So You Think You Want to Be a Yacht Broker

Often I have clients or friends say to me, "You must have lots of fun being a Yacht Broker; being on yachts all day, you are on vacation all the time". Yes, I do enjoy it but it is a lot of work if you want to be productive. Let me explainwhat it takes to make it work. If you have what it takes, let me hear from you

The difficult part.

To begin with, Florida Yacht Brokers have served a 2 year apprenticeship as sales people, before a full Broker position can be reached. Each state is different. As a Broker you might own the company or work for a parent company. As an owner/Broker as I do with Paradise Yachts, operation of a yacht sales business enterprise includes marketing, sales, marketing, accounting, banking, website design and building, search engine optimization, tax collecting, and bottle washing. So I must allocate my time based upon what needs to keep the business operating. But for the intent of this article, we'll just be assuming you wish to become a yacht sales person.

To begin, the primary matter is you must like boats; no, you have to live yachts and boating. But there is more. You have to know boats and yachts like the skin of your chin; it's got to be your life. You will have to be able to talk yachts in detail; your clients will certainly be able to do so.

Do you own a boat? Have you previously owned a boat? What is your background operating a yacht? Your customers will want to talk about how things function while underway, how to dock a twin screw boat, and how electronics operate. Can you walk the talk? Have you ever done these things? Can you guide your clients based upon experience?

What Is your personality? Are you out going and able to reach out to customers? Most of the people you meet will be total strangers.

Do you consider yourself a self-starter? Can you make it happen; if you don't go to work, no one will be there to remind you?

Do you possess a basic sales perspective? Are you a customer service type of person?

Can you live without a pay day for 1, 2, 3 months? It does and will happen. Yacht Brokers only get paid when we sale a yacht. You must have good money management skills.

Are you willing to work 7 days a week, every day including holidays if necessary? I work every day, usually twelve hour days. Clients look at boats everyday and you must be prepared to take the call or respond to the electronic mail at any time.

Are you up on computers? Can you manage your way around a website? You will need to own a powerful computer, printer, and scanner and have internet access to upload yacht listings online.

Are you a good photographer? Are you good with a digital camera; can you use photographic software. You'll need to own at least a 8 mega pixel digital camera. They are not cheap!

Can you pull through a full background investigation? If you want to work in Florida, it's needed to get a license. If you are in another State, you cannot even enter the State of Florida as a Broker if not licensed.

Are you prepared to dole out $600.00 every two years for the privilege of carrying that license?

Do you have a cell telephone, Blackberry or Iphone; you can't live without them.

Can you come through the unbearable hot sun or endure pouring rain to show boats to customers?

Can you deal with with irritating customers that often demand more than you wish to give?

The easy part

Do you wish to have an endless income? Yes, that's right; the money you make is entirely up to you.

Do you wish to have fun? Yes, it's always fun seeing a happy boater. And yes, we do get to have our fair share of boat rides.

Do you like forming many new acquaintances? Every stranger I meet is just a friend I have yet to make.

Do you like being your own boss? In the boat business, you call your own shots.

Mike Dickens, the author, is a boat owner and owner/Broker of Paradise Yachts in Florida USA.


Paradise Yachts offers used quality yachts to customers worldwide.


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