Your own small yacht brokerage
Open a boutique brokerage near a marina, list yachts under your own name and keep the full commission.
- $10k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
4,246 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.7% in a year
NAICS 441222 “Boat dealers”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
You run your own licensed brokerage from a small office at or near a marina. You take listings, market boats, handle offers and closings, and may bring in other brokers as your business grows.
Your first three steps
- Check your state's yacht broker licensing and bonding rules, and what is needed to operate a brokerage rather than work under one
- Form an LLC, get an EIN, and set up a business bank account and a separate escrow or trust account if required
- Price out office space near a marina, listing sites and marketing, then line up your first listings through your network
Who pays
Yacht owners who pay a commission when their boat sells, and sometimes buyers who engage you to search for a vessel.
How it makes money
You keep the whole commission on each sale, minus any split with agents you bring in. You also cover marketing, rent and listing site costs yourself.
Skills that help
- Sales and negotiation
- Marine industry knowledge and contacts
- Business management and bookkeeping
- Marketing and photography for listings
Watch out for
- State licensing and any surety bond requirements for brokerages, so check with your state's licensing agency
- Rules on holding client deposits, including separate trust or escrow accounts
- Errors and omissions and general liability insurance, plus workers' compensation if you hire employees
- Long gaps between sales while you cover rent and marketing costs
- Local zoning and lease terms for a marina office
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: your own small yacht brokerage
Researched with live web search for United States: 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 start a yacht brokerage?
Estimates put startup costs typically around $10,000 to $40,000, depending on your marina office or lease, marketing and photography, and any bond or insurance costs. Expect rent and marketing to continue through long gaps between sales.
How much can a small yacht brokerage earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how many listings you take and how many sell. Sales can be spread far apart, so cash flow needs planning. The estimates assume at least 30 hours a week.
What rules should I check before opening a yacht brokerage?
Check state licensing and any surety bond requirements with your state's licensing agency. Also check rules on holding client deposits, including separate trust or escrow accounts, insurance such as errors and omissions, workers' compensation if you hire, and zoning and lease terms for a marina office.
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