looking to start a new charter

[willdenhawgg]

I am currently in the army and I am trying to get info on starting a charter buisiness in the florida panhandle. I am wanting to set my father up so he doesnt have to work on trucks any more. any info or suggestions on where or how to get started would be great also not looking for big time maybee 27 to 36 footer boat 6-pack for all around fishing. and not looking to strike it rich just pay the bills for my parents and keep them busy. any sugestions good or bad would be greatly appreciated as to the best way to go about this

[snooknreds2]

it is a very cut throat business

[DonK]

Just yanking your chain...I am a former Marine.

My brother captained a charter boat out of Hillsboro inlet for quite a few years , so I have some insight and a resource for info, although dated (it's been 20 yrs since he got a real job ).

Additionally I am researching the same, for down here in south Florida.

How much research have you done on this as of yet?

I am taking the OUPV (six pack) course at "Seaschool" at the end of the month. That'l lbe the first step. After that I'll tackle the maze of licensing...I have some preliminary info (from searching the internet). PM me with an e-mail and I will share what little I have.

[Capt. Art]

Willdenhawgg:

Be careful.

In the charter business, you break even on a good year. Most years the repair bills eat you up.

Unless you fish 300 days per year and quickly establish a regular clientel, you will be using your savings (or loans) to float the business for quite a few years.

Good luck, and thanks for your service.

Capt. Art

[Another Grand]

A) form army and capture small oil county in MidEast so you can afford to run operation
B) after capturing small country, proceed with Army to third world country to recruit mates that actually listen and get paid what they deserve
c) get a trawler to catch your bait
d) start manufacturing your own tackle

.....if you do these things, you might be able to break even.

Good luck

[WhItEoUt 23]

--------------------------------
TIGHT LINES AND SHARP HOOK'S

[Venice Tunaman]

I suggest you start the bus as a side business while doing something else... and then when it starts to take off.. go full time.

[e-money]

Originally Posted by Another Grand

A) form army and capture small oil county in MidEast so you can afford to run operation
B) after capturing small country, proceed with Army to third world country to recruit mates that actually listen and get paid what they deserve
c) get a trawler to catch your bait
d) start manufacturing your own tackle

.....if you do these things, you might be able to break even.

Good luck

Pretty funny Johnny.

Tough business indeed & sincerely wish you & family well.

Reminds me of something I heard about Costa Rica & maybe there is a parellel?

If you want to retire a "millionaire" in Costa Rica, bring TWO.

[DonK]

Willdenhawgg: a couple of last thoughts, to sum up what everyone else is saying...a little 'business 101':

Too many people get into this thinking "how cool it would be to go fishing for a living" .

Never forget that your operation is a BUSINESS, and treat it as such . Pinch every penny, save every dollar, and try to get as much clientele as you can. Write a buisness plan, understand your costs and create a budget, try to determine how much you can earn (I use the SWAG method: Systematic, Wild-Ass Guessing ) , and then decide if it's do-able.

And when in the planning stage, do your diligence , then take every cost guest-timate, double it. then double it again . That should get you at least to a minimal startup capital. As with most businesses, getting them started is the easy part. Being able to sustain and grow it is the hard part.

Figure out your break-even point, in dollars, per day and live by that number...constantly and obsessively think about how much you are losing every day you aren't taking out paying customers. Bad weather is a cost, not an inconvenience. You'll have to make that up lost revenue sooner or later if you plan to continue or, maybe, even make a profit. (unless you are well funded or independently wealthy)

But if everything looks right, and you go for it, I wish you the best of luck and success! hooo-a!

[shipmate bill]

Originally Posted by Another Grand

B) after capturing small country, proceed with Army to third world country to recruit mates that actually listen and get paid what they deserve

Sounds like you need a new mate my friend. Maybe you should get a GOOD one this time.

As far as businesses go, don't sell yourself short. Right now in NJ where i sail out of, there are a ton of fly by night, shady little boats that provide a decent service but undercut everyone else. anyone doing this full time, can't afford to cut their own throat to take trips. If you're charging $1000, and another boat is charging $750, you can sail 3 trips to their 4 and you both make $3000, but you only have 3 days of running expenses.

Remember you're in this to make money not friends. When charters want to start "working out a deal" you don't really need them anyway. Don't be afraid to charge what your worth.