Total of 18657 firms and businesses for sale today Friday 29th March 2024
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Sold. Reputable Yacht Charter/hire Company

LISTING DETAILS
Firms For Sale ID:
33417
Vendor reference:
CO166
Vendor website:
     
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BUSINESS DETAILS
Location:
Primary sector:
Asking price:
£545,000  
Turnover / revenue:
£181,000
Net profit / cashflow:
Undisclosed
Years established:
1988
Trading hours:
As required. The season runs for 8 months March to October.
Number of employees:
2
Employees / staffing:
As well as the directors, the business employs 2 full time members of staff, namely an office manager and a bosun. The business has access to further skilled sailors should they require them on an ad-hoc basis. The vendors run the business as a lifestyle business.

OTHER DETAILS
Reason for selling:
The vendors are planning their exit due to forthcoming retirement.
Support and training:
The vendors have a passion for sailing are keen for the business to continue its success, hence the reason the business was originally set up. They are happy to provide the necessary handover period to ensure continuity of trading and a seamless transition of ownership, subject to negotiation.
Business is relocatable:
No
Business is web-based:
No
Business is home-based:
No
PROPERTY DETAILS
 
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BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
Reputable Yacht Charter/Hire Company
Ref.CO166
Location West Coast of Scotland
Asking Price GBP 545,000
This highly reputable and expanding yacht charter business has been hiring yachts in the West Coast region of Scotland for about a quarter of a century. In that time the business has positioned itself as one of the leading and longest established companies it its field in a sailing area that is regarded as one of the best in the UK, if not the world!

The company currently has its own fleet of some 5 high quality yachts that are chartered out to a range of customers. In addition to this(and at time of going to market) the business charters a further 5 vessels on a managed basis, and also operates another 3 agency yachts. The number of managed/agancy vessels in the fleet can change year on year dependant on demand and the owners are able to adjust their offering accordingly.

The managed boats, are owned by other individuals, rather than the Company, but are operated by the company throughout the season with little or no help from the owner. The agency boats, are also owned by other individuals, but the owners do all of the work on them, with the Company marketing them and providing them bookings, and handling the administrative side of things.

Typically the fleet offers 6 to 10 berths with largest yachts being 15 metre vessels. The majority of clients are experienced sailors and sail the vessels themselves. However, the company can also provide a skipper for the less experienced as well as arranging corporate events.

The business enjoys very impressive levels of repeat business from returning clients. This repeat business represents circa 75% of current turnover. Customers are truly international with many bookings coming from overseas. The business has clients who have been chartering their yachts for some 20 years. Customers include boat clubs, individuals and large blue chip multi-nationals. Typically the charter season operates between March and October (8 month season).

The business enjoys prime berths in what is regarded as one of the best marinas in Scotland. The marina is very accessible with excellent transport links to the rest of the UK and Europe. The company also has its offices situated at the marina, which is ideal for greeting customers and from a marketing point of view.

Expansion Potential
The business is ripe for further expansion. The market is increasing year after year, even despite the difficult economic conditions we have been experiencing since 2008. The company has just introduced a price increase of circa 10% for next year and to date this has shown no adverse effect on bookings levels for next year.

Market / Competition / Non-Competition Agreements
The business benefits greatly from its memberships and associations and has enjoyed significant press advertising over many years in several of the major publications in this sector. However the vendors have reduced this over time as it does not feel the need to do this so much anymore, bearing testimony to the very impressive levels of repeat business and referrals it enjoys via word of mouth recommendations.

The business does have an informative and modern website as well as appearing in the local sailing club and marina yearbooks.