The Barkery

From Grooming Success to Boarding Expansion

Sparta, Michigan Investor Presentation 2026

Chris Woodfin

Katie Merryman

Who We Are

Built on Trust, Grown by Community

Chris Woodfin — Co-Founder

Passionate about animals and community-focused service. Brings hands-on operational expertise and deep local relationships across Kent County.

Katie Merryman — Co-Founder

12 years in the pet industry, including 8 years at Family Friends Veterinary Hospital — one of Grand Rapids' most respected veterinary clinics. Katie built The Barkery's loyal client base from day one.

Est. 2001The Barkery Established

5 Years5-Year Revenue Record

$290K+Total grooming revenue

100%Repeat-driven clientele

"We've outgrown grooming alone — our clients are asking us for boarding, and the demand is pulling us to expand." — Chris & Katie

Grooming Revenue Growth — 2021–2025

Market Gap

Sparta Has a Dog Boarding Problem

Sparta pet owners love their dogs — but boarding means a 10-mile drive to facilities that are already full. Ruff Life and Pets Preferred serve the demand around them, not Sparta.

Demand is surging.
Supply is frozen.

* Estimates based on owner observations and competitor research. Update with verified figures.

🐾

2+ Wks Peak-season waitlist at Ruff Life and Pets Preferred — Sparta's nearest boarding options

📈

35% Rise in pet ownership in Kent County since 2020

🏠

10+ Mi Distance to Sparta's nearest boarding — both Ruff Life and Pets Preferred are at capacity and a drive away

Market Opportunity

A $4.6B Industry Growing in Our Backyard

Market Sizing (USD Millions)

🇺🇸

$136B+ U.S. Pet Industry (2025) The American Pet Products Association projects continued annual growth of 6–8%. Boarding & grooming is the fastest-growing segment.

🐕

Kent County — Underserved & Ready [PLACEHOLDER] Estimated [X,XXX] registered dogs in Kent County. [X]% of owners report needing boarding services at least 2x per year.

💰

Avg. Boarding Spend: $55–$85/night Premium boarding facilities command $65–$85/night in comparable Michigan markets. The Barkery's brand and reputation allow premium positioning.

🏆

First-Mover Advantage Sparta's nearest boarding options are at capacity. We enter with 25 years of local brand equity, an established clientele, and a purpose-built modern facility.

Competitive Analysis

We've Studied the Best. Now We're Building Better.

Feature	Ruff Life Kent City	Pets Preferred NW Kent County	The Barkery Sparta (Expanding)
Professional Grooming	Limited	✓ Full Service	✓ Core Business — Est. 2001
Overnight Boarding	✓	✓	✓ Expanding
Dog Daycare	✓	✓	✓ Planned
Indoor Play Areas	Basic	✓ Premium	✓ Premium Planned
Outdoor Run Space	Limited	✓	✓ Dedicated Outdoor Run
Membership / Packages	✗	✓	✓ Loyalty Program Planned
Local Brand Recognition	Regional	Urban Only	✓ 25 Years · Deep Sparta Roots
Current Capacity Issue	Waitlisted	Waitlisted	✓ New — Ready to Absorb Demand

✓ = Yes | ✗ = No / Not Available | Partial = Limited offering. Competitor data based on public listings and owner observations.

The Solution

The Barkery Boarding Facility

🏗️

Property Scouted — Sparta, MI Area Sparta, MI area — site selection in progress. Ideal location for accessibility and visibility.

🐶

20+ Individual Boarding Kennels [PLACEHOLDER — exact count TBD] Private, climate-controlled kennels with individual bedding and enrichment. No cage stacking.

🌿

Dedicated Outdoor Run & Play Areas Fenced outdoor run for supervised exercise. Separate areas by dog size/temperament. Modeled after best practices at Ruff Life and Pets Preferred.

✂️

Grooming Suites — Existing Expertise Two professional grooming suites carried forward from The Barkery's core business, generating day-one revenue from existing clientele.

📱

Online Booking & Client Portal Modern scheduling software with client photo updates, health tracking, and package management. Professional from day one.

🐕

Dog Daycare — Daily Drop-Off Program Structured full-day and half-day daycare packages for local working families. Pre-registered clients from day one.

🐾

The Barkery
Boarding & Grooming

Sparta, MI area — site in progress

Built on 25 years of community trust
Modeled after proven competitors
First modern facility in the area

✓ Property in Sight

✓ Founders Experienced & Local

Proven Traction

$290,000+ in Grooming Revenue. Real Business. Real Demand.

$290,000 5-Year Cumulative Grooming Revenue

5 Years of
Operations

~80% Repeat
Client Rate

[XXX] Active Loyal
Clients

Year-over-Year Revenue Growth (2021–2025)

* Chart reflects placeholder values totaling $290K+. Update initChartYoY() in charts.js with actual annual figures.

Facility Design

What We're Building

Grooming
Suite A Existing Revenue · 2 Stations

▼ Entry · Reception
& Check-In Client Intake · Retail Display

Retail
Display Products · Accessories

Grooming
Suite B Expanded Capacity

Boarding Wing
Kennels 1–12 Individual · Climate-Controlled

Kennels
13–[XX] Private Suite Option

Staff & Utility Laundry · Storage · Break Room

Dog Daycare Zone Daily Drop-Off · Play Groups · Half-Day Packages

Outdoor Run & Play Area Fenced · Supervised · Turf Surface

Business Model

Three Revenue Streams. One Trusted Brand.

✂️ Grooming Services Baths, haircuts, nail trims — core business since 2001 $290K proven · Growing YoY

🏠 Boarding & Daycare Full-day & half-day daycare · overnight boarding · weekly packages $0 today → $780K projected Y5

🛍️ Retail & Add-Ons Pet products, bandanas, treats, memberships $40K projected Y1 · Recurring

The Barkery Pet Grooming, Daycare & Boarding

Monthly Recurring Revenue $120K+ / mo Projected by Year 3

Scalable Unit Economics ~62% Gross Margin Post-ramp boarding operations

Financial Projections

Year 1 to Year 5 — A Clear Path to Profitability

Stacked Revenue by Stream (Y1 = 2026 · Y5 = 2030)

* Projections are forward-looking estimates. Update with your actual financial model.

$430,000 Year 1 Total Revenue Grooming + early boarding ramp

$1,450,000 Year 5 Total Revenue All three streams at capacity

[Month X] Breakeven Timeline Projected cash-flow positive

Conservative assumptions: 60% kennel occupancy by Month 18 · Grooming revenue +8% YoY · No new locations factored

Capital Allocation

How We Deploy $600,000

Total Raise: $600,000

Facility Build-Out & Construction Kennel construction, flooring, plumbing, HVAC, outdoor run

$265,000 44%

Equipment & Fixtures Kennels, grooming tables, dryers, security cameras, fencing

$120,000 20%

Working Capital & Operating Reserve 6-month runway · Staff payroll · Utilities during ramp-up

$85,000 14%

Marketing & Grand Opening Branding, website, local advertising, soft launch events

$60,000 10%

Technology & Systems Booking software, POS, client portal, security systems

$40,000 7%

Branding & Design Services Fractional design leadership · Identity · Digital presence

$30,000 5%

We Are Raising

$600,000

$300K Equity · [X]% Ownership

$300K Structured Repayment · 6-Year Contract

$4,000,000 Post-Money Valuation

$300K 6-Year Repayment
contractual return · lower equity stake

Low Risk Established Clientele
25-year brand · day-one revenue

Day One Revenue from Grooming
existing business continues

Risk Management

We've Anticipated the Hard Questions

📊

Demand Risk

Demand has been validated by 25 years of grooming traction, competitor waitlists, and growing pet ownership. Our clients are already requesting boarding — this is pull-driven demand from an established, loyal base.

Client-Pulled Demand

🏗️

Construction Risk

Site scouted in Sparta area — selection in progress. Contractor conversations active. Budget includes a 10–15% contingency reserve for construction cost overruns.

Budgeted Contingency

🧑‍💼

Operator Risk

Chris and Katie bring 25+ years of combined pet industry experience. Katie's 8 years at Family Friends Veterinary Hospital gives the operation medical-grade animal care credibility — a differentiator no competitor in this market can match.

25+ Yrs Combined Experience

🐾

Market Risk

Ruff Life and Pets Preferred both operate profitably in comparable Michigan markets with identical models. Our lower-cost Sparta location and existing brand reduce market entry risk significantly.

Model Proven Locally

Execution Roadmap

Investment to Grand Opening — 12 Months

Q2 2026 Capital Close Investment secured · Lease signed · Legal complete

Q3 2026 Permits & Construction Contractor engaged · Build-out begins · Equipment ordered

Q4 2026 Boarding Soft Open Founding clients · Grooming continues · Waitlist opens

Q1 2027 Grand Opening Full capacity · Marketing push · Membership launch

Q4 2027 Cash-Flow Positive Breakeven crossed · Investor return begins accruing

Let's Build
Something Great
for Sparta.

The Barkery is already a beloved local business. With your partnership, we become the region's premier pet care destination — and a strong return on your investment.

Co-Founder Chris Woodfin [Phone] · [Email]

Co-Founder Katie Merryman [Phone] · [Email]

Business The Barkery LLC [Website] · Sparta, MI