TECHNICAL ASSIGNMENT
for the preparation of a business plan for an investor
on the cold storage facility project in New York State, USA
1. Purpose of the assignment
To prepare a professional business plan for presentation to a potential investor regarding the establishment of a cold storage facility in New York State.
The document must be formatted as a comprehensive investment material: structured, visually neat, logical, with financial calculations, market justification, risks, and conclusions regarding investment attractiveness.
The business plan should be suitable for further presentation to:
- a private investor;
- a bank/credit institution;
- a potential partner;
- a developer;
- a cold storage/logistics operator.
2. Object of research
Project: cold storage facility in New York State, USA.
The format of the facility may include:
- refrigerated warehouse;
- frozen storage;
- temperature-controlled storage;
- food-grade storage;
- logistics/distribution facility;
- possibly phased development depending on area, land plot, and market.
Initial data regarding the land plot, area, possible master plan, location, concept, and restrictions will be provided by the client separately.
3. Main tasks for the freelancer
The freelancer must prepare a business plan that includes:
3.1. Executive Summary
Briefly describe:
- the essence of the project;
- the location;
- market demand;
- target audience;
- the format of the facility;
- estimated CAPEX;
- estimated OPEX;
- potential revenue;
- investment logic;
- expected payback;
- key risks.
3.2. Project Description
It is necessary to describe:
- what exactly is planned to be built;
- for whom this facility is intended;
- what temperature regimes may be provided;
- what types of goods can be stored;
- what services the facility can provide;
- whether there can be a model for leasing space, 3PL, food distribution, or an owner-operator.
3.3. Location Analysis
It is necessary to research:
- the region of New York State;
- transport accessibility;
- proximity to highways;
- proximity to cities, manufacturers, farms, restaurants, food distributors;
- logistical advantages;
- potential restrictions;
- zoning/land use risks;
- availability of utilities.
3.4. Market Research
It is necessary to research the cold storage market in the USA and separately in New York State.
Be sure to include:
- the overall state of the cold storage market;
- demand for refrigerated/frozen storage;
- trends in food logistics;
- demand from e-commerce grocery, restaurants, farms, meat/fish/dairy, frozen food;
- deficit or surplus of cold storage infrastructure;
- average rental/storage rates;
- examples of competitors;
- examples of similar facilities;
- potential clients.
All market statements must have references to sources.
Sources may include:
- CBRE;
- JLL;
- Cushman & Wakefield;
- Colliers;
- USDA;
- U.S. Census;
- IBISWorld;
- Statista;
- local county/zoning resources;
- NY State economic development sources;
- industry reports;
- cold storage operators;
- logistics market reports.
Using artificial intelligence is allowed, but final figures, conclusions, and statements must be verified and supported by references.
3.5. Competitive Analysis
It is necessary to find and briefly analyze:
- cold storage facilities in the relevant region;
- refrigerated warehouses;
- 3PL operators;
- food logistics providers;
- possible rates;
- occupancy rates, if available;
- strengths and weaknesses of competitors.
Format: table with brief summaries.
3.6. Master Plan/Site Planning Logic
Based on the provided initial data, describe the logic of placing the facility on the site.
Consider:
- access road;
- truck circulation;
- loading docks;
- parking;
- fire access;
- utility zones;
- stormwater;
- septic/sewer;
- electric capacity;
- refrigeration equipment zones;
- future expansion;
- phasing.
If there is a ready or preliminary master plan, extract key technical and economic indicators from it.
3.7. Technical and Economic Indicators
Prepare a table with estimated indicators:
- land area;
- building footprint;
- gross building area;
- refrigerated area;
- frozen area;
- dry storage area;
- office/admin area;
- loading docks;
- parking;
- truck maneuvering area;
- utility/equipment area;
- potential expansion area;
- estimated pallet positions;
- estimated storage capacity;
- temperature zones.
If exact data is not available, make reasonable assumptions and clearly mark them as assumptions.
3.8. CAPEX
Prepare an estimated project budget.
CAPEX should include:
- land/site acquisition, if relevant;
- due diligence;
- survey;
- engineering;
- architecture;
- permitting;
- zoning/approvals;
- site preparation;
- road/access;
- grading;
- drainage/stormwater;
- utilities;
- building shell;
- insulation panels;
- refrigeration systems;
- racking;
- loading docks;
- fire protection;
- electrical;
- backup power;
- office/admin area;
- security;
- refrigeration controls;
- contingency.
Provide:
- low/base/high scenario;
- sources for costs;
- assumptions.
3.9. OPEX
Prepare a forecast of operating expenses:
- electricity;
- refrigeration maintenance;
- staff;
- insurance;
- property taxes;
- repairs;
- snow removal;
- security;
- software;
- cleaning;
- compliance;
- equipment servicing;
- management;
- reserve.
Pay special attention to electricity and refrigeration equipment costs.
3.10. Revenue Model
Prepare a revenue model.
Possible sources:
- monthly rent per sq ft;
- pallet storage fees;
- handling fees;
- loading/unloading;
- blast freezing;
- short-term storage;
- long-term contracts;
- 3PL services;
- tenant lease model;
- owner-operator model.
Compare at least 2 models:
- Lease model.
- Owner-operated cold storage/service model.
3.11. Financial Model
The financial model should include:
- CAPEX;
- OPEX;
- revenue;
- EBITDA;
- NOI;
- payback period;
- break-even occupancy;
- IRR, if possible;
- DSCR, if the project can be financed by debt;
- sensitivity analysis.
Be sure to create scenarios:
- conservative;
- base case;
- optimistic.
3.12. Risks
Describe key risks:
- permitting risk;
- zoning risk;
- construction cost overrun;
- utility capacity risk;
- electricity cost risk;
- demand risk;
- vacancy risk;
- refrigeration equipment failure;
- environmental/stormwater;
- fire code;
- food safety compliance;
- financing risk;
- operator risk.
For each risk, propose a mitigation strategy.
3.13. Investment Logic
Explain why this project may be of interest to an investor:
- deficit of cold storage;
- stable demand;
- food logistics;
- long-term tenants;
- inflation-protected asset;
- possibility of phased development;
- possibility of exit through the sale of a stabilized asset;
- possibility of attracting an operator.
3.14. Conclusion
Provide a clear conclusion:
- whether the project has investment logic;
- what conditions are critically important;
- what the next steps are;
- what data needs to be clarified;
- whether to proceed to feasibility study/design/permitting.
4. Format of the final document
The final business plan should be prepared in the format:
- Word/Google Docs;
- additionally PDF;
- preferably also a separate Excel/Google Sheets with the financial model.
The document must be in English.
Style:
- professional investor-facing;
- without unnecessary fluff;
- with tables;
- with clear headings;
Style:
* professional investor-facing;
* without unnecessary fluff;
* with tables;
* with clear headings;
* with brief summaries after each section;
* with references to sources.
5. Mandatory appendices
It is advisable to include the following in the business plan:
* market data table;
* competitor table;
* CAPEX table;
* OPEX table;
* revenue scenarios;
* financial model summary;
* risk matrix;
* assumptions table;
* source list.
6. Source requirements
The freelancer must provide references to all sources used for:
* market data;
* prices;
* rental rates;
* construction costs;
* cold storage trends;
* zoning/permitting information;
* utility assumptions;
* demographic or economic data.
The use of unverified figures without references is not allowed.
If AI is used, it is allowed, but AI cannot be the sole source of data. All key statements must be supported by confirmation from open sources.
7. Expected outcome
The client expects to receive not just text, but a comprehensive investment document that can be presented to an investor.
The document must answer key questions:
1. What exactly is being built?
2. Why this location?
3. Is there demand?
4. How much does it cost?
5. How much can it earn?
6. What are the risks?
7. What is the payback period?
8. Why should an investor consider this project?
9. What are the next steps?
8. Initial data from the client
The client may provide:
* the address or coordinates of the plot;
* the area of the land;
* zoning information, if available;
* preliminary master plan;
* sketches;
* desired building area;
* desired format of cold storage;
* expected budget;
* photos/maps/cadastral information;
* target business model.
If certain data is not available, the freelancer must make assumptions and clearly mark them in the document.
9. Estimated structure of the business plan
1. Cover Page
2. Executive Summary
3. Project Overview
4. Location & Site Analysis
5. Market Analysis
6. Competitive Landscape
7. Site Plan / Development Concept
8. Technical & Operational Concept
9. CAPEX
10. OPEX
11. Revenue Model
12. Financial Projections
13. Risk Analysis
14. Investment Opportunity
15. Next Steps
16. Sources / References
17. Appendices
10. Quality requirements
The document must be:
* logical;
* visually clean;
* suitable for investors;
* free of grammatical errors;
* with real market data;
* with financial logic;
* with clear assumptions;
* free of fanciful figures.
The final submission should look like a document prepared for a real investment discussion, not like a general article about cold storage.
