Frequently Asked Questions

How much money can I make? How much is the licence fee?
We charge a standard licence fee for all the systems and work we have done for you. The licence acquisition fee is €25,000. The annual licence and support fee is €12,000 plus €100 per month per boat. This fee includes many of the marketing materials you'll need to launch your business and provides ongoing support from SailTime Europe staff including visits to your location.

Each boat can be considered a cost centre and nets about £1,000-£1,200 per month. Ten boats will generate a gross income of approximately £120,000 per year. You'll need to subtract the licence fee, advertising and G&A costs from this. Of course we are not offering any guarantees. Income you make depends entirely on your level of investment and effort. An important part of the due diligence process is the development of the business plan for the specific market that you will develop with our support.

What does the licence fee include?
Licensing of the business model, name, branding, logo, website, marketing materials, leverage of relationships with boat manufacturers and cost savings, access to technology (E-ttendant, scheduling engine, etc.), web development for local area, business model knowledge, all financial models that create a feasible model for Members and Owner-Members, working systems and processes refined by our Members over the past five years, business rules and logic that have been refined over the past five years. Continued consulting to help you grow your business, brand equity, goodwill, relationship leverage with industry giants are just a few things you get when you join our winning team.

How do you estimate the monthly profit?
For example, on a Beneteau 343, you would typically collect an Initiation and Training Fee of £1,000, a £1,500 Security Deposit and £465 Monthly Usage Fee from each of the 7 Members. When expenses are subtracted, the profit amounts to approximately £1,000 - £1,200 per boat.

Is it possible to adjust the collected fee structure in your business model to increase the revenue stream? For instance £2,000 Initiation and Training Fee, £2,000 Security Deposit, and £500 Monthly Usage Fee.
You may adjust the fees, but of course that is your business decision. We calculate pricing based on research in each base’s marketplace and give you our recommendations as to the price point we think your market will accept.

Do you provide the web hosting services or do I contract locally?
We will maintain and provide all the web services. We will provide all the technology and you will be able to customise your local area web information for marketing and informational purposes.

What type of candidate do you accept to be a Base Owner?
We accept applicants with an extensive business, sales and marketing background along with an expressed level of passion and commitment to developing a successful and thriving business. Several years of sailing experience are also helpful.

How can I secure the area I live in for a SailTime Licence?
Once we have met and feel that your application, business plan and vision is strong, we will accept a deposit and letter of intent to reserve the geographic area of your choice.

Who owns the business I operate?
You do. You will simply purchase a licence from us to use our systems. We provide on going consulting but the business is yours to run. The operational guidelines are spelled out clearly in the licence agreement.

Can I start out part time and grow this on the side?
Yes, in-fact several of our licensees are already doing this. However, marketing and operating the SailTime business does require a significant time commitment. You'll need to have a very flexible schedule and be able to convince us that you have the time, plan and resources.

Realistically, how much money can I make?
If you could generate 2 members per month, in the first year you could generate nearly £30,000 of potential income. By the end of the 2nd year you could clear £100,000 with £5,000 per month in ongoing income. Once you get 10 boats in your fleet you could be making £9,000 per month. Now that's a great recurring income. Of course these results are forecasted and will be based upon your performance. You will be required to develop a business plan that incorporates you’re your local considerations. SailTime does not warrant or guarantee that you will do this.

Why can't I just duplicate what you're doing?
You can! Keep in mind that the opportunity cost for doing so will be significant as we have paved the way with our relationships with manufacturers, vendors, suppliers, etc and provide all of this to you as a part of the process. We have invested heavily in technology development and have incorporated years of knowledge gained from operations into our processes and infrastructure. You could develop this business on your own but you will need to invest years of your own time and hundreds of thousands of pounds making the mistakes and learning and growing all the facets of the business. With SailTime you can focus on growing your business locally and keep in mind that while small it will difficult to leverage the power that SailTime can provide with its network of 30+ bases.

Can I get more information?
Of course. Please fill out the information request form and we will contact you to set up an initial discussion. We have formulated a very specific process called 0-360 that assists all candidates in understanding the steps required to start a SailTime base. SailTime spent 5 years developing the business model and continuously testing it to ensure it would work. You should do as much due diligence as you are comfortable with before you ready to begin. However, keep in mind that we are actively selling licences to those who do their due diligence in a timely manner.

If I became a Licensee today, when could I be in business?
We have developed an entire business system set up sequence to allow you to start your business in a professional manner. This process is called 0-360. All candidates are encouraged to take whatever time is required to make themselves feel comfortable that this is the right opportunity. We do not hurry the process along, but we do make candidates aware when we have several competing candidates for a location and coordinate business plan reviews to facilitate the decision making process. Talk to us and we'll get you on the right path. We'll help you with financing arrangements, insurance on the boat, purchasing the boat and beginning your marketing plan. After you've filled out the information request form, you'll be taken to the next steps page, which will show you all the steps we've put in place to help you get your business started properly.

Who does the Member contract with?
The Member contracts with the local SailTime Base

Is there a Member Manual? Can I see it?
Yes. We have written a Member Manual that you and or the Member can simply download. A copy of this is made available once we have received your application.

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