ long involvement in the industry, they are fully knowledgeable of existing sources for all hardware, including resin, as well as the supply of the two major chemicals used in the process of regeneration. The only other variable cost of production is the salt used in the brine bath, this is also readily available from a number of suppliers.

3.5 Technology

Ion exchange is a major means of purifying water for industrial purposes. The degree of purity depends on the source of the water and it’s use. Companies, ranging from car washes to the pharmaceutical and semiconductor industries all need various amounts and degrees of purified water. Ion exchange is a chemical process by which ions, or ionic substances that are considered “undesirable” in water, are reduced or removed from water by use of ion exchangers or resins. Most ground water contains unwanted dissolved substances, such as calcium and magnesium, whose molecular structure contain charged ion particles.

The most common impurities with ions of a positive charge are: sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and manganese. These are called cations.  The unwanted dissolved substances having negative ion charges, known as anions, are: bicarbonate, chloride, carbonate, sulfate, nitrate, and bisilicate. When a substance separates into ions, each ion is now able to combine with another ion with opposite charge, even if that ion is from a totally different type of molecule. Substances only separate into ions when immersed in water molecules. For example, a molecule of hydrochloric acid is made up of a hydrogen atom and a chloride atom. Hydrochloric acid (HCL), when immersed in water, will split apart into one positively charged hydrogen cation (H+) and one negatively charged chloride anion (CL-). If sodium hydroxide (NaOH) were added to this solution, the NaOH would split into Na+ and OH-, which would combine with the opposite charges of the hydrochloric acid ions to form sodium chloride, better known as “table salt” (Na+CL-) and leftover hydrogen and hydroxide atoms (H+OH-). The field of deionization, known as DI for short, utilizes this natural phenomenon by designing a cation exchange resin which will substitute hydrogen atoms (H+) for virtually all of the other cations, and designing an anion exchange resin which will substitute hydroxyl ions (OH-) for virtually all of the other anions. By means of this process we end up with only H+ and OH- which is equivalent to H2O (water). By forming this demineralized water, we create water which is no longer a conductor. We can measure the purity using an ohm meter. Ohms measure resistance. The higher the ohm count, the lower the conductivity. H20 Industries is routinely formed to 18 mega ohms per centimeter, which is very close to zero conductivity (18.23 at 25 degrees Centigrade). Without giving lengthy chemical explanations, what happens in the process is as follows:

• City tap water is first passed through a carbon filter to remove chlorine, sand, and other unwanted substances. Sometimes, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light are used to remove non-ionized substances, organic materials, etc., prior to the deionization stage.
• The water then passes into a specially-treated cation resin. This resin takes the form of small beads located inside a tank. The positively charged ions from the unwanted dissolved minerals will attach themselves to the resin. This happens because the resin contains an over-equilibrium abundance of hydrogen ions (H+) which are “bumped off” of the resin beads and replaced by the positively-charged, unwanted, in-coming cation ions. The “bumped off” free hydrogen ions then pair up with anions which are left in the water to form acids.
• The “de-cationized” water then passes to a tank of anion resin to catch the unwanted negatively charged ions that have dissolved in the water. Here, the anions and the anion portions of the acids attached to the hydrogen are attracted to, and held by, the positive sites on the anion exchange resin beads. They do this by kicking off the negative hydroxyl ions that were put on the beads (again in over-abundance). The leftover hydrogen portions of the acids (H+) now join the freed hydroxyl ions (OH-) to form water (H2O).
• If a very high degree of purity is called for, the water will next pass into what is called a “mixed bed” which normally contains resin in a ratio of one part cation resin to two to three parts anion. Steps 1-3 occur again here thus catching the last traces of unwanted ions of the dissolved substances.
• The tanks of resin will continue to purify the water flowing through them until the resin balls expand and their capacity to catch ions is depleted.
• The water flow must stop until the tanks are replaced with tanks containing regenerated resin.
• To regenerate the cation resin, a solution of acid is used to bombard the resin removing all the previously-caught positively-charged ions. Then the tank is flushed to remove any excess acid. The anion resin tank is also given a caustic solution to bombard the previously-caught negative ions. The anion resin is then flushed to remove any residual caustic solution.
• The tanks now contain regenerated resin and the ion exchange process can continue with the tap water turned on.

The regeneration process can take place at the location where the water is being purified, however, most users of H20 Industries do not install the expensive equipment to do this but simply arrange for a service provider, such as H20 Industries, to replace the tanks and perform the regeneration process off-site.

As high-tech industries, such as electronics, communications, and pharmaceuticals, continue to grow, there will almost certainly be increasing use of deionization technology and deionized water. As instrumentation and analysis procedures improve, controlling and monitoring the deionization process will be easier and more efficient, and this will, undoubtedly, help create new uses for deionization that have not yet appeared, as well as make H20 Industries more affordable to sectors now using other methods of purification. As more people in the water treatment industry become familiar with the DI process, the industry for H20 Industries and equipment will benefit.

3.6 Future Products and Services

In addition to bulk and segregated portable H20 Industries, the company plans to expand sales of filters and DI cartridges. These sales have been disregarded in this business plan, but they could become more significant in the future. These products lend themselves to mail order type sales, as they are small and lightweight. Cartridges are disposable items. H20 Industries also has plans to develop a reusable shipping container for its smallest (8″ x 18″) DI exchange tank so that this can also be shipped via UPS. This product will be marketed on a website, as well as through conventional direct mail and yellow page advertising.

In the future, a logical off-shoot of the DI business is reverse osmosis (R/O) used in conjunction with DI exchange tanks. The inclusion of R/O in front of the DI tanks will extend the capacity of an exchange tank by 1000%. This addition to the product line could become a substantial element of total company sales.

Reverse osmosis and electric reversing deionization are beginning to compete with exchange tank DI technology. H20 Industries plans to offer service contracts to maintain this equipment at the customer’s location. This equipment may to either sold or leased.

Market Analysis Summary how to do a market analysis for your business plan.">

The total market in Northern California for H20 Industries is between 670,000 and 925,000 cu ft of resin annually. H20 Industries’s total productive capacity will be only 36,400 cubic feet, or 3.9-5.4%. Since H20 Industries will have the unique capability of performing segregated regeneration, which is of special interest to the medical industry (dialysis, labs and pharmaceutical), the company will emphasize sales efforts in this segment for high purity H20 Industries. This segment is estimated at 167,000 cu ft annually. Next in terms of marketing emphasis will be the electronic (223,000 cu ft) and machine tool industries.

4.1 Market Segmentation

The market for H20 Industries encompasses many industries, and within them there is a wide range of purity needs. At the low end, a car wash might use H20 Industries in the final rinse only. Their need for purity might be only .5 Megohms (Ohms measure resistance). Water is only a good conductor because of the quantity of dissolved solids in the water. As the ion exchange process lowers the level of total dissolved solids (TDS) the resistance, measured in ohms, increases.

A purity level of .5 Megohms is pure enough for a car wash final rinse cycle, but not even close to pure enough for a electronics wafer manufacturer. They would need 18 Megohms, at which point the water would be pure and incapable of acting as a conductor. Generally speaking, those sectors of the market that need the highest levels of purity are the customers for H20 Industries’s main niche product of segregated DI exchange service. This means that the resin coming back from the customer is never mixed with any other company’s resin. This is a very strong sales feature when dealing with dialysis units of a hospital, labs and pharmaceutical manufacturers, and electronics makers. These customers are happy to pay a premium over the price charged for bulk DI regeneration service because they do not want their resin co-mingled with resin coming from a metal plater or a car wash.

Quantifying the market for segregated portable H20 Industries is not easy. Unlike the market for used cars, metal furniture, or nearly every product one can think of, there are no readily-available statistics on the market for portable DI exchange. There is overwhelming agreement that US Filter has the commanding market share of DI exchange business, opinions range from 85 to 95% majority.

According to the publisher of ULTRAPURE WATER®, (May-June 1999 volume 16, number 5) US Filter had sales of $1 billion in 1990, and has grown to $5 billion in 1999. Portable DI exchange is only a small portion of their business. Sales in Northern California of only DI portable exchange is estimated at $25 million. This has been confirmed from several sources. Firstly, one of the owners of H20 Industries is a former employee of US Filter. In 1996, their DI exchange business reached $12 million. This was only 65% of the market. Then the company acquired Culligan, adding another $8 million in portable DI exchange business in Northern California, and bringing the total to $20 million. It is assumed that sales have grown to $25 million over the past several years.

The relationship between input water and DI exchange capacity is charted. Assuming in-coming water quality of 200 parts per million of TDS in the far left column, a 3.6 cu. ft tank of regenerated resin can handle 10,800 gallons. This means that an average user with a flow rate of 10 gallons per minute would use up a 3.6 cu ft tank in 2.57 days, or 1.4 cu ft per day. Assuming the salesman was accurate in his statement of 2,000 customers, this would work out to 840,000 cu ft of regenerated portable DI exchange business per year. This figure is somewhat greater than the figure of 610,000, however, the subject of this business plan, H20 Industries, will have a productive capacity of only 140 cu ft per day, which represents between 4.5% and 6.3% of the total market in Northern California.

Taking the midpoint estimate for the total Northern California market of 780,000 cu ft annually, these high purity users would represent a market 558,000 cu ft

Hospital Dialysis Units and Stand alone Clinics:

California lists 16 stand-alone dialysis clinics, many of whom have multiple locations with varying numbers of stations. Every dialysis clinic, as least in Michigan according to BESCO, use H20 Industries for polishing, after initially running the water through a reverse osmosis system. Hospitals also have dialysis units. In addition, there is blood analysis work which is normally done using “wet” analysis equipment that requires H20 Industries. Assume this sector represents only 10% of the high purity market, or 55,000 cu ft annually.

Labs and pharmaceutical Manufacturers:

A list of labs and pharmaceutical makers in Northern California contains 330 names. A sample calling indicated that some use no pure water, others use such small qualities (10 gals/months) that they buy the water from suppliers like Hubbard-Hall, already made up. Others use so much H20 Industries that they have their own built-in DI system. The rest who have flow rate needs of between one and 20 gallons per minute are in the range most economically serviced by portable DI exchange. Assume this to represent 20% of the 558,000, or 112,000 cu ft.

Electronic Manufacturers:

Semiconductor manufacturers and other makers of electronic components need pure water to flush with. As microprocessors use wafers of ever-decreasing size, the requirements for pure water to rinse with increase, as do various other additional micro filtering. A list of electronics manufacturers in Northern California names 189 makers. Assume this sector represents 40% of 558,000, or 223,000 cu ft.

Machine Tools and Parts:

This is one of the fasting growing sectors as more and more manufacturers conform to the ISO 9000 standard, which requires delivered parts to be clean (defined as rinsed thoroughly with water of one Megohm purity or better). This category includes a need for H20 Industries in machines consuming cutting oil, any machine with cooling systems, and other uses. Assume this sector represents 30% of 558,000, or 167,000 cu ft.

This sector of the market will represent the market for DI exchange water lower than one Megohm in purity. Assume that the following industries take up the remaining 30% of the total market. Some industries that would be included in this “other” category would be:

• Car washes need H20 Industries for the final rinse
• Food and beverage industry would use it for improving taste and texture of baked goods, cutting and blending alcoholic beverages, dissolving food colors, etc.
• Cosmetics industry needs it for the production of shampoo, liquid soaps, cold creams, hand lotions, nail polish remover, permanent waving solutions, rubbing alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide.
• Electroplating industry utilizes H20 Industries in anodizing, electro-tinning, rinsing, rust proofing, and actual plating with various metals such as nickel, copper, silver, and chromium.
• Ceramics industry requires it to control pH in preparation of slips and glazes, rinsing clay pieces, producing enamel.
• Textile industry uses H20 Industries insteam irons and other steaming equipment, humidification systems, as well as rinsing, dying and bleaching processes.
• Railroad industry for high pressure boilers, cooling systems and storage batteries and for many applications where steam is used)
• Others, such as applications for grinding optical lenses, silvering solutions for mirrors, manufacturers of blueprint paper, manufacturers of ice, humidification of gas supplies to superchargers of high speed aeronautical engines, growing orchids, etc.

The chart and table below summarize the total market potential for the DI exchange services in Northern California.

4.2 Target Market Segment Strategy

The target markets that will receive the most attention will be the sectors which require the highest levels of pure water. This means the 70% of the market that wants quality of one Megohm or better. Within this sector, quantified as 558,000 cu ft annually, H20 Industries will emphasize those users wanting the top echelon of purity (18 Megohms).This sector of the market might be only one third of the 558,000, but even at one third (186,000), it totals more than 300% of H20 Industries’s total capacity, including its bulk portion.

4.2.1 Market Trends

One notable trend in industries is to out-source. Chief financial officers analyze the costs of producing something in-house versus the costs of farming it out. Water purification is no exception. Although many large users of H20 Industries will want to set up their own in-house capacity, the capital costs, the maintenance costs, and the costs of dealing with regenerate waste often make DI portable exchange a more economical solution. Down-sizing within a company with its own pure water manufacturing capability often will lead to a management decision to shut down their in-house plant and switch over to portable service.

Another trend is for more and more industries to need higher degrees of purity in their manufacturing process, which results in an ever-growing market for H20 Industries.

4.2.2 Market Needs

The reasoning behind the attention to the highest purity sector of the market is that H20 Industries is able to provide segregated DI exchange service. A customer’s in-coming tanks for regeneration are tagged, and after regeneration, the same resin is returned to the customer. This specialized service is a major selling feature over US Filter, who must co-mingle customers’ resin in a bulk regenerating facility. Also, bulk regeneration will not achieve the same deionization capacity as H20 Industries’s segregated method which utilizes more chemicals and longer regeneration times. A customer dealing with blood can easily be sold on segregated resin as he would not feel comfortable that his resin would be co-mingled with resin used in a totally different industry.

In addition to the feature mentioned above, H20 Industries will concentrate on those customers who place a premium on response speed and intensity of service. Again, mainly the higher quality users of H20 Industries exchange, where a shut-down would be very expensive, will demand the highest degree of quality available. Segregated exchange service from a smaller supplier is much more likely to satisfy than a huge conglomerate like US Filter where portable exchange can only be done on a bulk batching basis and represents only a small part of their overall business.

4.2.3 Market Growth

The market growth percentages used in the market analysis table were obtained from various articles appearing in ULTRAPURE WATER®, the definitive journal of high-purity water. Specific articles can be located from an index on their website, www.talloaks.com/.

4.3 Service Business Analysis

The industry for providing portable H20 Industries service is dominated by one very large company–US Filter. US Filter controls between 90 to 95% of the H20 Industries service business in Northern California. The company has grown from $1 billion to over $5 billion in the past six years, primarily through an acquisition binge. The company is now finalizing its sale to Vivendi’s Generale des Eaux water subsidiary which will result in combined sales of $12 billion, making it the largest water business in the world. Originally, US Filter’s primary focus was industrial and high purity water. Its acquisitions in other areas include drinking water, waste water, municipal water, and water supply.

Now, less than 20% of its activities relate to technologies and markets connected with high purity water. A much smaller percentage is connected with H20 Industries, and a still-smaller percentage concerned with DI exchange service. After their merger, the percentage will drop even further from 20% to eight percent. This situation has resulted in a growing dissatisfaction with US Filter’s services for H20 Industries exchange. Both owners of this project have been hearing complaints from US Filter customers for quite some time. This is not just a condition evident in Northern California, other sections of the country have noticed it and competitors to US Filter’s DI exchange business have started to grow.

4.3.1 Competition and Buying Patterns

Users of H20 Industries have had little choice in regards to their provider. It is regenerated on a bulk basis only, with no option for segregated regenerated resin (see section on Market Segmentation). Some small customers have obtained the DI exchange service through their local Culligan man or similar water serviceman who in turn obtains it from US Filter. The fact that some small players in the market can capture some of this DI exchange business from US Filter despite a higher price ($63-$80 per cu ft versus $40 per cu ft from US Filter) is a good indication of the importance that service plays in the buying decision. Rarely does the price of H20 Industries represent a significant variable production cost in a manufacturing process. Much more of a factor is worry about quality level and service response time.

4.3.2 Main Competitors

In reaction to the service complaints of customers for US Filter’s DI exchange, a couple of small competitors have sprung up in Northern California. Fluid Solutions in Lowell is one such company. This company has been supplying customers with H20 Industries exchange although they have no regeneration facilities of their own. They merely service the customers and send the tanks to a regeneration facility of another DI exchange company in Pennsylvania.

The prices charged by all local companies to regenerate are between $63 and $80 per cu ft for mixed bed. They charge $20 to $30, depending on tank size, as a monthly rental charge.

The market in Northern California is ripe for growth in competitors to US Filter which does not provide segregated regeneration and whose regenerated resin, on a bulk batch basis, will not serve as high a flow rate as non-bulk regeneration.

4.3.3 Business Participants

Industry participants are varied, as there are several means of obtaining purified water. There are companies which design and engineer reverse osmosis equipment. This equipment has a sizable share of the water market at the end close to the municipal water inlet. Reverse osmosis (R/O), in conjunction with carbon filtering and ultraviolet light, is used (for example in dialysis) to bring the TDS down to a lower level. Ion exchange, either fixed or portable, is then used to polish away the remaining impurities. Other companies may supply e-cell equipment which deionizes electrically. This technology has not advanced sufficiently to compete with traditional H20 Industries but is still occasionally sold in conjunction with a R/O system as the e-cell can only handle small levels of TDS. Some industry participants are primarily engaged in water softening and water filtration for drinking and household purposes. These companies may also utilize green sand to remove iron and magnesium hardness derived from aging municipal piping systems.

In short, there is a full range of industry participants from the local Culligan service representative mainly involved in private households, to large companies involved in engineering, design, consulting, component manufacturing, waste water treatment, etc. With respect to the narrower market for H20 Industries, there are chemical companies who supply (by the gallon) H20 Industries to very small users. There are a few small companies engaged in DI exchange service who do this only as an adjunct to their main business, such as water softening, and who only act as a distributor of DI exchange regeneration facilities located outside of Northern California.

Strategy and Implementation Summary

Besides direct sales effort to large users of H20 Industries, a major element of the company’s marketing efforts will be to develop a distributor network through existing local water service companies. These companies provide local water service to small companies and homes throughout Northern California. Most of their business takes the form of water filtering, water softening, reverse osmosis maintenance, swimming pool service, etc. The best of these will be recruited to add H20 Industries service to their product line.

5.1 Value Proposition

H20 Industries will offer segregated resin regeneration to customers wanting the highest levels of water purity. Segregated regeneration is not offered by any other company in Northern California and indications are, based on present pre-start-up sales, that users of H20 Industries are willing to pay a substantial premium for it. It represents a form of peace of mind which dialysis units, laboratories, etc. feel is important.

The second most important value proposition is service response. When H20 Industries tanks need changing customers insist on, and will receive, an immediate response.

5.2 Competitive Edge

H20 Industries’s ability to segregate a customer’s resin and return it to him regenerated to the maximum limit, should put the company in a strong competitive position.

Approximately all of H20 Industries’s business will be directed at the portable service DI market. This market emphasis should quickly be noticed by users of H20 Industries, who at present rely on US Filter. US Filter’s product range growth through acquisition and buy-outs has de-emphasized the importance of its H20 Industries exchange service.

Hence, the two major aspects of the firm’s competitive advantage would be high quality segregated resin regeneration and fast service response. It will be important to stress these advantages in the sales literature.

5.3 Marketing Strategy

H20 Industries’s marketing strategy will be to execute and communicate its value proposition of service and market segmentation advantage in providing segregated regeneration of customers’ resin.

5.3.1 Distribution Strategy

Wherever H20 Industries cannot economically sell directly, due to distance or quantities, it will utilize a network of water service companies. These companies will be carefully chosen for their quality of service. An arrangement will be set up whereby the distributor will offer DI exchange service along with its other water services. The installations can easily be handled by them. They would tag the tanks and return and pick up from the H20 Industries plant. Being able to offer this service increases the image of the local water service company. It fosters a feeling a one-stop shopping. A 33% discount off the retail price should be adequate to satisfy the distributors.

5.3.2 Positioning Statement

H20 Industries’s ability to regenerate resin on a segregated basis, rather than only bulk, is a capability that should provide quick and easy entry into the user market where the highest water purity is needed. These users, blood analysis, hemodialysis units, and medical laboratories for example, are especially sensitive to contamination risks. Simply pointing out to these users that bulk regeneration involves the co-mingling of their resin with resin used in the metal-finishing and car wash industries usually is quite convincing. Segregated regeneration results in the further advantage of achieving a higher DI capacity per cubic foot as greater quantities of chemicals are used during a longer regeneration period.

The second most important position statement is H20 Industries’s concentration on the DI exchange business. This concentration will force H20 Industries to provide a higher level of service, and more quickly, too. It must be remembered that the cost for H20 Industries in the market for the highest level of water purity is not a significant cost element in the overall cost structure. However, a service shutdown, for quality or for service reasons, would be very costly to high technology users of H20 Industries.

5.3.3 Pricing Strategy

In line with the conclusions drawn in the positioning statements, H20 Industries can charge a higher price for its segregated regenerated resin. There is virtually no competition for this product in the Northern California market.

Charging $63 per cubic foot (mixed bed), as used in the sales projections, is more than a 65% increase over the price for US Filter’s bulk resin price for mixed bed. H20 Industries is currently successfully charging in excess of $70 for this product. It is essential that H20 Industries place a premium price consistent with its superior product.

Wholesale prices have been established to encourage the quick formation of a dealership network. Dealers are afforded a 33% discount.

5.3.4 Promotion Strategy

The main focus of promotion will be two-pronged: promotion to H20 Industries end users, and promotion to wholesalers.

Promotion to wholesalers should receive primary stress due to the extended reach made possible by the wholesaler network with its existing customer base. The sales force of these wholesale distributors needs to be educated on H20 Industries’s positioning statement so that they all understand the important sales advantages of segregated resin. Being able to offer DI exchange service to a distributor’s customer list is a great advantage to the distributor, and this fact needs to be clearly spelled out to them. Therefore, the H20 Industries relationship with a dealership network is one in which both sides benefit.

H20 Industries should strive to create a small-town, friendly relationship with its customers. Company brochures will show a map with all the H20 Industries locations, including each newly acquired distributor. The distributor trucks, as well as H20 Industries vehicles, would carry the H20 Industries logo, helping all to achieve name recognition. Cost savings would result through sharing literature, leads (by territory and/or industry), co-op marketing costs, and the sharing of technical expertise.

Direct marketing to customers within easy reach of H20 Industries should stress service. As a major supplier of resin stated: “US Filter is a huge concern that closes down at 5 P.M. on Friday.” Customers for H20 Industries need to feel that they can get service after hours, and even on a Saturday if need be. These customers feel much more comfortable dealing with an exchange service that is closer in size to the customer, and where the exchange service is an important portion of total sales revenue of the supplier. Prompt deliveries, trouble-free installations, good technical advise, etc. are main building blocks of the promotion strategy.

5.4 Sales Strategy

The sales strategy is to concentrate on that segment of the market most easily captured by the following sales feature: segregated regeneration of portable resin. In addition, the fastest way to reach the sales goal for the first several years is by actively working to develop a dealership network for H20 Industries.

5.4.1 Sales Forecast

Sales Projections:

Sales (July 1999) are running at less than 15% capacity monthly, exclusive of rental revenue. This approximates 285 cubic ft per month. The plant capacity will be 100 cu ft per day, on a one-shift basis. Based on the potential market outlined in the Marketing Section of this plan, growth in sales of regenerated segregated resin should reach 433 cu ft per month by October (equals 20 cu ft/day) which is this plan’s starting point, and growing steadily each month until 80 cu ft per day is reached (80% capacity) by the end of the first year. Total production of segregated resin is assumed to be split into equal quantities of anion, cation, and mixed bed.

Once the 80% capacity utilization level is reached (October 2000), unit sales will grow modestly in year two and year three. This growth can be achieved within the capacity limits of 100 cu ft daily (26,000 cu ft per annum) without increases in production labor. Further increases in segregated regeneration would require overtime labor charges. Also, for the projection purposes, direct unit costs for years two and three remain at the level of year one.

The bulk regeneration pad will have a capacity of 20 cu ft and can handle two batches during an eight-hour shift, totaling 40 cu ft/day. We will assume sales for bulk regeneration will grow at the rate of 5 cu ft/day in the first month reaching capacity of 40 cu ft/day after eight months. Sales are split between mixed bed (50%), 25% anion, and 25% cation. Sales of bulk resin will grow 15% each of the first three years. As the bulk regeneration, unlike the segregated regeneration, is not labor intensive, this 15% growth can be achieved without increases in production labor.

In projecting unit prices per ten cu ft. Prices will be assumed at:

• $630/10 cu ft for mixed bed (segregated)
• $570/10 cu ft for anion or cation (segregated)
• $430/10 cu ft for mixed bed (bulk)
• $320/10 cu ft for cation or anion (bulk)

The above prices will be reduced for dealers who will deliver and pick up at the factory to:

• $422/10 cu ft for mixed bed (segregated)
• $382/10 cu ft for anion or cation (segregated)
• $288/10 cu ft for mixed bed (bulk)
• $215/10 cu ft for cation or anion (bulk)

We will assume that 50% of all sales will go through dealers, so the unit price weighted average of the retail and dealer prices will be:

• $526/10 cu ft for mixed bed (segregated)
• $476/10 cu ft for anion or cation (segregated)
• $359/10 cu ft for mixed bed (bulk)
• $267.50/10 cu ft for cation or anion (bulk)

Variable Unit Costs:

The costs connected with one cubic foot of segregated anion treatment involve the cost of:

• City water.
• City sewer disposal.
• Cost of carbon filtering and converting city water to H20 Industries.
• Cost of heating water.
• Cost of Sodium Hydroxide.

Cost of replacing small amounts of lost resin.

• City water is supplied by Newark, at $2.70 per 100 cu ft, which works out to (7.48 gallons in one cubic foot) $0.0036 per gallon. It requires one gallon per minute for 45 minutes to regenerate one cubic foot of anion, which comes to 45 gallons. The slow rinse needs one gallon/minute for 20 minutes, and the fast rinse needs five gallons/min for 40 minutes. This comes to 220 gallons. Finally, testing takes another 12.5 gallons. Total water consumption per cubic foot of anion resin is 277.5 gallons, or $1.00.
• All water used eventually passes to the sewer which is metered at $2.45 per 100 cubic feet or $0.0032 per gallon. Cost per cubic foot of anion serviced is $0.91.
• Cost of carbon filtering and converting city surface-sourced water to H20 Industries is arrived at by assuming that one cu ft of regenerated resin has the capability of producing sufficient H20 Industries to regenerate five cu ft of spent resin. The costs of regenerating one cu ft of anion resin without H20 Industries costs are approximately $8.96. Dividing this amount by five comes to approximately $1.80 for the H20 Industries per gallon of anion resin serviced.
• Gas to heat incoming city water (average temp 40 degrees) up to 100 degrees goes by a formula (8.34 X number of gallons X temp rise) or 500.4 BTU’s per gallon. 277.5 gallons would need 138,610 BTU’s which, when divided by 104,000 BTU’s per thermal unit, comes to 1.3352 therms. One therm (assume G41 rate class) is billed at $.81 by Essexgas, so 1.3352 therms will cost $1.08.
• Sodium hydroxide is a caustic chemical supplied in a 55-gallon drum containing 50% solution. The regeneration process requires one drum to regenerate 12 anion tanks of each two cu ft. Therefore, one cubic foot of anion requires 2.2917 gallons, or .04167, of a drum. One 55-gallon drum costs $80.50 (Hubbard-Hall Inc.). Cost per cubic foot of anion servicing is $3.35.

Experience indicates that with each regeneration it is necessary to replace approximately two percent of the resin. Anion resin costs $130 per cu ft. Cost is $2.60 per cu ft of anion serviced.

Summary of Anion servicing costs:

• City Water: $1.00
• City Sewer: $0.91
• Carbon filtering and DI: $1.80.
• Gas to heat water: $1.08
• Sodium Hydroxide: $3.35
• Resin replacement: $2.60

Total for anion servicing: $10.74

The costs connected with servicing one cubic foot of segregated cation treatment involve the cost of:

• Cost of heating water (not needed for cation treatment).
• Cost of Hydrochloric acid.
• City water is supplied by Newark at $2.70 per 100 cubic feet which works out to (7.48 gallons in one cubic foot) $0.0036 per gallon. It requires one gallon per minute for 20 minutes to regenerate one cubic foot of cation, which comes to 20 gallons. The slow rinse needs one gallon/minute for 20 minutes, and the fast rinse needs five gallons/minute for 30 minutes. This comes to 170 gallons. Finally, testing takes another 12.5 gallons. Total water consumption per cubic foot of cation resin is 202.5 gallons, or $0.73.
• All water used eventually passes to the sewer, which is metered at $2.45 per 100 cubic feet, or $0.0032 per gallon. Cost per cubic foot of anion serviced is $0.66.
• Cost of carbon filtering and converting city water to H20 Industries is estimated at $1.46 per cu ft of cation serviced based on experience that one cu ft of regenerated cation resin has the ability to produce enough H20 Industries to regenerate five cu ft of cation resin. ($7.32 divided by five equals $1.46)
• No cost to heat water.
• Hydrochloric acid is supplied in 55-gallon drums containing 30% solution. The regeneration process requires two drums to regenerate 12 tanks of each two cubic feet, using an eight to ten percent solution. Therefore, one cubic foot of cation requires 4.6 gallons or .08363 of a drum. One 55 gallon drum costs $63.70 (Hubbard-Hall Inc.). Cost per cubic foot of anion servicing is $5.33.

Experience indicates that in the process of regeneration about 2% of the resin needs to be replaced. Cation resin costs $30 per cu ft. Cost is $.60 per cu ft of cation serviced.

Summary of Cation servicing costs:

• Resin replacement: $0.60.

Total: $8.78 for cation servicing.

Costs of servicing one cubic foot of mixed bed:

A mixed bed tank is more time-consuming as it requires a separation stage prior to regeneration. City water (not DI) is mixed with salt. This solution is used to bathe the anion and cation resin in a cone until the two resins separate, at which point the cation and anion are treated in the regeneration stage in the same manner as the single bed anion and cation. One mixed bed contains twice as much anion as cation. This aspect results in a weighted cost of $10.09 per cu ft Salt consumption: every cubic foot of mixed bed needs 1.5 cu ft of brine solution. There are 7.48 gallons per cu ft This comes to 11 gallons of brine needs. A 22% salt solution in this quantity of water would amount to amount two pounds. Salt is supplied by Hubbard-Hall Inc. at $.095 per pound. Adding the cost of the two pounds of salt to the weighted average cost of $10.09 comes to $10.28.

Total cost of mixed bed serving: $10.28 per cu ft.

• Bulk Regeneration Variable costs:
• Water. According to the spec sheet, 2,459 gallons are needed for 20 cu ft of mixed bed. At $0.0036 per gallon, this comes to $8.87, or $0.444 per cu ft of resin serviced.
• Sewer. Assuming all the water goes down the sewer with a minimal need for balancing chemicals, at $0.0032 per gallon, this comes to $0.4027 per cu ft of resin serviced.
• Per cu ft of mixed bed. $1.39 of acid and $1.10 of caustic soda.
• Salt. $0.07 per cu ft.
• H20 Industries and filtering/softening assume the same costs as in the production of segregated resin (i.e. $1.80 for anion and $1.46 for cation).
• Loss of resin. Assume two percent. At $130 for anion and $30 per cu ft of cation (ratio 2:3 cation to anion), a blended cost of $90 at two percent comes to $1.80 per cu ft.
• Heat for water. 3.2 therm at $.081 divided by 20 cu ft comes to $0.13 per cu ft.
• Total bulk mixed bed: $6.95, or $69.50 for 10 cu ft.

Tank Rental Income:

Because of the high costs of purchasing tanks, many new customers opt for renting tanks on a monthly basis. For purposes of these projections we will assume that:

• Dealership-generated sales resulting in tank rentals will be handled by them (i.e. ignored in these projections).
• Half of all directly-generated sales will involve rental tanks (i.e. total unit sales for October amount to 534 cu ft of which half will be dealer-generated. Total direct sales in October = 267 cu ft of which half (133 cu ft) will need rental tanks.
• Assume, for simplification of projections, all rentals will be in 12 inch tanks holding 3.6 cu ft with rental price of $40 per tank. October will see rental income of $1,480 (133 cu ft divided by 3.6 cu ft/tank times $40 rental per tank).

Tank Sales:

It is assumed that those customers who do not opt to rent their tanks will already have their own tanks or will purchase tanks from H20 Industries. Sales of tanks is assumed at only five percent of the number of monthly rental tanks. Sales price is $1,200. Cost equals $450.

5.5 Strategic Alliances

The relationship between dealerships and H20 Industries could be called a strategic alliance. These water service companies have an extensive customer base. Most of the customers have needs such as water softening, filtration, reverse osmosis maintenance, swimming pool maintenance, etc., however, many dealership customers have H20 Industries needs as well. At present, these water service companies must direct their customers to US Filter or supply the customer through US Filter. Forming a relationship between H20 Industries and these dealerships would quickly result in substantial sales increases for H20 Industries and would result in increased prestige and profits for the dealerships.

Management Summary management summary will include information about who's on your team and why they're the right people for the job, as well as your future hiring plans.">

The management of H20 Industries is made up of individual shareholders with extensive expertise in the water treatment industry, as well as commercial and financial background.

6.1 Management Team

The management team is uniquely qualified to implement this business plan. The founders, John Jones and Dave Smith, have been active in the water treatment industry for years. John’s experience working with dealers in application engineering and sales has prepared him well to present the H20 Industries dealership to water service companies that he already knows. His years of calling on dealerships in all aspects of the water industry have allowed him a birds-eye view of the prevailing marketing and business practices.

Dave has been involved in the manufacturing sector of the water industry and is well respected and connected there. His training and certification as a Professional Engineer give him an advantage when consulting with customers and prospective customers.

The person planned for the position of general manager has wide-ranging experience in finance and manufacturing. He is a former vice president of Chase Manhattan Bank, team leader of a development bank (Saudi Industrial Development Fund), and founder/general manager of a factory which, after 10 years of profitable operations, was bought out in 1989.

The production manager is a chemical engineer by education and professional experience, and has demonstrated his know-how by successfully managing the production activity in the factory despite the challenges presented by the present incomplete production line.

6.2 Personnel Plan

Regeneration Personnel : A production manager must be a skilled chemical engineer with experience in water treatment applications. This person must be a hands-on individual supervising two assistants. The production manager will label the tanks as they are received to assure customer segregation and supervise the proper regeneration cycle, from separation through backwash, draw, flush, mix, and testing. The assistants will primarily be kept busy moving tanks from one stage in the regeneration cycle to the next, connecting the hosing, performing the chemical mix and draw according to the instructions of the production manager, adding salt to the brine tank, etc. The production manager is in place. One assistant is now in place. A second is needed.

An engineer/fitter is also needed to maintain the equipment and to make installations. This person is in place.

Sales and Marketing Personnel : It is planned that both owners will continue to maintain their present positions. These sales positions require them to move about the territory which provides an excellent source of knowledge of customers for H20 Industries. This information will be communicated to the sales and marketing manager who will spend his time calling and visiting potential H20 Industries users. He will be paid a base salary plus commissions. The commission will be higher for landing a new customer, and lower for repeat sales. The commission schedule will be constructed in such a way as to permit an annual total compensation that will encourage excellent sales results.

General and Administrative : An office manager is needed. Answering phones, primary contact with customers, incoming and outgoing mail, etc. He will be the main connection between the owners and the operations of the facility. Within six months, a part-time assistant will need to be added to keep pace with bookkeeping and management.

Delivery Personnel : One driver, who has additional responsibilities, is now in place. A second will need to be added after approximately four months.

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

As of August 1999, stockholder equity stood at $112,000. Additional infusion of equity from new shareholders will boost the equity capital.

To complete the necessary planned additions to plant and equipment, a 5-year term loan will be required from a financial institution. The projected cash-flow is sufficient to repay this loan in quarterly installments. This term loan should be sufficient to cover the increases in accounts receivable, as well as to support growth in inventory of rental tanks.

7.1 Important Assumptions

Tax rate reflects the present sliding scale:

• $0 to $50,000 @ 15% Federal, plus 9.5% State tax
• $50 to $75,000 @ 25%
• $75 to $100,000 @ 34%
• $100 to $335,000 @ 39%
• $335,000 and up @ 34%

Inventory Turnover:

Since this is a service business, the only inventory is that of chemicals and some resin, both of which do not need to be stored more than two weeks. Average is one week (inventory turnover rate of 48).

7.2 Break-even Analysis

The following table and chart show the Monthly Units and Monthly Revenue Break-even calculations based on the Average Per-Unit Revenue, Average Per-Unit Variable Costs and the Estimated Monthly Fixed Costs, as drawn from the other financial tables in this plan.

7.3 Projected Profit and Loss

The following table and charts give the yearly projected profit and loss statement for H20 Industries. For a monthly analysis, please see attached appendix.

7.4 Projected Cash Flow

Cash Flow is an intrinsic projection for H20 Industries. We must maintain a suitable cash balance in the bank in order to be successful. The chart and table below outline our basic cash flow assumptions.

7.5 Projected Balance Sheet

The projected balance sheet for H20 Industries is presented below.

7.6 Business Ratios

The following table gives standard business ratios for the water treatment equipment manufacturer industry, as determined by the Standard Industry Classification (SIC) Index code 3589. The last column, Industry Profile, presents specific information and important ratios for this industry.