Small yacht brokerage with a marina office
Open your own brokerage with a small office at a marina, list boats for owners and grow a local name.
- C$15k-50k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
Your own brokerage business with a small office or display space near the water. You list and sell boats, may bring on a second broker or assistant, and build relationships with marinas, surveyors and lenders.
Your first three steps
- Visit local marinas and compare rent for an office or shared space, and ask about any rules on running a brokerage on their property
- Register your business with your province and check what licences or registrations apply to brokering vessels in your area
- Get insurance quotes, set up a trust account process for deposits, and write your standard listing and sales agreements with a lawyer
Who pays
Boat owners selling through you and buyers looking for a boat, with commission paid from the sale price at closing.
How it makes money
Commission on completed sales, plus occasional fees for services like valuations or sourcing a boat. A visible office and a steady stock of listings can bring in more enquiries over time.
Skills that help
- Sales and negotiation
- Running a small business and handling contracts
- Boat knowledge and local marine contacts
- Marketing and customer service
Watch out for
- Check provincial and municipal licensing for brokers, plus a business licence for your premises
- Commercial general liability, errors and omissions and property insurance for your office
- Handling client deposits: check trust account rules and keep records tidy
- Check for liens and clear ownership on every boat you list
- WCB or WSIB coverage if you hire staff, rules vary by province
- Winter slowdown in much of Canada, with rent still due, so plan your cash flow
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: small yacht brokerage with a marina office
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to open a yacht brokerage in Canada?
Startup costs are typically around $15,000 to $50,000, depending on your office, insurance and how much you spend on marketing and listings. Treat this as an estimate and get quotes for premises and insurance before committing.
How much revenue can a small yacht brokerage make?
Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many boats you sell and your commission. Winters slow down in much of Canada while rent is still due, so plan your cash flow.
What licences and rules should I check before opening a brokerage?
Check provincial and municipal licensing for brokers, plus a business licence for your premises. Also check insurance, trust account rules for client deposits, liens and ownership on each boat, and WCB or WSIB coverage if you hire staff.
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