Freedom Boat Club Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2026)
Freedom Boat Club offers an exclusive boating experience without the hassle of ownership. With access to a fleet of boats and convenient locations nationwide, members enjoy unlimited boating with maintenance, insurance, and training included.
Founded in 1989 in Sarasota, Florida, Freedom Boat Club has grown into the largest and oldest members-only boat club in the world. Its mission from the start was to deliver a stress-free way for people to enjoy boating, pioneering the boat-sharing concept that removes the burdens of ownership.
In 2019, the club joined the Brunswick Corporation family, a move that connected it with top marine brands like Mercury Marine and Bayliner Boats. This partnership strengthened Freedom Boat Club’s services and helped accelerate its global growth.
Freedom Boat Club stands apart by managing all aspects of boat care—including maintenance, cleaning, repairs, insurance, and storage—providing members with a premium boating experience without the typical hassles of owning or renting a vessel.
Initial investment
The initial investment required for a Freedom Boat Club franchise is
$223,000 - $501,000.
That is the total cost you would need to finance if you were to start this franchise.
These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Type of Expenditure
Amount
Initial Franchise Fee
$50,000
Training Expenses
$2,000 – $4,000
Real Estate
$3,000 – $9,000
Improvements (including Signage)
$1,000 – $3,000
Furniture, Equipment
$2,000 – $3,500
Boat Inventory
$120,000 – $300,000
Professional Fees
$1,500 – $5,000
Insurance
$7,000 – $12,000
Start-up Advertising
$15,000 – $60,000
Deposits, Licenses/Permits
$1,000 – $4,000
Sales and Marketing Support Fee
$0 – $15,000
Additional Funds – Three Months
$20,000 – $35,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment
$222,500 – $500,500
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Type of Expenditure
Amount
Initial Franchise Fee
$50,000
Training Expenses
$2,000 – $4,000
Real Estate
$3,000 – $9,000
Improvements (including Signage)
$1,000 – $3,000
Furniture, Equipment
$2,000 – $3,500
Boat Inventory
$120,000 – $300,000
Professional Fees
$1,500 – $5,000
Insurance
$7,000 – $12,000
Start-up Advertising
$15,000 – $60,000
Deposits, Licenses/Permits
$1,000 – $4,000
Sales and Marketing Support Fee
$0 – $15,000
Additional Funds – Three Months
$20,000 – $35,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment
$222,500 – $500,500
Franchise Disclosure Document
Below is Freedom Boat Club's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. Upgrade to Pro or purchase the FDD to view and download the document.
Number of units
Freedom Boat Club had 395 total units in 2024, of which 266 were franchised-owned and 129 company-owned.
The Freedom Boat Club franchise offers a thorough training program to ensure franchisee success. Here’s a numbered summary of the training provided:
Initial Training Program Franchise owners, operating principals, and key managers must attend a five-day in-person Initial Training Program covering operations, customer service, management, accounting, computer systems, and marketing.
Online Pre- and Post-Training Franchisees are required to complete specific online training courses both before and after the in-person training to reinforce learning.
Additional and Refresher Training Franchisees, including new managers or operating principals, may be required to attend additional training or refresher courses at the franchisor’s discretion, especially when performance issues arise.
Training for Renewal or Transfer Before renewal or transfer of ownership, the franchisor may require completion of updated training programs to ensure current standards are met.
Territory Protection
The Freedom Boat Club franchise provides its franchisees with a Protected Territory, which is typically based on geographic area, population size, and local water access.
This territory generally covers areas with populations between 50,000 and 100,000, and the franchisor agrees not to open or license another Freedom Boat Club within it as long as the franchisee complies with the agreement.
However, franchisees are limited to operating only one business within their territory unless they sign a separate development agreement. While the Protected Territory prevents other franchise units from entering, it does not block the franchisor or its affiliates from marketing or selling products through other channels, like the internet or wholesale.
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