Start Your Own SailTime Business
SailTime Franchise Opportunity
Message from Jonathan Duffy, Managing Director, SailTime Europe:
Hello, I'm Jonathan Duffy, Managing Director of SailTime Europe. I'd like to thank you for your interest in the SailTime Franchise opportunity.
After spending my former career working in senior marketing roles in Fortune 500 companies, I decided to embark upon a career change and discovered SailTime in 2003. SailTime had been established in the USA in 2001, but didn't exist outside North America at that time. Following an initial period of research, driven by a desire to start a sailing business, I founded SailTime Europe in 2004 with the first base located in Hamble, UK. The business grew very quickly and was sold to our first European franchisee in 2005. SailTime Europe has since expanded to a network of 15 bases and we are continuing to grow each year. We are part of a network of over 60 bases in the global SailTime network.
SailTime presents an exciting new way for people to enjoy sailing at an affordable cost - and being part of the SailTime team, you will not only be involved in a business that you are passionate about, but get to experience the satisfaction of your members having a great time too!
SailTiime has answered a need in the sailing industry to provide affordable, accessible sailing. Our ever growing number of members, our expanding fleet and ever increasing number of bases worldwide underlines the value SailTime presents and provides testament to a sound business idea.
We are seeking to expand our network even further in Europe and are seeking individuals who are passionate about sailing, but have the drive and commitment to manage your own business to the highest possible standards.
If you are looking for a new challenge, want to operate your own sailing business, are prepared to work hard to reap the rewards - and have fun! - SailTime could be the answer.
If you think the SailTime franchise opportunity may be the right challenge for you, and you have the right skills, outlook and personality for SailTime, please read-on. If you'd like to submit a formal application, please complete our confidential information request and submit it to the fax number indicated to enable us to provide you with more detailed information. Click here to research locations.
We look forward to hearing from you soon
Kind regards
Jonathan Duffy
Managing Director
SailTime Europe
A business for you
With SailTime your dream to combine your passions of sailing, being on the water and utilising your strong business background is now within reach. SailTime presents the most exciting business opportunity in the sailing industry in recent times. As a SailTime base owner you will enjoy a challenging yet rewarding lifestyle.
If you can answer yes to the following questions then consider yourself a candidate to become a SailTime base owner.
- Do you have a vision for building a successful sailing business in your local area and waterway?
- Do you have a passion for sailing and the lifestyle that goes with it?
- Do you have the entrepreneurial talents and sales and marketing skills that is required to build a successful business from the ground up?
- Do you have the time and/or flexibility in your schedule to be able to focus your energies where they are necessary to start a successful business?, especially in the start up phase?
- Do you have access to start-up capital for operational and marketing budgets to start a new business?
- Do you have sufficient credit to finance your business’ first boat?
We have made the process of starting a SailTime business as straight forward and easy as possible. We provide you with everything you will need to get started. We work with each our new base candidates in person, on the phone and collaborative via on-line tools.
SailTime takes care of most of the logistics so you spend your time marketing your business and building your member base. You don’t need an office or large staff, a SailTime business can be run from your home office and can grow and flourish from there.
SailTime does not provide a short-term, fast cash business. SailTime is a business opportunity that requires hard work and investment, but allows you to be your own boss and provides the opportunity to experience a rewarding career in a sport where you are clearly passionate about. Our programme is for serious business professionals that want to build a business and have fun doing it.
Successful SailTime base owners are committed to providing the most professional service possible to our members. They are friendly, neighbourhood based, business-oriented people with a desire to serve the local boating public.
Our SailTime base owners have a commitment to customer service and excellence that is second to none in the boating industry. Our commitment to the boating industry is to be the Starbucks of sailing and we are well on our way to achieving this lofty goal. Do you want to join our team?
Most businesses require a huge capital investment. With SailTime, you can develop your fleet using the owner -member Programme. Under our owner-member programme, owner-member's buy the boats. You as the base manager will then lease it from them and simply sell memberships onto each boat. You’ll still need to provide initial capital to buy your first boat in the fleet, but you can easily build a large fleet without ongoing major capital investment.
The SailTime business model is rare since it does not require long term leases of office space, labour investments, large inventory or equipment expenses. Talk to one of our SailTime experts and find out how SailTime is a winning proposition for all involved.
Please take the time to thoroughly review this website, it provides a wealth of information about our programmes and how the business works.
Once you are familiar with our business, take some time to decide if this is something you want to pursue. If it is please fill out our Information Request Form.
Franchise training and support
SailTime provides a proven and structured approach to ongoing development of the business based upon several years of experience. We bring many benefits to an entrepreneur ready to pursue this opportunity.
SailTime Sail
SailTime Power
Below is a list of just some of the benefits we provide to you.
- Brand awareness and recognition that leads the industry and is now world renowned.
- International presence and a broad network of bases that even your membership can leverage to enjoy sailing all over the world - creating a high barrier to entry for competitors and also offers a product no one can match.
- Pioneering and proven business model
- Access to a network of like minded business people running their own SailTime business
- National, regional and local support
- Proprietary technology and Intellectual Property: Scheduling software and Ettendant
- Comprehensive base owner training programme
- A significant path of growth that includes new and exciting product offerings
- Professional website
- A secure portal that you use to operate your fleet, maintenance, members, owners, etc. All the tools you will need to manage your business are built in to our support and backend software
- Professional print and web marketing materials
- A proven, exhaustive and simple to follow marketing plan that works
- Partnerships with major manufacturers and other industry leaders
- Start-up and operational support
- All legal agreements
- Member manuals
- Promotional materials
- Insurance programmes with leading Insurers
- Financing programme with leading banks
- Experienced Management Team
SailTime Franchise Opportunities
From its inception, the SailTime concept was designed to be a great business to own.
As a SailTime franchise owner, you’ll enjoy a number of advantages, including:
A truly unique approach to the fractional sailing business
When you become a SailTime franchise owner, you are joining the team that pioneered membership-based fractional boating products. SailTime is committed to maintaining its position as the innovative leader in this industry in the marine marketplace.
Attractive membership pricing structure
Providing attractive membership pricing in exchange for an ongoing monthly membership fee is one of the key innovations of the SailTime concept.
The membership fee and automatic payment structure is designed to encourage ongoing member participation and provides a steadier, more predictable sales cycle and to reduce administration and billing time.
Comprehensive marketing programmes
SailTime and its individual locations deploy energetic marketing programmes designed to attract first-time and experienced customers, to establish a strong referral network and to encourage high client usage and retention. Tactics include, website, search engine optimisation, pay per click advertising, e-mail marketing, direct mail, print, public relations, phone directories, referral programmes, boat shows and open house campaigns.
Fully computerised operations
While sailing and boating may be an ancient skill, our back end and support system is state-of-the-art. SailTime customised management software helps coordinate all aspects of the business, from fleet operations, member scheduling to membership and sales tracking to financial management and reporting.
Multiple revenue opportunities
In addition to potential membership and core service fees, SailTime has created and continues to develop new and improved products that maximise sales through additional potential revenue streams. Please check our web site for new products and updates as they are constantly under development and added to our business model to improve revenue opportunities.
Our technology leads the way
Over the past number of years, SailTime has made continuous and substantial investment in scheduling and monitoring software. This software is the key to your success and makes it simple for you to run the business and effortless for members to gain access to their boat. Three major tools combine to create the unique SailTime experience:
The SailTime Scheduler
- Enables members to schedule their sail times on-line and in real-time without your intervention or need for review. They can swap schedules amongst themselves, create wait lists and confirm or cancel their reservations simply by logging-on to our internet portal.
- Is programmed to ensure that all members receive a fair share of the available weekdays, week evenings, and weekends including public holidays.
The system sends reminders and notifications automatically via email. Beyond an initial member training, you don’t need to be involved in this day to day administration task. It's all managed for you.
The SailTime E-ttendant
- Onboard each boat there is an on-line real-time check-on, check-off system based upon a hand held PDA device.
- When the member boards and leaves the boat they check predetermined important items on the boat with the PDA.
- If an item is not in place, not clean or needs attention they simply tick the appropriate box. The previous Member to use the boat is instantly sent an automatic email describing the discrepancy and, if attention is required, an email is generated to you. Using this system, members are electronically helping to keep the boat in perfect condition and therefore you only visit the boat when you must.
Based upon the information from the E-ttendant, you are kept informed of your boat's condition at any given time and can act upon anything that is brought to your attention. For example, if the fuel level is below half, the member checking in or out will check the appropriate box. You are automatically sent an email prompting appropriate action.
The SailTime base owner's portal
In addition to the great tools provided to your members, the SailTime Base Owner's portal provides a vast amount of information, interactive discussion forums with other base owners, comprehensive marketing tools and an ongoing list of new developments to help support your SailTime business.
