Supporting the expansion of an exclusive private members club in the US

After four years of running a single, highly sought after private members club, Coterie had a waiting list, strong regional brand equity, and dependable cash flow. The founders wanted to replicate the model in another state and began talks with a family office that was open to financing the second site. Before committing capital, both sides needed clear proof that the expansion would justify a large up‑front investment.

1. Building a Location‑to‑location Financial Model

Alehar started with a detailed review of the flagship club. We broke down membership mix, spending patterns, event revenue, payroll, and fixed costs to uncover the underlying economics. Using those findings, and adjusting for local real‑estate prices, wage levels, and demand forecasts, we built a bottom‑up model for the second location. The results showed that while the new club required significant capital, it would reach breakeven within the first three years and then generate steady cash. This gave both the founders and the family office the confidence to proceed.

2. Innovating the capital stack

Funding the build‑out without over‑leveraging the balance sheet was the next challenge. Alehar created a Founder Membership program that offered a limited group of early members an equity stake plus a share of future cash flows in exchange for a sizable initial contribution. Early testing with prospective members showed strong enthusiasm for the blend of exclusivity and financial upside.

3. Storytelling that converts interest into capital

To turn interest into subscriptions, we worked with our affiliated marketing agency, Folmia, to craft a full pitch package. A polished brochure and launch video combined financial clarity with emotional appeal, highlighting the club’s design, curated experiences, and community. These materials now anchor investor evenings, one‑on‑one pitches, and digital outreach.

4. Keeping the build on time and on budget

Since green lighting the project, Coterie’s leadership, Alehar, and the family office meet in monthly management reviews. We track construction milestones, procurement costs, and Founder Membership commitments against the financial model, flagging variances early and reallocating contingencies when required. This steady cadence keeps spending on budget and the opening date on track.

Founder Membership subscriptions are running ahead of plan and already cover a meaningful share of the build cost. Vendor contracts are signed, permits are progressing, and dashboards give all stakeholders a clear view of capital deployed versus budget. Alehar remains fully involved, updating forecasts, guiding the monthly reviews, and refining the membership offer as fresh data arrives. Coterie’s experience demonstrates how careful feasibility work, an inventive funding approach, and ongoing hands-on partnership can transform an ambitious expansion into a financially sound reality.