CapyClimb Business Plan
1. Executive Summary CapyClimb is a hybrid bouldering gym and capybara-themed relaxation cafe located in Tachikawa, Tokyo. Designed for urban outdoor climbers and animal lovers, CapyClimb combines world-class board training and premium animal-assisted leisure. Our facility will feature a 4-meter ceiling to fully support Tension, MoonBoard, and Kilter Board installations, either by selecting suitable real estate or digging for mat clearance.
Our target audience includes foreigners and Japanese climbers training for outdoor bouldering, especially in Mitake. We aim to become Tokyo’s go-to hub for international climbers by offering multilingual services, guided outdoor experiences, and friendly social programming. Capybara interaction will be premium and limited for animal welfare, creating an exclusive and ethical experience.
2. Business Objectives (Phase 1)
- Launch pilot gym and cafe (220–250 sqm) in Tachikawa by Q3 2025.
- Reach operating break-even within 18 months.
- Reach 150–200 monthly climbing members by Year 2.
- Begin Mitake outdoor tours in Year 1 with graded difficulty levels.
3. Future Expansion Plan (Phase 2)
- Year 2: Open a Mitake lodge and outdoor rental branch (pads, shoes, guides).
- Year 3–4: Launch second Tokyo branch (e.g., Koenji or Ogikubo) and seasonal pop-ups in tourist areas.
- Year 5: Launch global partnerships and travel programs (e.g., Japan–Thailand–Spain climbing exchanges), and develop a CapyClimb franchise and licensing model.
4. Concept Overview Climbing Gym (90 sqm):
- Full installation of MoonBoard, Kilter Board, and Tension Board (latest Tension 2 model or Beastmaker alternative).
- Campus board, rings, hangboards.
- 4m ceiling for 3.8m board clearance with mats.
- Climber-to-space ratio target: 1 person per 5–6 sqm at peak.
- Rental climbing shoes and chalk available.
Capybara Cafe & Interaction (70 sqm):
- Beverage bar and lounge.
- Capybara enclosure with heated pool.
- Premium, reservation-only capybara interactions (¥2,000+) to avoid stress and limit traffic.
Community & Social Activities:
- Social nights, film screenings, yoga.
- Bulk passes: 10-pass for the price of 8, 5-pass for the price of 4.
- No first-time subscription fee.
Outdoor Guide Service (Phase 1):
- Weekly guided bouldering trips to Mitake.
- Tours graded by level: Beginner (V0–V5) vs. Advanced (V6+).
- Rental pads and shoes for trips.
- Local collaboration with existing Japanese guidebooks + English translation/app development.
5. Market Analysis Local Competitors:
- B-Pump and Base Camp see 500–800 entries/week, but few offer outdoor trip coordination or foreigner-friendly systems.
- Seoul’s gym “The Climb” (Korea) with MoonBoard and small boulder achieves 150 entries just on weekends.
- Tokyo gyms with boards often focus only on locals or advanced climbers, creating a niche for CapyClimb’s broader community model.
Target Customers:
- Foreigners living in Tokyo seeking social activity.
- Japanese climbers focused on outdoor projects.
- Tourists interested in novelty cafes and outdoor climbing.
- Digital nomads and expats seeking recreation and coworking.
6. Location Justification: Tachikawa, Tokyo
- Rent 30–50% lower than Shibuya/Shinjuku.
- Proximity to outdoor crags (Mitake, Ogawayama, Okutama).
- High expat population with English education hubs.
- Rooftop or basement properties with 4m ceiling potential.
7. Floor Plan Estimate (230–250 sqm)
| Zone | Area (sqm) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Climbing Gym | 90 | 4m ceiling, 3 boards, training area |
| Capybara Enclosure | 30 | Heated bath, dry zone, seating view |
| Cafe & Lounge | 40 | 15–20 pax, bar counter, chill space |
| Locker & Changing | 20 | Unisex open lockers, rental gear |
| Storage & Admin | 10 | Pads, shoes, POS |
| Restroom & Staff | 10 | Toilet, utility sink |
| Buffer Circulation | 30 | Movement corridor |
8. Operational Plan (Phase 1) Team:
- 1 owner/operator manager
- 2 part-time climbing staff
- 1 animal caretaker / barista
- 1 outdoor climbing guide
- Weekend support/event staff
Hours:
- Weekdays: 12:00–22:00
- Weekends: 10:00–21:00
- Closed Mondays for cleaning/maintenance
Licenses:
- Animal Interaction Permit (Class I)
- Food & Beverage, Fire Safety, Zoning
9. Financial Plan
Startup Costs – Phase 1 (JPY / USD @ ¥150):
| Expense Item | JPY | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Rent + Deposit | ¥5,000,000 | $33,300 |
| Walls + Mats | ¥6,000,000 | $40,000 |
| 3 Boards Install | ¥5,500,000 | $36,700 |
| Capybara Setup | ¥3,000,000 | $20,000 |
| Cafe Equipment | ¥2,000,000 | $13,300 |
| Shoes, Chalk, Gear | ¥1,500,000 | $10,000 |
| Legal & Licenses | ¥500,000 | $3,300 |
| Branding & Marketing | ¥1,500,000 | $10,000 |
| Working Capital Reserve | ¥3,000,000 | $20,000 |
| Total Estimate | ¥28,000,000 | $186,600 |
Projected Add-On Costs – Phase 2 (JPY):
| Expansion Item | JPY |
|---|---|
| Mitake Lodge Setup | ¥4,000,000 |
| Gear Shop + Rentals | ¥2,000,000 |
| Urban Branch Setup (Tokyo) | ¥12,000,000 |
| Global Program Dev | ¥3,000,000 |
| Franchise Toolkit/Legal | ¥2,000,000 |
| Total (Phase 2) | ¥23,000,000 |
Revenue Forecast – Phase 1 (Monthly)
| Case | Revenue | Profit | Breakeven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best | ¥4,200,000 | ¥1,800,000 | 14 mo |
| Base | ¥3,500,000 | ¥1,200,000 | 18 mo |
| Conservative | ¥2,400,000 | ¥200,000 | 3+ yrs |
Base Case Monthly Breakdown – Phase 1:
| Source | Units | Price | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memberships | 150 | ¥10,000 | ¥1,500,000 |
| Day Passes (10/day avg) | 300 | ¥2,000 | ¥600,000 |
| Bulk Passes | 100 | ¥1,600 | ¥160,000 |
| Cafe Sales (20/day) | 600 | ¥700 | ¥420,000 |
| Capybara (150 slots) | 150 | ¥2,000 | ¥300,000 |
| Outdoor Tours (50–80) | 65 | ¥4,000 | ¥260,000 |
| Events, Rentals, etc. | – | – | ¥100,000 |
| Total Revenue | ¥3,500,000 |
Expenses – Phase 1 (Monthly)
| Category | JPY |
|---|---|
| Rent + Utilities | ¥550,000 |
| Salaries | ¥1,100,000 |
| Animal Care + Food | ¥200,000 |
| Outdoor Transport | ¥150,000 |
| Maintenance | ¥150,000 |
| Supplies | ¥100,000 |
| Marketing | ¥100,000 |
| Contingency | ¥200,000 |
| Total Expenses | ¥2,550,000 |
Projected Revenue – Phase 2 (Monthly, after all expansions operational)
| Source | Units | Price | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitake Lodge (nights) | 150 nights | ¥6,000 | ¥900,000 |
| Gear Rental (Mitake) | 100 rentals | ¥1,500 | ¥150,000 |
| 2nd Gym Memberships (Tokyo) | 120 | ¥10,000 | ¥1,200,000 |
| Capybara Café 2nd Branch | 400 visits | ¥2,000 | ¥800,000 |
| Global Climbing Programs | 20 packages | ¥50,000 | ¥1,000,000 |
| Events, Retail, Franchising | – | – | ¥300,000 |
| Total Revenue (Phase 2) | ¥4,350,000 |
Projected Expenses – Phase 2 (Monthly)
| Category | JPY |
|---|---|
| Mitake Lodge Ops | ¥400,000 |
| Staff (Lodge + Branch 2) | ¥1,200,000 |
| Gear Maintenance & Loss | ¥150,000 |
| Utilities + Rent | ¥600,000 |
| International Program Ops | ¥400,000 |
| Marketing + Sales | ¥200,000 |
| Contingency | ¥200,000 |
| Total Expenses (Phase 2) | ¥3,150,000 |
Estimated Phase 2 Monthly Profit: ¥1,200,000 Phase 2 Breakeven Period: 20–24 months based on ¥23M investment
10. Marketing & Growth Strategy
- Partner with climbing guidebooks, translate & digitize into app.
- Launch content via local outdoor YouTubers.
- Offer newcomer days, ladies nights, and partner with embassies.
- Sell outdoor packages and gear from Mitake branch (Phase 2).
- Bundle “capybara + climbing” experiences on travel sites.
11. Expansion Roadmap (Phase 2)
- Year 2: Mitake base opens with gear shop, lodging for 6–8 guests, and weekend guided packages.
- Year 3–4: Second urban branch in Tokyo (e.g., Koenji or Ogikubo); seasonal pop-up gyms near tourist hotspots.
- Year 5: Launch global CapyClimb travel experiences (e.g., Japan–Thailand–Spain climbing exchanges).
- Develop CapyClimb franchise toolkit and licensing model for regional operators.
12. Exit / Investment Offer
- Seeking ¥5,000,000 seed for 20% equity (~$33,300).
- Forecast ROI of 20–25% annually at steady-state.
- Potential acquisition by gym chain or outdoor gear brand.
CapyClimb offers the most complete outdoor-focused climbing gym in Tokyo. By combining premium boards, real-world training, foreigner-friendly services, and ethical capybara interaction, we meet a growing need in a booming market. With phased expansions into Mitake and future branches across Japan and abroad, CapyClimb is more than a gym—it’s a scalable platform for global climbing culture.
300 monthly clients for climbing training gym ? how many clients you have with yours in thailand ?
the tour in outdoor could be more expensive, more than a entrance in climbing its a guide tour that they buy, and if its all day we need a staff all day with them so we cant double th price I think