SailTime was launched in 2001 in Austin, Texas, by George Bonelli, who set out to create a more approachable and cost-effective way for people to experience sailing. The brand later moved its headquarters to Annapolis, Maryland, as it continued to grow its presence in the boating industry.
The company built its model around a fractional membership system that gives individuals regular access to high-quality sailboats and powerboats. Members reserve time on their vessels through an exclusive online scheduling platform, making it easy to plan outings with plenty of flexibility.
SailTime introduced franchising in 2009, allowing entrepreneurs to join the network and build businesses around this membership-based boating concept. Its franchise structure provides a turnkey path for those who want to operate within the recreational marine space.
What makes SailTime stand out is its blend of shared access, tech-driven scheduling, and hands-on customer support. Clients get many of the perks of boat ownership without the hassle, while franchise owners benefit from predictable recurring revenue and a customer base that tends to remain engaged over the long term.
Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
The SailTime franchise provides several structured training programs for franchisees and their personnel to ensure consistent operations and safety standards. Here are the key training initiatives provided by the franchisor:
SailTime franchisees are granted a defined territory for their business operations. The franchisor provides guidelines and criteria to help franchisees choose a marina location, and once approved, this area becomes their designated territory.
The approval process considers factors like marina quality, access to navigable waters, and safety, ensuring a strategic location for each Base. Although SailTime assigns a territory, the documents reviewed do not confirm exclusive territorial rights or protection from other franchisees or company-owned locations.
The absence of explicit exclusivity means that franchisees should carefully review the Franchise Agreement and consult legal advisors to fully understand any competitive risks. Still, the defined territory does offer some degree of operational clarity and planning assurance.
KEY FRANCHISE STATS
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