So You Want to Become a Yacht Broker

Frequently I have clients or friends say to me, "Youcustomer service type of person?
must have lots of fun being a Yacht Broker; being onCan you live without a paycheck for 1, 2, 3 months?
boats all day, you're on holiday all day long". Yes, I doIt does and will happen. Yacht Brokers only get paid
enjoy it but it is a lot of work if you want to bewhen we sale a yacht. You must have good money
productive. Let me explain what it takes to make itmanagement skills.
work. If you think you have what it takes, give me aAre you willing to work 7 days a week, every day
call.including holidays if required? I work every day,
The difficult part.usually 12 hour days. Clients look at yachts everyday
For starters, Florida Yacht Brokers have worked asand you must be willing to take the telephone call or
sales people a full 2 years, before a full Brokerrespond to the e-mail at any time.
position can be achieved. Each state is different. As aAre you up on computers? Are you comfortable on
Broker you might own the company or work for aa website? You'll need to possess a powerful
parent company. As an owner/Broker as I do withcomputer, printer, and scanner and have internet
Paradise Yachts, operation of a yacht sales businesscapability to upload yacht listings online.
enterprise includes marketing, sales, marketing,Are you an accomplished photographer? Can you use
accounting, banking, web site design and building,a digital camera and use photographic software. You
search engine optimization, tax collecting, and bottlewill needat least a 8 mega pixel digital photographic
washing. So I have to allocate my time based uponcamera. They are not cheap!
what needs to keep the business operating. But forCan you pull through a full background investigation?
the role of this article, we'll just be assuming you willIf you want to work in Florida, it's needed to get a
want to become a yacht sales person.license. If you work in another State, you will not be
To begin, the principal matter is you have to likeable to enter the State of Florida working as a yacht
yachts; no, you have to live yachts and boating. Butsales person.
there is more. You have to know boats and yachtsAre you prepared to shell out $600.00 every 2 years
like the skin of your chin; it's got to be your life. Youfor the exclusive right of carrying that license?
have to be able to discuss boats in detail; yourDo you have a cell phone, Blackberry or iPhone; you
customers will certainly be able to do so.can't live without them.
Do you currently own a boat? Have you previouslyCan you survive the unbearable hot sun or endure
owned a boat? What is your experience operating apouring rain to show yachts to customers?
yacht? Your customers will want to talk about howCan you deal with with irritating clients that often
things function while underway, how to dock a twindemand more than you wish to give?
screw boat, and how things aboard operate. Can youThe easy part
walk the talk? Have you ever done it? Can you directDo you wish to have an endless income? Yes, the
your customers based upon experience?money you make is up to you.
What's your personality? Are you out going and ableDo you like having fun? Yes, it's a lot of fun seeing a
to reach out to clients? The majority of the peoplenew, happy boat owner. And yes, we do get to
you meet will be total strangers.have our fair share of boat rides.
Do you view yourself a self-starter? Are you willingDo you like meeting many new acquaintances? Every
to make it happen; if you don't go to work, no onestranger I meet is just a friend I haven't yet made.
will be there to remind you?Do you like being your own boss? In the boat
Do you possess a basic sales perspective? Are you abusiness, you get to call the shots.