About Freedom Boat Club
Freedom Boat Club was first founded in 1989 in Sarasota, FL. It is the oldest and largest boat club in the nation. The vision and purpose in establishing the boat club model was simple and straightforward – to deliver a hassle-free recreational boating experience for its members.
At the time, the concept was considered revolutionary and break-through. Boaters were either traditional boat owners or friends of boat owners. There were no boat clubs, fractional boating, boating timeshare, or even many boat rental facilities. The exclusive fraternity of boat owners stored their vessels at marinas, home docks or at the yacht club. When Freedom Boat Club launched, this new offering presented an exciting new alternative that opened the waterways to newcomers as well as lapsed boaters.
As the organization began its initial growth, Freedom Boat Club was sold to an investment group. Over time, it became evident that the best leadership for this type of business model would require active engagement at the helm. John Giglio and Robert Daly had both been working for the investment operator and negotiated to buy the enterprise in 2011. Mr. Giglio bought Mr. Daly out in 2012 and became the sole President.
Franchises Under Mr. Giglio’s watchful eye and passionate leadership, coupled with a committed crew of entrepreneurial-driven franchise owners, Freedom Boat Club is thriving. Today, more than 20,000 boaters call Freedom Boat Club “home,” with hundreds of locations in the US, Canada, and France with franchise operations situated coast-to-coast, and growing daily.
In May of 2019, Freedom Boat Club was acquired by Brunswick Corporation. A leader in the marine space, Brunswick’s portfolio includes Mercury Marine engines along with boat brands including Bayliner Boats, Boston Whaler, Cypress Cay Pontoon Boats, and Sea Ray among several others.
While the original mission has fundamentally remained the same, the composition and scope of Freedom Boat Club is continually expanding.
Today, Freedom Boat Club welcomes and embraces a broad mix of members to its ranks, from first-time boaters and newbies, to seasoned salts and former boat owners, from young families to active retired. Freedom Boat Club is also actively engaged in developing new and diverse markets. Anyone who loves the water and water-related activities is embraced as a member of Freedom Boat Club!
Company Founded
1989
Current Leadership
Cecil Cohn, President
Started Franchising
2000 (21 years)
Total Number of Units
279 (as of 2021)
Part-Time / Full-Time
Full Time
Stock Ticker Symbol
BC
How Much Does It Cost To Open A Freedom Boat Club Franchise?
There are several costs associated with opening a Freedom Boat Club franchise. There is typically a franchise fee set by the franchisor, which covers the costs of opening a franchise location. Some other commons fees include equipment fees, marketing fees, licensing fees, insurance, and taxes, to name a few.
Some franchises may have a weekly fee that the franchisee pays for operating a Freedom Boat Club franchise. The weekly fee for opening a Freedom Boat Club franchise is Royalty Fee Due By The 10Th Day Of The Following Month.
The full breakdown of these fees can be found in the Financial Disclosure Document (FDD) provided to franchisees by the franchisor. The FDD report will contain additional information such as whether the franchise is renewable (Freedom Boat Club Is Renewable) and does the franchise offer financing support (Freedom Boat Club Freedom Boat Club has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll).
Freedom Boat Club Company Details
Here are some additional details about Freedom Boat Club.
| Parent Company | Brunswick Corp. |
| Initial Investment | $38,000 |
| Veteran Incentives | 10% off franchise fee |
| Royalty Fee | 6% |
| Ad Royalty | to 1% |
| Term of Agreement | 5 years |
| Absentee Ownership | No |
| Run from Home | No |
| Part Time | No |
Training and Support Offered By Freedom Boat Club
Freedom Boat Club offers several support options to its franchisees. With 279 (as of 2021) units, Freedom Boat Club aims to provide support to each franchise owner to help them operate a successful franchise location. Freedom Boat Club offers 12 hours on the job training, 28 hours classroom training, and No additional training.
Training and Support Offered
Here are the support options offered by Freedom Boat Club.
| On-The-Job Training | 12 hours |
| Classroom Training | 28 hours |
| Additional Training | No |
| Ongoing Support |
|
| Marketing Support |
|
| Estimated Revenue | $10M to $50M |
Is Freedom Boat Club Right For You?
Freedom Boat Club has gone digital! Here are all of the ways you can find Freedom Boat Club online. Oftentimes, you can reach out to current franchisees of Freedom Boat Club online. Current franchisees may be able to offer personalized insights into what it is like owning a Freedom Boat Club franchise and offer tips to running a successful Freedom Boat Club franchise location.
Why Should You Start a Freedom Boat Club Franchise?
Investing in a Health & Beauty franchise such as Freedom Boat Club can kickstart your franchise portfolio. Our goal at Why Franchise is to provide you with the resources needed to be a successful franchise owner. Fill out the form below to get more information about Freedom Boat Club franchise and we'll be in touch soon!
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