STUDIO NOIR · Roadmap
Every milestone. Every owner. Written phase by phase.
Phase 1: The Boutique
90 days (Aug 2026 to Oct 2026)
Theme: Formation. Legal, brand, real estate motion.
| Milestone | Owner | Due |
|---|---|---|
| STUDIO NOIR OpCo LLC and STUDIO NOIR IP LLC filed in NC or DE | RDU attorney | Aug 15 |
| Trademark filings: STUDIO NOIR (US, key classes) + THE NOIR INVITATIONAL | IP counsel | Aug 30 |
| Business bank account opened, $85K committed and segregated: $25K reserve into savings, $60K operating | Trill + Taj | Aug 30 |
| Cash flow tracker (Google Sheets or Airtable) set up, first Monday review calendar locked | Trill + Taj | Aug 30 |
| RDU real estate broker retained (prefer boutique fitness or second-gen retail specialty) | Trill | Sep 15 |
| Property tour list of 8 to 12 targets in North Hills, Fenton, Waverly Place, Village District, Brightleaf | Broker + Trill | Sep 30 |
| Brand book v1 delivered (from 01_BRAND) | Tia + Taj | Oct 1 |
| SoftPlay Era wind-down complete (60 days from decision) | Taj | Oct 15 |
| Site scorecards run on top 3 properties, licensed structural engineer signs off on top 2 | Trill + broker + engineer | Oct 30 |
180 days (Nov 2026 to Jan 2027)
Theme: Lease signed. Buildout ready.
| Milestone | Owner | Due |
|---|---|---|
| LOI signed on primary property with pole rigging language | Trill + broker + attorney | Nov 15 |
| Backup LOI held on alternate | Broker | Nov 30 |
| Lease negotiated (base rent + TI allowance if any + pole rigging exhibit) | Attorney + Trill | Dec 15 |
| GC (General Contractor, the person managing the buildout) selected for a lean fit-out | Trill | Dec 15 |
| Insurance quotes solicited (general liability + participant liability + property) | Insurance broker | Dec 30 |
| Lease signed | All | Jan 15 |
| Buildout kickoff | GC | Jan 20 |
365 days (Feb 2027 to Jul 2027)
Theme: Build. Hire. Warm the market. Open.
| Milestone | Owner | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Buildout complete (target: 6 to 10 weeks, done by end of March) | GC | Mar 30 |
| Booking software (Mariana Tek or equivalent) configured, class schedule loaded | Trill + Tia | Apr 15 |
| 2 to 3 contract instructors signed to independent contractor agreements | Trill + head instructor | Apr 15 |
| Pre-launch waitlist landing page live at studionoir.com or vault.thewalkergroup.studio | Tia + web | Apr 15 |
| Pre-launch content series launches through Taj’s IG + Tia | Tia + Taj | Apr 30 |
| Signature scent + prosecco supply + arrival ritual sourced and specified | Tia | May 1 |
| Insurance bound | Broker | May 15 |
| Soft open (invite-only, 15 to 25 charter members) | All | Jun 1 |
| Waitlist at 200+ names | Tia | Jul 1 |
| Full open | All | Jul 15 |
18 months (Aug 2027 to Feb 2028)
Theme: Fill the studio. Prove the model.
| Milestone | Owner | Due |
|---|---|---|
| First 30 paying members active | Tia + Taj | Aug 30 |
| First profitable month (revenue > opex + $500 buffer) | Trill + Taj | Nov 30 |
| 50 paying members active | Tia | Dec 30 |
| Instructor bench at 4+ contract instructors | Head instructor + Trill | Dec 30 |
| Corporate wellness soft outreach: 3 RTP anchor conversations (Cisco, IBM, Epic Games, Red Hat, Fidelity Cary, MetLife) | Trill | Feb 15 |
| 60 paying members active | Tia + Taj | Feb 15 |
Year 2 of Phase 1 (Mar 2028 to Feb 2029)
Theme: Steady state. Save. Prepare Phase 2 conversations.
| Milestone | Owner | Due |
|---|---|---|
| 70 to 80 members steady | Tia + Taj | Q2 2028 |
| Retention numbers documented (90-day, 180-day, 365-day cohort tracking) | Trill | Q2 2028 |
| Taj drawing $8K to $15K per month clean | Trill + Taj | Q3 2028 |
| First conversations with SBA lenders for Phase 2 debt | Trill | Q3 2028 |
| First HNW angel conversations for Phase 2 equity | Trill | Q4 2028 |
| Phase 2 site search begins (target 8K to 15K sqft) | Trill + broker | Q4 2028 |
| Phase 2 financial model rebuilt against real Phase 1 numbers | Trill + fractional CFO | Q4 2028 |
| Phase 2 capital stack drafted | Trill + CFO | Q1 2029 |
Phase 2: The Flagship
Sequencing depends on Phase 1 performance. Do not activate if Phase 1 has not cleared 50+ members steadily.
Q1 2029 to Q4 2029
- Phase 2 LOI signed on flagship property
- Architect + GC + MEP (mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineer) team retained
- Capital stack committed: mix of Phase 1 retained earnings, SBA loan, landlord TI, HNW angel round
- GM hired (retained hospitality-industry recruiter, not fitness)
- Buildout kickoff Q3 2029
2030
- Phase 2 buildout completes Q2 2030
- Head of Programming hired
- Director of Member Experience hired
- Soft open Q3 2030
- Grand open Q4 2030
- Phase 1 boutique either continues as a second Triangle location or closes and folds into flagship membership (decision at Phase 2 open)
2031
- Membership ramp: 200 by Q2, 400 by Q4
- Corporate wellness B2B: 3+ anchor accounts signed
- THE NOIR INVITATIONAL Y1 announcement Q3 2031
- Digital membership beta launch Q4 2031
Phase 3: The Franchise
Not before 2032. Depends on Phase 2 stabilizing.
2032
- FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document) filed with FTC and state regulators
- VP Franchise Development hired
- Director of Brand Standards hired inside STUDIO NOIR IP LLC
- Franchise Discovery Days launched
2033
- First franchisee area development agreement signed (3-unit ADA target, Atlanta or Miami)
- First franchised unit opens
2034 to 2036
- 5 to 8 franchised units live
- International master franchise conversations begin (London, Dubai priority)
- Combined enterprise value (flagship + royalty stream): $30M+
- Strategic exit optionality opens
Review cadence
- Monthly: Founder Financial Review. Trill + Taj. First Monday of every month. Cash, member count, risks.
- Quarterly: Full roadmap review. Reset milestones. Score risks. Update decision log.
- Annually: Rewrite the 3-year forward plan on the anniversary of full open.