SALT DELIVERY SERVICE BUSINESS PLAN

I. Executive Summary

Company Description

Name: Tidal Salt Co., named for the steady, cyclical delivery rhythm we aim to create for homeowners. We operate in the direct-to-consumer delivery and home services sector, focused on the essential salt market in the United States. Our core products are bulk water softener salt and road de-icing salt delivered on a subscription basis. We run a dedicated fleet and a regional warehouse, use advanced route-optimization software, and offer a user-friendly mobile app so customers can set delivery frequency and skip or reschedule with one tap. One-liner: reliable salt, on schedule, without the heavy lifting.

We sell convenience and reliability to homeowners in regions with cold winters and hard water, targeting single-family households with driveways and water softeners. Short-term goal: launch Q2 2026 and reach 4,000 paying subscribers in year one. Long-term goal: expand to three neighboring states and 50,000 subscribers by year five while maintaining >60% gross margin through optimized logistics and supplier contracts. What sets us apart: a vertically operated delivery model, subscription predictability, and an app-first experience that removes physical labor and scheduling friction. One-liner: subscription economics plus operational control equals predictable, scalable recurring revenue.

Problem

Homeowners and businesses must lift and store 40–50 pound bags of water softener and ice melt salt, creating safety and access problems across demographics. Customers currently monitor inventory manually, which often leads to critical shortages during peak winter storms and hard-water cycles; elderly residents and busy professionals face injury and property-damage risk when moving heavy, abrasive bags; commercial property managers experience inconsistent supply during emergency weather.

There is no dedicated last-mile service that delivers and places salt directly into storage areas or basements. The market lacks a reliable, subscription-based, direct-to-consumer option with dedicated fleet, warehouse infrastructure, route optimization, and a user-friendly app to provide a true "set it and forget it" experience. This gap drives injuries, service interruptions, and operational friction for landlords and managers. One clear problem: customers need predictable, hands-off salt replenishment.

Solution

Millions of Americans face the heavy, repetitive task of hauling 50-pound bags of road salt and water softener crystals, leading to missed maintenance, unexpected shortages in storms or hard-water spikes, and difficulty for the elderly and time-pressed households. We solve that gap with a subscription and on-demand delivery service across the Minneapolis metropolitan area beginning in 2026 that places heavy bags directly into basements, garages, or other customer-designated storage areas.

Our proprietary logistics platform automates recurring deliveries, routes a dedicated fleet for reliability, tracks inventory thresholds, and enables same-day emergency orders. We source salt in bulk to lower unit costs and use trained delivery teams with material-handling tools to ensure safe, inside placement and continuous supply.

One-liner: Reliable, inside placement of bulk salt on subscription—so customers never run out.

Mission Statement

We eliminate the physical burden of home maintenance by delivering essential minerals with reliable, convenient, and professional service nationwide, combining automated supply-chain management with exceptional last-mile logistics. We commit to customers' safety and comfort, operate with a customer-first approach to heavy-goods delivery, and build long-term trust with homeowners and businesses through consistent, on-time service. Our aim is to be the trusted partner for routine and emergency needs, reducing friction and risk in winter preparedness and property care.

Key Success Factors

Operational and financial levers that drive rapid profitability, repeat business, and low variable costs.

• 5-month breakeven path ensures early 2026 financial stability.
• 65% repeat customer rate by 2030 sustains lifetime value and margins.
• Specialized fleet + route optimization keeps fuel and tolls ≤5.0% of costs.
• Tiered product mix with $45 ice-melt SKU secures high gross margins.
• $15 customer acquisition cost provides a durable competitive advantage.

Financial Summary

Concise financial snapshot for the Executive Summary.

Financial requirements: maintain a minimum cash balance of $820,000 (achieved Jun-26) and return capital to investors with a full payback in 16 months; performance targets support an IRR of 13.62% and ROE of 19.04%.

Financial outlook: strong revenue growth, rising EBITDA, and timely payback indicate robust financial health.

Funding Requirements

We are raising $1,044,500 to fund product development, initial capex, launch marketing, and to hold a minimum cash balance of $820,000 through June 2026.