A Sample Coal Mining Business Plan Template
Are you about starting a coal mining business? If YES, here is a complete sample coal mining business
plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE.
Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a coal mining business. We also took it
further by analyzing and drafting a sample coal mining business marketing plan template backed up by
actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for coal mining businesses. So let’s proceed to the business planning
section.
Table of Content [show]
Why Start a Coal Mining Business?
Business ideas are all around us but one of the challenges that aspiring entrepreneurs are confronted
with is how to know a business that can become profitable and successful.
The rule of thumb in choosing a business to launch is to look out for a business whose products or
services are needed in our everyday life; a business whose products can be purchased by the rich as well
as the poor and a business that is less competitive in your location. Starting a coal mining company can
come in handy if you have the business exposure and financial requirements.
If you are sure that this type of business is what you truly want to do after you must have conducted
your market research and feasibility studies, then the next step to follow is to write a good business
plan. The truth is that it is one thing to have a fantastic idea cum business plan, but another thing for the
business plan to translate to money (profits), that is why it is important to assemble a team of experts to
work with if you want to be successful with your coal mining company as you can hardly run this type of
business alone.
Below is a sample coal mining company business plan template that will help you successfully launch
your own.
A Sample Coal Mining Company Business Plan Template
1. Industry Overview
Players in the coal mining industry are basically involved in mining various types of coal. This often
occurs either underground or in surface pits. Most coal mines consist of bituminous coal or anthracite,
but companies might also excavate lignite (brown coal). Players in this industry also develop coal mine
sites and prepare the coal for sale by washing, screening and sizing the material.
The coal industry has been volatile in recent years, and revenue has declined over the five years to 2017
as a result. IBISWorld indicated that the prices of thermal and metallurgical coal surged just prior to the
five-year period, and have continually dropped since, inhibiting industry growth.
Furthermore, the emergence of natural gas as a substitute for coal in electricity generation, a slowing
Chinese economy and relatively mild winters in the united states have reduced demand for coal and
contributed to price volatility over the past five years.
IBISWorld also shows that over the next five years, however, the industry is expected to return to slow
growth, as slowing economic growth in major global markets (e.g. China) places downward pressure on
product prices.
The Coal Mining industry is a thriving sector of the economy of loads of countries all across the globe
and in the United States, and the industry generates over $28 billion annually from more than 1,538 coal
mining companies scattered all around the United States of America.
The industry is responsible for the employment of over 60,877 people. Experts project the industry to
grow at a -7.8 percent annual rate. Alpha, Arch Coal, CONSOL Energy and Peabody Energy are the
market leaders in this industry.
A recent report published by IBISWorld shows that Coal Mining industry is highly capital intensive, with
most of its assets held in the form of land holdings, stocks and equipment. Establishing a new mine or
expanding an existing one requires a large amount of capital.
For example, capital is required for mine site development and specialized equipment, including items
such as draglines (used to remove overburden at open-cut operations), longwalls (shearers and
accompanying hydraulic supports and coal extraction conveyors) and coal washing plants.
Ongoing investment requirements largely depend on coal prices. If coal prices are too low, then an
operator might reduce production; it might not be economical to extract coal from the mine at a cost
that might surpass the expected market price.
Any aspiring entrepreneur that is considering starting a coal mining business whether on a small scale or
in a large scale should ensure that he or she obtains all the necessary permits from both the local
government, state government and federal government. He or she should conduct thorough market
survey and feasibility studies so as to get it right. The truth is that this type of business does pretty well
when it is strategically positioned.
In summary, coal mining is a profitable business venture and it is open for any aspiring entrepreneur to
come in and establish his or her business.
2. Executive Summary
Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company is a licensed coal mining company that will be based in Juneau –
Alaska. Although we intend starting out on a small scale as a cottage company, but that will not in any
way stop us from maximizing our potential in the coal mining industry.
Our business goal as a coal mining company is to become the number one choice of road construction
companies cum construction sites in Alaska and other cities in the United States where we intend
supplying bituminous coal, sub-bituminous coal, lignite and anthracite et al.
As a business, we are willing to go the extra mile to invest in owning our own world – class and
environmental friendly coal mines and also to hire efficient and dedicated employees. We have been
able to secure permits and licenses from all relevant departments both at local government and state
level in Juneau – Alaska.
Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company is set to redefine how coal mining business should be run, not just
in Juneau – Alaska, but also in the whole of the United States of America. This is why we have put plans
in place for continuous training of all our staff at regular intervals.
No doubt the demand for bituminous coal, sub-bituminous coal, lignite and anthracite et al is not going
to plummet any time soon which is why we have put plans in place to continue to explore all available
market around construction sites where we intend supplying our products. In the nearest future, we will
ensure that we create a wide range of distribution channels all across the United States of America. With
that, we know we will be able to maximize profits in our business.
Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company will at all-time demonstrate her commitment to sustainability,
both individually and as a firm, 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 customers’ needs precisely and completely.
Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company is a partnership business that will be jointly owned by Gabby Jose
and Pascal Bob. Gabby Jose who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company has a Degree in Mining
Technology and over 10 years of experience working in related industry as a senior manage cum mining
engineer prior to starting Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company. He will be working with a team of
professionals to build the business and grow it to enviable height.
3. Our Products and Services
Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the coal mining
industry. We want to compete favorably with the leaders in the industry which is why we have but in
place a competent team that will ensure that our products are of high standard.
We will work hard to ensure that Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company is not just accepted in Juneau –
Alaska, but also in other states all across the United States of America where we intend supplying our
products. Our products are listed below;
Bituminous coal and lignite surface mining
Bituminous coal and lignite underground mining
Anthracite mining
4. Our Mission and Vision Statement
Our vision as a coal mining company is to engage in national distribution of coal all across the United
States of America.
Our mission is to establish a standard and world class, environmental friendly coal mining company that
in our own capacity will favorably compete with leaders in the industry on the global stage. We want to
build a coal mining company that will be listed amongst the top 10 coal mining company brands in the
United States of America.
Our Business Structure
As part of our plans to build a top flight coal mining company in Juneau – Alaska that will favorably
compete with leaders in the industry, we have perfected plans to get it right from the onset which is
why we are going the extra mile to ensure that we have competent employees to occupy all the
available positions in our company.
The picture of the kind of coal mining company we intend building and the business goals we want to
achieve is what informed the amount we are ready to spend to ensure that we build a business with
dedicated workforce and robust distribution network.
In view of that, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following
positions at Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company;
Chief Executive Officer (Owner)
Quality Assurance Manager
Human Resources and Admin Manager
Sales and Marketing Officer
Accountants/Cashiers
Coal Mining Casual Workers
Truck/Tipper Drivers
Customer Service Executives
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.
Creates, communicates, and implements 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 signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
Evaluates the success of the organization
Coal Mining Site Manager
Maps out strategy that will lead to efficiency amongst workers in the organization
Ensures that our coal mining site meets the expected safety and health standard at all times.
Assess the mines to ensure they are safe
Human Resources and Admin Manager
Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
Carries out induction for new team members
Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
Oversees the smooth running of the daily business activities
Sales and Marketing Manager
Manages external research and coordinate all the internal sources of information to retain the
organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
Models demographic information and analyze the volumes of transactional data generated by customer
purchases
Identifies, 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
customers
Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for increasing sales
Documents all customer contact and information
Represents the company in strategic meetings
Helps to increase sales and growth for the company
Coal Mining Casual Workers
Responsible for operating excavators and other machines and equipment in the coal mining site
Responsible for handling the mining of bituminous coal and lignite surface mining, bituminous coal and
lignite underground mining and anthracite mining
Assists in loading and offloading of coals into and out of the trucks
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
Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
Handles all financial transactions for the organization
Serves as internal auditor for the organization
Distribution Truck/Tipper Drivers
Assists in loading and unloading bituminous coal and lignite surface mining, bituminous coal and lignite
underground mining and anthracite mining et al
Maintains a logbook of their driving activities to ensure compliance with federal regulations governing
the rest and work periods for operators.
Keeps a record of vehicle inspections and make sure the truck is equipped with safety equipment
Assists the transport and logistics manager in planning their route according to a delivery schedule.
Inspects vehicles for mechanical items and safety issues and perform preventative maintenance
Complies with truck driving rules and regulations (size, weight, route designations, parking, break
periods etc.) as well as with company policies and procedures
Collects and verifies delivery instructions
Reports defects, accidents or violations
Client Service Executive
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 customers on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the
company’s products and services
Manages administrative duties assigned by the human resources and admin manager 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 customers when they make
enquiries (answer customer queries regarding the store and the merchandise)
Finds out the customer’s needs, recommend, select and help locate the right merchandise, describe a
product’s features and benefits.
make suggestions and encourage purchase of products
6. SWOT Analysis
Because of our drive for excellence, we were able to engage some of the finest business consultants in
Juneau – Alaska to look through our business concept and together we were able to critically examine
the business and ourselves to be sure that we have what it takes to run a standard coal mining business.
In view of that, we were able to take stock of our strengths, our weakness, our opportunities and also
the threats that we are likely going to be exposed to in the United States of America. Here is a of what
we got from the critically conducted SWOT Analysis Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company;
Strength:
Our strength lies in the fact that we have state of the art coal mining equipment and trucks that will
position us to meet the demand of our clients even if the demand tripled over night or if we have a
massive order to meet and emergency need.
Another factor that counts to our advantage is the background of our Chief Executive Officers; they have
robust experience in the industry and also pretty good academic qualifications to match the experience
acquired. We are not ignoring the fact that our team of highly qualified and dedicated workers will also
serve as strength for our organization.
Weakness:
We do not take for granted the facts that we have weaknesses. In fact, the reality that we are setting up
a coal mining company in a town with other coal mining businesses might likely pose a challenge for us
in breaking into the already saturated market in Juneau – Alaska. In essence our chosen location might
be our weakness. But never the less, we have plans to launch out with a big bang.
Opportunities:
The opportunities available to us are unlimited. There are loads of road construction sites and road
repair projects in and around Juneau – Alaska and all what we are going to do to push our products to
them is already perfected.
Threat:
The threat that is likely going to confront us is the fact that we are competing with already established
coal mining companies in Juneau – Alaska and also there are other entrepreneurs who are likely going to
launch similar business within the location of our business. Of course, they will compete with us in
winning over the available market. Another threat that we are likely going to face is unfavorable
government policies and economic downturn.
7. MARKET ANALYSIS
Market Trends
A slowing Chinese economy and relatively mild winters in the United States have reduced demand for
coal, so also natural gas is increasingly challenging coal’s role in power generation and the Coal Mining
industry is anticipated to bounce back slightly in the next five years
It is common trend in the coal mining line of business to find coal companies positioning their business
in locations and communities where they can easily have access to coal mines and of course cheap
labor. If you make the mistake of positioning this type of business in a location where you would have to
travel a distance before you can access coal mines in commercial quantities, then you would have to
struggle to make profits and maintain your overhead and logistics.
Another trend in this line of business is that most registered and well organized coal mining companies
look beyond the market within their locations or state; they ensure that they strike business deals with
leading road construction companies in the United States of America.
The truth is that if as a coal mining company you are able to become a vendor to one or more road
construction giants in the United States of America, you will always continue to smile to the bank.
8. Our Target Market
When it comes to supplying product from a coal mines, there is indeed a wide range of available
customers. This goes to show that the target market for products from a coal mining companies are far
reaching, you can create your own make niche yourself to serve a specific purpose.
We are in business to engage in supply of bituminous coal and lignite surface mining, bituminous coal
and lignite underground mining and anthracite mining et al to the following organizations;
Building and construction companies
Road construction companies
For export
Our competitive advantage
Some of our competitive advantage are availability of resource, ability to find new resource deposits and
of course, economies of scale.
So also, as a standard coal mining company, we know that gaining a competitive edge requires a
detailed analysis of the demographics of the surrounding area and the nature of existing competitors.
And even if you are successful at first, new competitors could enter your market at any time to steal
your regular customers. Hence we will not hesitate to adopt successful and workable strategies from our
competitors.
Another competitive advantage that we have is the vast experience of our management team, we have
people on board who are highly experienced and understand how to grow business from the scratch to
becoming a national phenomenon. Our large and robust distribution network and of course our
excellent customer service culture will definitely count as a strong strength for the business.
Lastly, our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within
our category 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
Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the road
construction cum building industry both in Juneau – Alaska and throughout key cities in the United
States of America. We are going to go all the way to ensure that we do all it takes to sell our products to
a wide range of customers.
Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company will generate income by simply supplying the following;
Bituminous coal and lignite surface mining
Bituminous coal and lignite underground mining
Anthracite mining
10. Sales Forecast
One thing is certain when it comes to coal mining business, if your business is strategically positioned
and you have good relationship with players in the road construction industry, you will always attract
customers.
We are well positioned to take on the available market in and around Juneau – Alaska and we are quite
optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough profits from our first six months of
operation and grow the business and our clientele base.
We have been able to critically examine the coal mining line of business, 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
startups in Juneau – Alaska.
First Fiscal Year: $400,000
Second Fiscal Year: $950,000
Third Fiscal Year: $1.5 million
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
product 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 to start Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company, we conducted a thorough
market survey and feasibility studies in order for us to penetrate the available market in Juneau -Alaska.
We have detailed information and data that we were able to utilize to structure our business to attract
the number of customers we want to attract per time and also to compete with other coal mining
companies.
We hired experts who have good understanding of the coal mining line of business to help us develop
marketing strategies that will help us achieve our business goal of winning a larger percentage of the
available market for our products.
In other to continue to be in business and grow, we must continue to sell our products to the available
market which is why we will go all out to empower our sales and marketing team to deliver our
corporate sales goals. In summary, Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company will adopt the following sales
and marketing approach to sell our coals;
Introduce our business by sending introductory letters to road construction cum building companies,
road construction contractors and other stakeholders in and around Juneau – Alaska
Open our business with a party so as to capture the attention of residents who are our first targets
Engage in roadshows in targeted communities from time to time
Advertise our products 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 product cum business
Engage in direct marketing and sales
Encourage the use of Word of mouth marketing (referrals)
11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy
Regardless of the fact that our coal mining company is a standard one that can favorably compete with
other leading coal mining companies in Juneau – Alaska and in any part of the world, we will still go
ahead to intensify publicity for all our products and brand. We are going to explore all available means
to promote Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company.
Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company has a long term plan of exporting our product all across the United
States of America. This is why we will deliberately build our brand to be well accepted in Juneau – Alaska
before venturing out to other cities all across the United States of America.
As a matter of fact, our publicity and advertising strategy is not solely for selling our products but to also
effectively communicate our brand. Here are the platforms we intend leveraging on to promote and
advertise Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining 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 brand
Install our billboards in strategic locations all around major communities in Juneau – Alaska
Engage in roadshows 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 us
Ensure that all our staff members wear our customized clothes, and all our official cars and distribution
trucks are customized and well branded
12. Our Pricing Strategy
At Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company, we will keep the prices of our products below the average
market rate by keeping our overhead low and by collecting payment in advance from well – established
road construction companies that would require constant supply of our products. In addition, we will
also offer special discounted rates to all our customers at regular intervals.
Payment Options
The payment policy adopted by Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining 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 Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company will make available to her
clients;
Payment via bank transfer
Payment with cash
Payment via online bank transfer
Payment via Point of Sale Machines (POS)
Payment via mobile money platforms
Payment via check
Payment via bank draft
In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make payment for
our coals 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
the purchase of our products.
13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)
From our market survey and feasibility studies, we have been able to come up with a detailed budget on
how to achieve our aim of establishing a standard and highly competitive coal mining company in
Juneau – Alaska and here are the key areas where we will spend our startup capital;
The total fee for registering the business in the United States of America – $750.
Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits as well as the accounting services (software, P.O.S
machines and other software) – $3,300.
Marketing promotion expenses for the grand opening of Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining 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 – $2,500.
Insurance (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium
– $2,400.
The cost for payment of rent for 12 months at $1.76 per square feet in the total amount of $105,600.
The cost for facility remodeling – $20,000.
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) – $60,000
The cost for start-up inventory (coal mining equipment, tippers / trucks and other related coal mining
devices) – $250,000
The cost for store equipment (cash register, security, ventilation, signage) – $13,750
The cost of purchase and installation of CCTVs – $5,000
The cost for the purchase of furniture and gadgets (Computers, Printers, Telephone, TVs, Sound System,
tables and chairs et al) – $4,000.
The cost of launching a website – $600
The cost for our opening party – $5,000
Miscellaneous – $5,000
We would need an estimate of $450,000 to successfully set up a standard and highly competitive coal
mining company in Juneau – Alaska.
Generating Startup Capital for Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company
No matter how fantastic your business idea might be, if you don’t have the required money to finance
the business, the business might not become a reality. Finance is a very important factor when it comes
to starting a business.
Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company is a partnership business that is owned and financed by Mr. Gabby
Jose and Pascal Bob. They do not intend to welcome any external business partner which is why they
have decided to restrict the sourcing of startup capital to 3 major sources.
These are the areas we intend generating our startup capital;
Generate part of the startup capital from personal savings and sell of stocks
Source for soft loans from family members and friends
Apply for loan from the Bank
N.B: We have been able to generate about $150, 000 (Personal savings $100, 000 and soft loan from
family members $50, 000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $300,000 from our
bank. All the papers and documents 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 number of loyal customers that they have, the capacity and
competence of their employees, their investment strategy and their business structure.
One of our major goals of starting Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company is to build a business that will
survive off its own cash flow without needing to inject 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
supply our coals 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.
Gabby Pascal® Coal Mining Company 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.
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 to operate coal mines in Juneau – Alaska: Completed
Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
Leasing of a facility and renovating the facility as well: In Progress
Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
Generating capital from family members: 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
Printing of Promotional Materials: In Progress
Recruitment of employees: In Progress
Purchase of the needed stone quarry machines and equipment, furniture, racks, shelves, computers,
electronic appliances, 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 planning: In Progress
Establishing business relationship with road construction companies, contractors and other stakeholders
in the road construction cum building industry: In Progress
Purchase of tippers and delivery trucks: Completed