Marina
Boat slips behave a lot like waterfront self-storage
Marinas rent boat slips, dry storage, winterization services, fuel, repairs, and convenience items to boat owners. The surprising angle is how sticky slip revenue can be in constrained waterfront markets: once a customer has a desirable slip and nearby storage, they often stay for years and buy multiple ancillary services from the same operator.
Avg Revenue
$1.4M
Profit Margin
26%
Acquisition Multiple
3.5x - 6.5x
Startup Cost
$500K - $10.0M
Difficulty
5/5
How It Works
Revenue starts with seasonal or annual slip rentals, then expands through dry storage, haul-outs, winterization, repairs, fuel docks, retail, and boat club memberships. Good marinas optimize occupancy, waitlists, service revenue per boat, and waterfront real estate use. Scarce permits and waterfront access create moats that are hard to duplicate.
Revenue Range
Real Acquisitions in This Category
SBA 7(a) change-of-ownership loans · NAICS 713930 · Marinas
Deal Size Distribution
Deal Flow Over Time
Financing Profile
Recent Comparable Deals
| Closed | State | Loan | Implied deal | Jobs | Franchise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2025 | OK | $2.0M | $2.4M | 9 | — |
| Jan 2025 | NY | $450K | $529K | 4 | — |
| Dec 2024 | OH | $466K | $549K | 11 | — |
| Apr 2023 | NC | $3.0M | $3.5M | 6 | — |
| Jul 2022 | WA | $982K | $1.2M | 23 | — |
| May 2022 | TN | $3.6M | $4.3M | 26 | — |
| May 2022 | MO | $4.8M | $5.7M | 23 | — |
| Sep 2021 | VA | $2.6M | $3.0M | 20 | — |
| Jun 2021 | OR | $3.5M | $4.2M | 2 | — |
| Jun 2021 | OR | $200K | $235K | 2 | — |
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA dataset, filtered to acquisitions (loans where business age is "Change of Ownership"). Implied deal size assumes an 85% loan-to-purchase ratio, a common SBA change-of-ownership structure. Charge-off rate shown only when 10+ loans have resolved (paid in full or charged off). Interest rates reflect last 24 months only. Actual deal values vary with equity injections, seller financing, and working capital terms.
Pros
- +Scarce waterfront supply creates real pricing power in strong markets
- +Multiple ancillary revenue streams per customer
- +Customers can stay for years once they secure a good slip
- +Real estate and operating business upside in one asset
Cons
- -Extremely capital intensive to acquire or develop
- -Weather, seasonality, and storm exposure affect results
- -Environmental compliance and insurance can be painful
Best For
Investors who want an asset-heavy business with real estate scarcity, ancillary services, and long-duration customer relationships
Operating Costs
Major costs include dock maintenance, dredging, fuel systems, payroll, insurance, utilities, environmental compliance, and debt service. Margins improve with high occupancy, waitlists, service work, and dry storage expansion.
SBA Financing Estimator
Adjust the deal — see if it cash flows after debt service
Estimates only. Excludes owner compensation, capex, working capital draws, and taxes. Margin assumes average occupancy and volume. Actual SBA terms vary by lender and borrower profile.
Where to Buy
Industry page showing the US marina market reached about $7.2B in 2026 across 3,408 businesses
Industry marketplace with marina assets, equipment, and waterfront opportunities
Marketplace search for marinas, boat yards, and storage-focused waterfront businesses
Acquisition Score
Scores margin (30), entry multiple (25), SBA market depth (20), category risk (15), and deal momentum (10). Higher = better acquisition candidate.
Quick Facts
- Category
- physical
- Difficulty
- 5/5
- Buy price
- $4.9M–$9.1M
Buyer's Toolkit
Essential tools to get started
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Ready to Buy? Start Here →
Largest business-for-sale marketplace in the US
SBA loans and business acquisition financing — get funded fast
ROBS financing — use retirement funds to buy a business tax-free
Bookkeeping for small business owners — hands-off financials
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