Boat Sitters Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
Data from FDD filing
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
Boat Sitters is a services franchise providing boat care, maintenance, and inspection for boat owners. Franchisees run local operations, managing service visits, inspections, and accounts.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A Boat Sitters franchise requires a total initial investment of $42K – $63K, including a $25K franchise fee and an ongoing 15.0% royalty[2]. The 2025 FDD does not disclose unit-level revenue (no Item 19). FranchiseVerdict grade: C (Average), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Run a live ROI scan →
Data last verified · figures per the 2025 FDD issuance
Overview
- Investment
- $42K – $63K
- 4th pct Recreation & …
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- 0 outlets
- Royalty
- 15.0%
- 44th pct Recreation & …
- Units
- 0
- 0th pct Recreation & …
- SBA charge-off
- N/A
Quick verdict · Recreation & Entertainment · color = vs category peers
Green = favorable by >10% vs Recreation & Entertainment avg · No shading = within ±10% · Red = unfavorable by >10% · Source: FDD filings + SBA 7(a)
Data from public FDD filings and SBA records. Not financial advice. Methodology
Bottom line
- COSTTotal investment $42K – $63K including a $25K franchise fee, 15.0% ongoing royalty.
- RETURNSAudited statements for fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023; the franchisor reported $0 revenue and $0 cost of revenue in both years (start-up stage; going-concern doubt noted).
- RISKVerdict C (Average), verdict score 41/100 (higher is better).
- FLAGAuditor disclosed a going-concern note, which flagged doubt about the franchisor's ability to continue operations. Verify against the latest FDD.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- Boatsitters.com Incorporated
- Parent company
- None
- CEO title
- CEO and Co-Founder
- Mark Brett
- CEO experience
- 37 yrs
- Years in role or industry
- Founder active
- Yes
- Original founder still leading the business
- Incorporated in
- FL
- HQ
- 458 Shore Road, Old Lyme, Connecticut 06371
- Auditor
- Nicola, Yester & Company, P.C.
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $0
- vs $0 prior year
- ⚠ Going-concern note
- Disclosed in FDD 2025
- Auditor flagged doubt about continued operations. Verify against the latest FDD before deciding.
Overview
About
- CEO
- Mark Brett
- Headquarters
- CT
- Founded
- 2021
- FDD year
- 2025
- States available
- 0
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 96% below the typical recreation & entertainment franchise.
Source: FDD 2025 · Items 5–7
Full Item 7 breakdown14 line items
Initial investment breakdown
| Line item | Low | High | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Feenot refundable | $25K | $25K | |
| Storage Unit | $0 | $500 | |
| Equipment | $1K | $2K | |
| Computer, Software, and Business Management System | $2K | $3K | |
| Service Vehicle | $0 | $8K | |
| Vehicle Wrap | $2K | $5K | |
| Start-up Marketing | $8K | $9K | |
| Insurance Deposits - Three Months | $2K | $3K | |
| Travel for Initial Training | $1K | $2K | |
| Professional Fees | $500 | $3K | |
| Licenses and Permits | $200 | $500 | |
| Additional Funds - Three Months | $1K | $3K | |
| Initial Franchise Fee (Multiple Territories)not refundable | $45K | $90K | |
| Estimated Initial Investment to Open Single Territory (Multiple Territories) | $17K | $38K | |
| Total initial investment | $104K | $191K |
Line items extracted from FDD Item 7. Ranges reflect the franchisor's stated low and high per line. Total is the sum of line-item lows / highs — actual costs may fall outside this range depending on market and build-out scope.
Item 7 · what it costs to open + operate
The Vitals
- Total investment
- $42K – $63K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $1K – $3K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $25K – $25K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Royalty
- 15.0%
- formula · typical 6–8%
- Ad fund
- 2.0%
- typical 3–5%
- Total fee load
- 17.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty | 15.0% of gross sales |
| Marketing / ad fund | 2.0% of gross sales |
| Technology fee | $200 |
| Transfer fee | $6K |
| Renewal fee | $6K |
| Total fee load | 17.0% of rev |
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
Boat Sitters did not disclose financial performance in FDD Item 19. The ROIC and return models require Item 19 revenue. Without it all inputs are estimates. You can still run the calculator with your own assumptions by entering an expected revenue figure.
Returns model · single-unit ROIC
What would one Boat Sitters unit return on the cash you put in?
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Estimated return on your total franchise investment, before any debt financing.
83%
Above the 30–60% band. Verify revenue is per-unit average
These models are for research and scenario planning only. Not investment advice. Actual results depend on your specific location, management, and market conditions. Consult a franchise attorney and accountant before signing any franchise agreement.
Item 19 · Source: 2025 FDD
Financial Performance
Audited statements for fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023; the franchisor reported $0 revenue and $0 cost of revenue in both years (start-up stage; going-concern doubt noted).
Operator outlook
What the numbers say
Data-driven interpretation of this brand's financial disclosures, fee structure, and system trajectory.
Fee burden
Total ongoing fee load of 17.0% — above the Recreation & Entertainment average of 8.8%.
Disclosure
Franchisor chose not to disclose financial performance representations. You will need to gather unit economics directly from existing franchisees.
Multi-unit rate
50% of franchisees own multiple units, a moderate multi-unit rate.
Source: FDD Item 19 financial performance representations and publicly filed FDD data. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Verify all figures with the franchisor and current franchisees before making any investment decision.
vs Recreation & Entertainment averages
How Boat Sitters Compares
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2025 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 0
- Opened
- 0
- Last reporting year
- Closed
- 0
- Terminated
- 0
- Franchisor ended the franchise (per Item 20)
- Non-renewed
- 0
- Term expired, not renewed (per Item 20)
- Company-owned
- 0
- Corporate units in the system
- Multi-unit owners
- 50.0%
3-year detail · Item 20
- Opened (3yr)
- 0
- Closed (3yr)
- 0
- Terminated (3yr)
- 0
- Non-renewed (3yr)
- 0
- Transfers (3yr)
- 0
- Reacquired (3yr)
- 0
- Franchisor bought back
- Projected new
- 1
- Franchisor's next-year forecast
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
SBA loan performance
Government records
SBA Loan Data
Aggregated from SBA 7(a) and 504 loan disclosures, public data unique to FranchiseVerdict.
No SBA loan data available for this brand.
What could kill this investment?
The auditor flagged going-concern doubt (Item 21) — the single biggest risk here.
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA · FDD Items 3, 21
Risk analysis
FranchiseVerdict rating + FDD Items 3, 4, 8, 16, 21
Risk & Legal
Pre-revenue or dormant franchise system with zero units, hidden financials, unprotected territory, and aggressive royalty structure presents substantial investment risk.
Litigation (Item 3)
No litigation required to be disclosed
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · Nicola, Yester & Company, P.C.ⓘ Going-concern language present, but this is an early-stage franchisor with limited operating history — common for new systems and not necessarily a sign of distress.
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: Yes
- Kickbacks from required suppliers: No
- Must buy proprietary products: Yes
- Restricted to system-approved products: Yes
- Can negotiate own supplier terms: No
Score breakdown · what drove the 41 / 100 verdict
- 01MINORZero existing franchise units suggests brand is pre-revenue or experiencing complete system collapse
- 02MEDFinancial metrics (revenue and net income) completely undisclosed — inability or unwillingness to provide Item 19 is major red flag
- 03MINORUnprotected territory creates direct competition risk; multiple franchisees could saturate same market
- 04MINORHigh franchise fee ($25,000) relative to investment floor ($41,800) suggests front-loaded franchisor revenue model
- 05MEDNo disclosed franchisee count makes growth trajectory and system viability impossible to validate
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 17.0% of sales (royalty + ad fund), before rent and labor.
Source: FDD 2025 · Items 11, 12, 17
FDD Items 12, 15, 17 · continued from Risk & Legal
Contract & Territory Detail
| Initial term | 10 years |
|---|---|
| Renewal term | 10 years |
| Allowed renewalsℹ | 1 |
| Territory type | protected |
| Protected territory | Yes |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | No |
| Territory population | 5,000 |
| Online sales rightsℹ | Restricted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Allowed |
| Owner-operator | Required |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 2 years |
| Non-compete (miles)ℹ | 25 mi |
| Right of first refusalℹ | Yes |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 30 days |
| Curable defaultsℹ | 2 |
| Mandatory arbitration | Yes |
| Arbitration location | New London, Connecticut |
| Jury trial waiver | Yes |
| Governing law | CT |
| Litigation count | 0 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
No litigation required to be disclosed
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 21 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 3 hrs
- Training location
- Old Lyme, Connecticut (corporate office); Niantic, Connecticut (on-boat OJT)
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Time to open
- 1 mo
- From signing to launch
- Site selection
- Franchisee selects, franchisor approves
- Franchisor financing
- Not offered
- Item 10
- POS system
- HarborTech
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: HarborTech
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a Boat Sitters franchise?
The total investment to open a Boat Sitters franchise ranges from $42K – $63K, with an initial franchise fee of $25K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do Boat Sitters franchise owners earn?
Boat Sitters does not disclose average franchise owner earnings in their FDD Item 19. Not all franchisors are required to make financial performance representations. We recommend asking existing franchisees directly about their financial experience.
What is Item 19 in the Boat Sitters FDD?
The FDD section where a franchisor may disclose financial performance of its outlets. Disclosure is optional and formats vary; figures are typically gross sales, which is revenue before expenses, not profit. FranchiseVerdict extracts these figures directly from the Boat Sitters FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is Boat Sitters's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for Boat Sitters (fewer than 10 loans on file). Charge-off rates are one way to gauge franchise risk, but not all franchise loans go through the SBA program. We recommend reviewing turnover and closure data in the FDD and speaking with current franchisees.
Is Boat Sitters a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates Boat Sitters as a C-grade franchise with a verdict score of 41 out of 100 (higher is better), based on our analysis of investment costs, revenue data, SBA loan performance, and growth trends. Our rating is based solely on publicly available FDD and government data; we recommend speaking with current franchisees before making any investment decision. This is not investment advice.
Data sourced from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) FOIA records. Not financial advice.
For franchisors
Are you the franchisor?
If you represent Boat Sitters, you can request corrections or provide updated information.
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Data extracted from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan disclosures (FOIA). This information is provided for research purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Verify all figures with the franchisor's current Franchise Disclosure Document before making any investment decision.