Freedom Boat Club
Encyclopedia
Freedom Boat Club is a members-only boat club
with 60 locations spanning from the Southern tip of Florida
up to Catawba Island, OH. The company started in Sarasota, Florida
and has been in business since 1989.
Through franchising, the club has grown to 60+ locations and roughly 6,000 members. The company was named as one of Entrepreneur magazine
’s top 500 franchises in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009
Freedom Boat Club is based on the concept of a shared asset model, which is similar to fractional ownership
. Buying a membership gains access to a fleet of boats that are shared among the members of the club. The fleet consists of a variety of boats such as bow rider
s, cruisers, deck boats and fishing boats. Members aren’t limited to the same boat – or the same type of boat – each time they go on the water.
On-the-water boat safety classes are offered by Freedom Boat Club to ensure that members are comfortable and safe.
In Northeast Florida, realtors have used Freedom Boat Club to attract home buyers by bundling a membership with property that doesn't already have access to the water.
Boat club
A boat club is a sports club based around boats, especially rowing and yachting, but also canoeing, motor boats and other small boats....
with 60 locations spanning from the Southern tip of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
up to Catawba Island, OH. The company started in Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
and has been in business since 1989.
Through franchising, the club has grown to 60+ locations and roughly 6,000 members. The company was named as one of Entrepreneur magazine
Entrepreneur Magazine
Entrepreneur is a publication that carries news stories about entrepreneurialism, small business management, and business opportunities. It is published by Entrepreneur Media Inc., headquartered in Irvine, California....
’s top 500 franchises in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009
Fractional Ownership
In business, fractional ownership is a percentage share of an expensive asset. Shares are sold to individual owners. A fractional owner enjoys priorities and privileges, such as reduced rates, priority access on holidays and income sharing. Typically, a company manages the asset on behalf of the...
. Buying a membership gains access to a fleet of boats that are shared among the members of the club. The fleet consists of a variety of boats such as bow rider
Bow Rider
A bow rider is a kind of runabout boat typically between 17' and 30', use stern drive or outboard engines, and hold between six and ten people. To distinguish it from a cuddy boat, it has an open bow area where there are extra seats in front of the helm station...
s, cruisers, deck boats and fishing boats. Members aren’t limited to the same boat – or the same type of boat – each time they go on the water.
On-the-water boat safety classes are offered by Freedom Boat Club to ensure that members are comfortable and safe.
In Northeast Florida, realtors have used Freedom Boat Club to attract home buyers by bundling a membership with property that doesn't already have access to the water.