Do you want to start a boat related business but you want to go niche? If YES, here are 20 best profitable boat business ideas and opportunities.
If you live in a riverine area, an area where boat is the main means of transportation, you may as well consider starting a business that revolves around boating. A boat is a watercraft of different range and sizes, but generally smaller than a ship, which is distinguished by its larger size, shape, cargo or passenger capacity, and its ability to carry boats.
Small boats are typically found on inland waterways such as rivers and lakes, or in protected coastal areas. However, some boats such as the whaleboat, are intended for use in an offshore environment. In modern naval terms, a boat is a vessel small enough to be carried aboard a ship.
Anomalous definitions exist, as lake freighters 1,000 feet (300 m) long on the Great Lakes are called “boats”. Here are some profitable boat related business ideas that an aspiring entrepreneur can successfully start.
Best Boat Related Business ideas
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Sale of Fishing Vessels and Boats
Sale of fishing vessels and boats is no doubt one profitable boat related business idea that is open to investors. Fishermen usually sail and fish on the high sea and they need fishing vessels and boats to be able to do this. This goes to shows that there is a large market for those who sell fishing vessels and boats.
So, if you are interested in starting a boat related business, then one of your options is to open a shop that sells fishing vessels and boats.
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Start Fishing Vessels and Boat Rental Business
There are some fishermen who don’t own their own fishing vessels and what they usually do if they intend fishing is to rent fishing vessels and boats.
So, if you live around a fishing community and you intend starting a boat related business, one of your best options is to go into fishing vessels and boat rental business. The truth is that this type of business can thrive in fishing communities.
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Start Fishing Vessels and Boats Servicing and Repair Business
The fact that fishing vessels and boats are usually subjected to wear and tear makes serving and repair business a viable boat related business that can be started in a fishing community. If you have engineering background and you are looking towards starting a boat related business, then one of your options is to open a business that specifically repair, service and maintain fishing vessels and boats.
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Fishing Vessels and Boats Production Plant
Another thriving and profitable boat related business that you can start is to open a fishing vessel and boat production plant. This is one business that can produce and sell its products all across the globe. In order to get your own share of the market, then you must ensure that you follow the trends in the industry when it comes to designing of fishing vessels and boats.
So also, you must ensure that you produce various types of boats to appeals to different types of clients. You can produce sail boats, yacht, motorboat, catamaran, cabin cruiser, ski boats, pontoon boats, lifeboats and houseboats et al.
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Open a Boat Consignment Shop
There are several stuffs that can be sold in a consignment shop and if you are looking towards starting a boat related business that requires minimal startup capital, a business that is thriving and profitable, then you should consider opening a consignment shop that deals in different types of second-hand boats and accessories; a place where people with low income can purchase neatly used boats and accessories.
There is a large market for secondhand stuffs all over the globe. So, if you intend starting a simple boat business, then you can open a boat and accessories consignment shop. It is important to locate this type of business in a riverine area that is densely populated by people of low income.
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Start Recreational Boats Rental Services
Another thriving and easy to start boat related business idea that can be started in a beach area is recreational boat rental services. If you have been to a beach area or resort, you will agree that fun seekers usually rent different types of recreational boats.
This business can generate income steadily especially if the business is located around a beach that welcomes loads of visitors and tourists. All you need to do is to ensure you have different types of recreational boats.
Recreational boats include ski boats, pontoon boats, and sailboats, lifeboats, flatboat, Halkett boat, inflatable boat, kayak and houseboats et al. House boats may be used for vacationing or long-term residence. Lighters are used to convey cargo to and from large ships that are unable to get close to shore.
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Production of Boat Propellers
If you don’t have the financial capacity to start a boat production company and you are interested in starting a boat related business, then one of your best options is to start the production of boats component parts and boat propellers readily comes to mind.
The fact that boats can be propelled by manpower (e.g. rowboats and paddle boats), wind (e.g. sailboats), and motor (including gasoline, diesel, and electric) shows that there is indeed a pretty large market for boat propellers. Boat propellers usually get damaged and will require replacement.
You can even go into business agreement with boat production companies so as to be a supplier of boat propellers to them.
Have you ever thought of how boats get cleaned? Of course, there are cleaning companies that are specialized in cleaning boats. The truth is that boat cleaning is an easy business to set up in the united states of America, and it is indeed a profitable business venture especially if you locate the business in a riverine area where residents make use of boats.
A boat cleaning business requires low startup capital, and you can be rest assured to attract loads of customers if you know how to deliver excellent jobs. The amount you can make per day is largely dependent on your ability to market your service to ship owners, water transportation companies, ferry operators, fishermen and other boat owners.
If you are interested in the fishing industry and tinkering with launching a business as an aspiring entrepreneur, one of your best bets is to launch a fishing boat charter business. The right time to start such business is now because this business concept is presently at its growing stage.
Fishing boat charter businesses engage in Inshore/coastal fishing, offshore fishing, tournament fishing and commercial fishing; they provide charter boat fishing services for individuals, parties and companies. Please note that fishing boat companies may vary greatly in size, ranging from large operators with a fleet of vessels to single boat owner-operators and part-time charter companies.
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Start Boat Storage Business
Another thriving boat related business idea that an aspiring entrepreneur can successfully start is a boat storage business. If you live near a popular body of water, boat storage is a must and offers a lucrative opportunity for you. Because so many communities discourage on-street parking of RVs and boat trailers, storage facilities for these vehicles are always in demand.
As the economy recovers, the American public enjoys more disposable income, and many have taken to the road and water for recreation, thereby providing an excellent opportunity for self – storage owners to meet the resulting need.
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Open a Boating Training Firm
Starting a boating training firm is yet another boat related business that an aspiring entrepreneur can successfully start. Boating licenses and cards are issued by state agencies on a local basis and cannot usually be requested from national entities.
Due to the application procedures for licenses and cards is different from state to state, the total amount of time it takes to receive certification varies also. Most states offer short classroom courses that can be completed in a day and accept online courses that last between three to eight hours in duration. All you need to do is to help boat operators get their boating license and cards with ease.
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Start Organizing Armature Boat Racing Tournaments in Your Community
If you are good with organizing events, you live in a riverine area and you are a boat sports lover, then one of the boats related business that you should consider starting is an armature racing boat tournament. Boat racing is a sport in which boats, or other types of watercraft, race on water.
It could be for high school students, college students or community – based boat sport clubs. There are organizations in your community and even politicians who will be willing to sponsor it as long as it keeps students out of trouble. It could be a one-off thing and it could be a yearly thing.
A kayak is a low-to-the-water, canoe-like boat in which the paddler sits facing forward, legs in front, using a double-bladed paddle to pull front-to-back on one side and then the other in rotation. To run a successful kayak rental business, you must love boating and be experienced in kayaking, as you have to instruct renters how to operate the craft.
Coupled with being an experienced kayaker you will also have to possess adequate knowledge of the local waterways around your business. You can do this by joining a kayaking club and spend enough time on nearby waters.
Expect your customers to ask for recommendations and where they should go, and you should be able to give them first hand advice. It’s also necessary you take advanced first aid and water safety courses; the Red Cross is a great place to go for these.
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Open a Boat Museum
Starting a museum dedicated to boats is yet another interesting boat related business that an aspiring entrepreneur can start.
This business concept might be very green, you can be rest assured to have loads of visitors traveling from far and wide to visit your museum if you have robust boat artifacts or if you are able to gather stuffs that portray the history of boats. So, if you are looking for a boat related business to start, then one of your best bets is to look towards launching a boat museum.
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Start a Boat Racing Academy
Another boat related business idea that you can start is a boat racing academy; a place where young people can be groomed to become professional boat racers.
The truth is that if your boat racing academy is well recognized, you are likely going to attract students from all parts of the world. Please note that you would need a license before you can be allowed to legally operate a boat racing academy in the US.
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Start Boat Sports Reality Show
Another interesting boat related business that an aspiring entrepreneur can consider starting is a boat sports reality show. If you are an event organizer and also a boat sports enthusiast, then you can consider starting your own boat or water sports reality show.
If the program is well organized and you are able to secure good sponsorship, then the reality show will likely become an annual show if you want it to be so. You are sure going to make good money from this business venture if the reality show is well packaged.
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Start a Boat Racing Kids Club
Starting a boat racing kids club is yet another interesting boat related business that an aspiring entrepreneur can start. You can start a program/club with the aim of catching future boat racers from an early age. Just ensure that you create boat sports events with the aim of teaching kids the rudiments of boat sports.
You can target schools and parents to enroll their wards in your boat racing club. You will be required to register the business and obtain a license before you can be permitted to operate this type of business.
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Produce Boat Sports Related Guide (Book)
There are loads of people out there who love to learn boat sports such as boat racing, kayaking, rowing, yachting and surfing et al but can’t seem to get a proper handle on how to go about it. If you are a good writer and you have a full-grasp of boating, then you can start producing boat sports related guide (book).
Just ensure that all boat sports jargons, style of play, the rules of playing the game and all that a rookie needs to know is contained in the book. Please note that your boat sports guide could be in the form of books or videos et al.
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Start a Kayaking Clinic
The fan base for kayaking is on the increase and there are loads of countries who are yet to join the flow despite kayaking being considered as one of the most popular water sports in the world. If you are in a country where kayaking is relegated to the background, you can start a kayaking clinic and attract children of school age.
If you are a good organizer, and you are able to attract sponsorship and endorsement from well-known kayakers and key establishment in both the private and public sector, you can move your kayaking clinic from one city to another in a bid to get people to start loving and engaging in kayaking.
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Producing and Hosting Boat Sports Shows on TV
You can produce and host a sports show that is dedicated to only covering boat sports such as boat racing, kayaking, rowing, yachting and surfing et al. This type of business is suitable for those who have robust experience in TV cum sports broadcasting.
The fact that there are boat sports lovers, and boat sports are played at the Olympics, means that you will definitely have dedicated viewers. Although you might have to pay for slots on TV stations, but trust me, you are sure of getting sponsorship deals that will offset such expenditure, cover your running costs and yield profits.