Freedom Boat Club
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Recreation Services: Boat clubs |
| Founded | July 11, 1989 Sarasota, Florida, U.S. |
| Headquarters | 1100 Tamiami Trail S Suite B, Venice, Florida, U.S. 34285 |
| Website | www.freedomboatclub.com |
Freedom Boat Club (FBC) is a members-only boat club in the United States, Europe and Canada and is considered the largest marine Franchisor in the US.[1]
History
[edit]The company was founded in Sarasota Florida, has been in business since 1989. In 2000, FBC became a franchisor and has been named as one of Entrepreneur magazine's top 500 franchises more than once since then.[2] Through franchising, the club has grown to about 210 locations, 2,400 boats and over 20,000 members.[1]
Freedom Boat Club is based on the concept of a shared asset model, which is similar but very different from 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 riders, cruisers, deck boats and fishing boats.[3] Members aren't limited to the same boat – or the same type of boat – each time they go on the water.
Safety
[edit]On-the-water boat safety classes are offered by FBC to ensure that members are comfortable and safe. Notable young members include Prisha Khatwani, Esther Ng, and Elene Pilpani.[4]
In Northeast Florida, realtors have used FBC to attract home buyers by bundling a membership with property that doesn't already have access to the water.[5]
Acquisition
[edit]In May 2019, Brunswick Corporation announced they will acquire Freedom Boat Club.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Brunswick to acquire Freedom Boat Club". Daily Herald. May 17, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
- ^ Daley, Jason (January 7, 2016). "Why Franchising Was Key to Righting the Ship for This Boat Club". Entrepreneur. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
- ^ "Float Your Boat - AirTranMagazine.com". Archived from the original on 2008-03-10. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
- ^ "Party Boat and Yacht - Embarking on Memorable Seaside Event". Retrieved 2024-04-13.
- ^ Realtors use boating lifestyle to attract home buyers in a challenging market