Dating and Matchmaking Business Plan [Sample Template]

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Are you about starting a dating & matchmaking company? If YES, here is a detailed sample matchmaking business plan template & FREE feasibility report.

Aside from making money, the major essence of starting a business should be to solve a problem in the society. As an aspiring entrepreneur in the United States of America, one of the many problems in the society that you can solve is that of singlehood and you can solve the problem by starting your own dating & matchmaking company.

A dating & matchmaking company provides a reliable platform where eligible bachelors and spinsters network to find their life partners.

Usually, they run a website where clients display their pictures, profiles and their intentions. Dating & matchmaking service is classified under the dating services industry, and the industry is indeed huge in the united states of America.

Just like most business, the service is open for as many people that are interested as long as you have what it takes to run the business.

Even if you don’t have the finance and other requirements for starting a standard dating & matchmaking company, you can come into the industry by starting out as a small business creating platforms where singles in your immediate community can network and connect.

If you have decided to start a dating & matchmaking services company, then you must make sure that you carry out thorough feasibility studies and also market survey.

This will enable you properly locate the business in a community or city with the right demography (a city with loads of eligible bachelors and spinsters); a location that can readily accept your services and adequately reward you for it.

Below is a sample dating & matchmaking business plan template that will help you successfully write yours without much stress.

A Sample Dating & Matchmaking Business Plan Template

1. Industry Overview

Dating and matchmaking services company is part of the dating services industry and the industry is made up of companies that provide services that allow eligible singles to meet with other eligible singles, usually with the intent of pursuing romantic relationships.

Matchmaking services can be provided via phone, internet, magazine and newspaper. It is important to state that organizations that specialize in singles events, such as speed dating et al are part of the dating services industry, but social networking sites that are not strictly dating sites are not part of the industry.

The industry to a large extent has performed pretty well over the years as a growing number of eligible singles turn to the internet looking for mates and love. The proliferation of broadband internet connection and greater legitimacy surrounding online dating has helped the industry outpace the overall economy and capture a rising share of the consumer dollar.

Going forward, the percentage of households with access to the internet is projected to continue rising throughout the period, which will in turn help expand the consumer market for online dating services.

Statistics has it that in the United States of America alone, there are about 6,747 registered and licensed dating/matchmaking services responsible for directly employing about 9,592 people and the industry rakes in about $3 billion annually.

The industry is projected to grow at 5.3 percent annual growth within 2012 and 2017. It is important to state that eHarmony and Match Group are the leaders in the industry.

A recent report published by IBISWorld shows that the regions with the greatest concentration of industry establishments are the Southeast, West, Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes. The report shows that the distribution of industry establishments is largely based on the share of the population within a given region as well as the age structure of that population.

The report further stated that dating service companies situate themselves near large population centers to increase the size of their client base.

The Southeast is home to 25.6 percent of the US population, and has the greatest share of industry establishments, estimated at 29.3 percent. Florida alone has one of the highest concentrations of industry establishments at 14.1 percent of the total. Population density in the South has grown in the past decade, according to US Census data.

The dating services industry will continue to blossom because more and more eligible bachelors and spinsters will emerge and realize that somehow, they would need the services of matchmaking services to help them connect with other eligible singles.

From all available statistics, it is safer to say the dating services industry is growing steadily despite the competitive nature of the industry.

One thing is certain if you are well positioned (both online and offline), you have the required business skills, networks and you have a robust assemblage of eligible spinsters and bachelors under your network, you are likely not going to struggle to compete in the dating services industry.

Other factors that encourage entrepreneurs to start their own dating and matchmaking company could be that the business is easy to set up and the startup capital is indeed affordable; you can actually start your own dating and matchmaking services company from the comfort of your house.

All you need to do is to create an office somewhere in your house and have a functional and user-friendly dating website. People usually pay you for the services you render.

2. Executive Summary

Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. is a professional and licensed dating and matchmaking firm that allows eligible singles to meet with each other, usually with the intent of pursuing romantic relationships. We will provide our dating and matchmaking services via phone, internet, magazine and newspaper and also specialize in organizing single’s events, such as speed dating et al.

Our business will be located between a well – populated residential estate and a campus community in in Colorado Springs – Colorado, United States of America.

Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. is a client-focused and result driven dating and matchmaking services that provides broad – based dating and matchmaking approaches at an affordable fee that won’t in any way put a hole in the pocket of our clients.

At Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc., our clients’ overall best interest would always come first, and everything we do is guided by our values and professional ethics especially as it relates to confidentiality.

Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. will at all times demonstrate her commitment to sustainability, both individually and as a dating and matchmaking service, by actively participating in our communities and integrating sustainable business practices wherever possible. We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our clients’ needs precisely and completely.

Our overall business goal is to position our dating and matchmaking service to become the leading brand in the industry in the whole of Colorado Springs – Colorado, United States of America, and also to be amongst the top 3 dating and matchmaking services business in the United States of America within the first 5 years of operations.

This might look too tall a dream but we are optimistic that this will surely come to pass because we have done our research and feasibility studies and we are confident that Colorado Springs is the right place to launch our dating and matchmaking business.

Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. is founded by Dr. Trina Capello and she will run the business with Dr. Daniela McCook. Dr. Trina Capello is a certified and renowned relationship expert and counselor. They are both members of Certified and Professional Matchmaker Network, Certified Matchmaker (CMM), Certified Professional Matchmaker and Licensed Bashert Matchmaker – NLP™ Clarity. She has over 20 years’ experience in the industry.

3. Our Products and Services

Our intention of starting our dating and matchmaking business is to help our clients overcome their dating challenges, achieve their relationship goals and improve their romance life and of course to also make profits. Our service offerings are listed below;

Providing online personal introductory services
Providing specialist print media introductory services
Providing cell phone introductory services
Organizing singles events
Relationship counseling and therapy
Retailing of relationship books and materials

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

Our vision is to build a highly competitive and effective dating and matchmaking business that will become the number one choice for everyone who desires a date or relationship in and around Colorado Springs – Colorado and the whole of the United States of America.
Our mission is to provide affordable, professional and highly effective dating and matchmaking services to a wide range of clients that cuts across different divides. We want to position Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. to become one of the leading dating services in the industry, and also to be amongst the top 3 dating firms in the United States of America within the first 5 years of operation.

Our Business Structure

Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc., is a dating and matchmaking firm that intend starting small in Colorado Springs – Colorado, but hopes to grow big in order to compete favorably with leading firms in the industry.

At Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc., we will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, creative, passionate, result driven, 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/partners and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the board of trustees of the company. In view of the above, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

Principal Partner / Chief Executive Officer
Relationship Expert, and Counselors
Office and Web Administrator
Accountant
Marketing Executives
Client Service Executive

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Principal Partner / Chief Executive Officer:

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
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 fixing prices and signing business deals
Responsible for providing direction for the business
Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
Evaluates the success of the organization

Relationship Expert, and Counselor

Providing online personal introductory services
Providing specialist print media introductory services
Providing cell phone introductory services
Organizing singles events
In charge of relationship counseling and therapy
Retailing of relationship books and materials
Handle any other duty as assigned by the Principal Partner / CEO.

Office and Web Administrator

Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of the organization’s website and social media handles
Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc.
Regularly hold meetings with key stakeholders to review the effectiveness of the organizations’ Policies, Procedures and Processes
Maintains office supplies by checking stocks; placing and expediting orders; evaluating new products.
Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; calling for repairs.
Defining job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
Carrying out induction for new team members
Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
Responsible for arranging travel, meetings and appointments
Oversee the smooth running of the daily activities of Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc.

Marketing Executive

Identify, prioritize, and reach out to new clients, and business opportunities et al
Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts
Writing winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with organizations’ policy
Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
Represent Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. in strategic meetings
Help increase sales and growth for Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc.

Accountant

Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports
Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or more properties.
Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
Responsible for administering payrolls
Ensuring compliance with taxation legislation
Handles all financial transactions for Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc.
Serves as internal auditor for Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc.

Client Service Executive

Welcomes clients and visitors by greeting them in person or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
Manages administrative duties assigned by the principal partners in an effective and timely manner
Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to clients when they make enquiries
Receives parcels/documents for Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc.

6. SWOT Analysis

Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. engaged the services of a core professional in the area of business consulting and structuring to assist our organization in building a well – structured dating and matchmaking business that can favorably compete in the industry.

Part of what the team of business consultant did was to work with the management of our organization in conducting a SWOT analysis for Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc.;

Strength:

Our core strength lies in the power of our team; our workforce. We have a team that are considered experts in the industry, a team with excellent qualifications and experience in dating and matchmaking services business. Aside from the synergy that exists in our carefully selected team members and our strong online presence, Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. is well positioned in a community with the right demography and we know we will attract loads of clients from the first day we open our doors for business.

Weakness:

A notable weakness that we might be coming into the industry with is the fact that we may not have enough money to budget for massive online and offline promotion and advertising.

Opportunities:

Come to think of it, there are loads of eligible singles who are finding it difficult to date or meet the right partner hence the need to pick membership in dating and matchmaking sites. As a standard dating and matchmaking services organization, we are ready to take advantage of any opportunity that comes our way.

Threat:

Every business faces a threat or challenge at any part of the life cycle of the business. These threats can be external or internal. This shows the importance of a business plan, because most threats or challenges are to be anticipated and plans put in place to cushion whatever effect they might bring to the business.

Some of the threats that we are likely going to face as a dating and matchmaking services operating in the United States of America are unfavorable government policies that might affect business such as ours, the arrival of a competitor within our location of operations and global economic downturn which usually affects spending/purchasing power.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

Market Trends

The trend in the dating and matchmaking industry shows that in the last half decade, the industry has grown consistently. Dating and matchmaking services are needed regardless of economic conditions, which insulate the industry from economic fluctuations.

Going forward, as people continue to be employed and regain a steady income, membership fee for dating and matchmaking will become more affordable, prompting consumers to seek dating and matchmaking services when needed.

One thing is certain, the trend in the dating and matchmaking industry is such that if you want to be ahead of your competitors, you should be able to acquire as much certifications as possible and you should be able to have loads of testimonies from your clients. The truth is that if your clients experienced huge difference in their romance life using the services of your organization, then they will be compelled to help promote your organization.

Another notable trend in this industry is the influence of technology; the advent of technology is responsible for the increase in income generated by dating and matchmaking services firms all over the world. With technology, it is now easier for dating firms to work with clients that are thousands of kilometers away from them.

Tools like video calling / Skype, YouTube, live chat and Webcast et al are being used by dating and matchmaking firms to match make people in different parts of the world.

8. Our Target Market

As a standard dating and matchmaking services organization, Link Up© Matchmaking Services are well trained and equipped to service a wide range of clients who are single or who desire a date and romantic relationship. Our target market as a dating and matchmaking services firm cuts across people of different class and people from all walks of life.

We are coming into the dating and matchmaking industry with a business concept and company’s profile that will enable us work with clients from different backgrounds and status. Below is a list of the clients that we have specifically designed our dating and matchmaking services for;

Bachelors
Spinsters
College students

Our Competitive Advantage

The dating and matchmaking services industry is indeed a very prolific and highly competitive industry. Clients will only hire your services if they know that you can help them overcome their dating challenges. It is the practice for relationship experts to acquire as much certifications as it relates to their area of specialization; it is part of what will make them stay competitive in the industry

We are quite aware that to be highly competitive in the dating and matchmaking industry means that you should be able to help your members connect and date their desired partner and you should be able to meet the expectations of your clients at all times.

Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. might be a new dating and matchmaking services firm in Colorado Springs – Colorado, but the management team and the owner of the business are considered gurus in the industry. They are highly qualified relationship experts that can help their clients overcome their dating challenges.

Aside from our robust experience and expertise of our relationship experts, we have a very strong online presence that will enable us counsel clients in different parts of the world from our online portals.

Lastly, our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

We are mindful of the fact that there are stiff competitions amongst dating and matchmaking firms in the United States of America; hence we have been able to hire some of the best marketing experts to handle our sales and marketing.

Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their vast experience in the industry and they will be trained on a regular basis so as to meet their targets and the overall goal of Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. We will also ensure that our clients overcome their dating challenges in record time.

Our goal is to grow Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. to become one of the top 3 dating and matchmaking services in the United States of America which is why we have mapped out strategies that will help us take advantage of the available market and grow to become a major force to reckon with not only in Colorado Springs – Colorado but also in other cities in the United States of America.

Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. is set to make use of the following marketing and sales strategies to attract clients;

Introduce our dating and matchmaking services firm by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to corporate organizations, religious organizations, colleges and key stake holders in Colorado Springs – Colorado.
Print out fliers and business cards and strategically drop them in offices, libraries, public facilities and train stations et al.
Use friends and family to spread word about our dating firm
Post information about our dating and matchmaking services firm on bulletin boards in places like schools, libraries, and local coffee shops.
Placing a small or classified advertisement in the newspaper, or local publication about our dating and matchmaking services firm
Advertise our dating and matchmaking services firm in relevant educational magazines, newspapers, TV and radio stations
Engage direct marketing approach
Encourage word of mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients.

Sources of Income

Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the dating and matchmaking industry and we are going to ensure that we do all it takes to attract clients on a regular basis. Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. will generate income by offering the following dating and matchmaking services;

Providing online personal introductory services
Providing specialist print media introductory services
Providing cell phone introductory services
Organizing singles events
Relationship counseling and therapy
Retailing of relationship books and materials

10. Sales Forecast

We are well positioned to take on the available market in Colorado Springs – Colorado and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income / profits from the first six months of operation and grow our dating and matchmaking business and our clientele base.

We have been able to examine the private counseling market, we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. Below are the sales projections for Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc., it is based on the location of our dating and matchmaking services company;

First Fiscal Year: $250,000
Second Fiscal Year: $400,000
Third Fiscal Year: $650,000

N.B: This projection was 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 additional 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.

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

We have been able to work with our brand and publicity consultants to help us map out publicity and advertising strategies that will help us walk our way into the heart of our target market. We are set to become the number one choice for clients in the whole of Colorado Springs – Colorado which is why we have made provisions for effective publicity and advertisement of our business.

Place adverts on both print (community based newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
Sponsor relevant community based events / programs
Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote our brand
Install our Billboards in strategic locations all around Colorado Springs – Colorado.
Engage in roadshow from time to time in targeted neighborhoods
Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
List our dating and matchmaking services firm in local directories / yellow pages
Advertise our life dating and matchmaking services firm in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site.
Ensure that all our staff members wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles are well branded with our organizations’ logo et al.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. will charge our clients flat fees except for few occasions where there will be need for us to charge special clients on hourly basis. At Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. we will keep our membership fees below the average market rate by keeping our overhead low and by collecting payment in advance.

In addition, we will also offer special discounted rates to all our clients at regular intervals. We are aware that there are some clients that would need special assistance, we will offer flat rate for such services that will be tailored to take care of such clients’ needs.

Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. 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.

Payment via bank transfer
Payment via online bank transfer
Payment via mobile money

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make payment for dating and matchmaking services without any stress on their part.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

Setting up a dating and matchmaking services is cost effective since you are not expected to invest in expensive gadgets or machines except for the money needed to rent and equip a standard office facility and of course pay your employees and bills.

However, this is what it would cost us to start a standard dating and matchmaking service in the United States of America;

Business incorporating fees in the United States of America will cost – $750.
The budget for liability insurance, permits and license will cost – $3,500
Acquiring an office space that will accommodate the number of employees we intend employing for at least 6 months (Re – Construction of the facility inclusive) will cost – $35,000.
Equipping the office (computers, internet facility, printers, projectors, markers, pens and pencils, furniture, telephones, filing cabinets, and electronics) will cost – $10,000
The cost for accounting software, CRM software and Payroll Software – $3,000
Other start-up expenses including stationery – $1000
Phone and Utilities (gas, sewer, water and electric) deposits – ($3,500).
Launching an official website will cost – $500
Amount need to pay bills and staff members for at least 2 to 3 months – $70,000
Additional Expenditure such as Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions will cost – $5,000
Miscellaneous – $5,000

Going by the report from the market research and feasibility studies conducted, we will need about one hundred and fifty thousand (150,000) U.S. dollars to successfully set up a medium scale but standard dating and matchmaking firm in the United States of America.

Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. is a partnership business that will be owned by Dr. Trina Capello and she will run the business with Dr. Daniela McCook. They are the only financiers of the business which is why they decided to restrict the sourcing of the startup capital for the business to just three major sources.

Generate part of the startup capital from personal savings and sale of his stocks
Generate part of the startup capital from friends and other extended family members
Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank (loan facility).

N.B: We have been able to generate about $50,000 (Personal savings $35,000 and soft loan from family members $15,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $100,000 from our bank. All the papers and documents have been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

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

One of our major goals of starting Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without 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 offer our dating and matchmaking services a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

Link Up© Matchmaking Services Company, Inc. will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner of our business strategy.

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 Incorporation: Completed
Opening of Corporate Bank 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 a standard office facility in a good location plus reconstruction: In progress
Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
Generating part of the startup capital from the founders: Completed
Writing of Business Plan: Completed
Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
Drafting of Contract Documents: In Progress
Design of Logo for the school: Completed
Printing of Promotional Materials: Completed
Recruitment of employees: In Progress
Purchase of the needed furniture, office equipment, electronic appliances and facility facelift: In progress
Creating Official Website for the business: In Progress
Creating awareness for the business in Colorado Springs – Colorado: In Progress
Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement: In Progress
Establishing business relationship with vendors and key players in various industries: In Progress.