What a Buyer Checks First
- Share of revenue from repeat slip holders, fleets and management contracts
- Technician count, certifications and how long they have stayed
- Waterfront lease or yard terms, including years remaining and who owns the land
- Parts inventory, shop tools and lifts, and their condition
- Insurance, environmental permits and any past spill or damage claims
The Waterfront Is Part of the Price
For many marine companies the location matters as much as the customers. A yard or shop on the water with a long lease can be worth more than the business itself, while a short or month to month arrangement worries every buyer.
Buyers ask who owns the land, what the lease allows and whether the landlord approves of a sale. See lease assignment and landlord consent before you list.
Repeat Work Beats Rescue Calls
Owners who run haul outs, bottom paint, engine service and detailing for the same boats year after year have steady income.
Companies that depend on walk ins or occasional breakdowns have less. Management contracts for yacht owners and charter fleets stand out in particular.
People Are the Product
A good marine technician is hard to find. Buyers want to know who holds the manufacturer certifications, who has been there for years and what happens to the work if the owner leaves.
Written pay and bonus plans help keep the team during a transition.
Seasons and Storms
Business rises and falls with the boating calendar and with hurricane season, when yards fill with boats waiting for a storm to pass.
Buyers look at twenty four months or more of sales to see the pattern. Insurance and storm plans matter, and our guide on hurricane insurance records lists what to gather.
Permits and Environmental Records
Marine businesses handle fuel, paint and waste. Buyers ask for permits, inspection reports and records of any past spill, because a cleanup bill can land on whoever owns the property.
Ready to see the number? Request a private estimate.