Boat dealership at a marina or yard

Leisure boaters, anglers, families and people moving up from smaller boats who want to buy from a dealer with a physical base.

Margin on boats sold, commission on brokerage sales, and extras such as trailers, engines, accessories and servicing arranged through partners.

• Boat knowledge and good judgement of value
• Selling and customer service
• Managing stock and cash flow
• Building trade relationships with engineers and suppliers

• Check the lease or licence terms with the marina or landlord, including any restrictions on selling from site
• Check planning and business rates for your site with the council
• Stock is expensive to hold and boat sales can be seasonal, so plan your cash flow; starting with a small number of used boats or on a brokerage basis keeps the upfront cost lower
• Check insurance for stock, premises, public liability and test trips, plus employer's liability if you hire
• Arranging finance for buyers may need FCA authorisation, check before offering it
• Check consumer law duties on warranties, descriptions and VAT status for every boat you sell

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £50,000 to £250,000, depending on your site and how much stock you hold. Starting with a few used boats or on a brokerage basis keeps the upfront cost lower.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £6,000 to £30,000, depending on how many boats you sell and at what price. Sales can be seasonal, so plan your cash flow carefully.

Check the lease or licence terms with the marina or landlord, planning and business rates with your council, insurance for stock, premises and test trips, whether finance for buyers needs FCA authorisation, and your consumer law and VAT duties.