Beware of any Yacht Brokerage that wants you to invest money in the company before you start!

I am surprised with your statement. Approximately 6 years ago I joined a company that taught me how to broker boats. I paid $8,000 for the training and the business startup support. It was something I consider the best spent money in my life. Several other benifits came my way as well. I was independent, I could do what I wanted, I did not have to involve myself with the petty things in an office, all I did was help people and make money.
Mr Troyer, are you aware that over 23 brokers on the eastern seaboard have a fee of some sort to join their organization? Some fees are upwards to $32,000. One of the reasons they claim is to insure the peerson is serious, and will work hard for the company. When I paid $8,000 and I compaired the training I received and what the otherr companies give, I was fortunate.
Are you also aware that Real Estete Agents over all pay more than I do to operate my business. How about the monies paid by financial brokers, stock brokers, mortgage brokers? They paid, over the 6 years I have been in business approximently 3 times more than me. You seem bitter. Or maybe you were unable to make it alone. All I want to say is I had a great experience. By the way, with the training I have received, the support I am given I have earned a very comfortable living. Good luck to you

Hello Andrew,
Can you point me in the right direction for the $500 training kit on the web?
you're obviously much better than me at searching :>)
thanks S.

I've been looking for yacht sales training, would like to set up but need some more information. Any help any where to go for this with out signing my life away and ending up as an office for someone else who want 30% cut on everything sold.
Any help would be great.

1 you need to give none of your money away to get in this business

2 if you need to be trained then you would not be a broker I'd want to work with

3 a new broker should have prior maritime experience ie, captain, mate, a little engineering, and a lot of knowledge on all types of vessels from sailing to motor.

4 the only training you should need going in fresh is a little help with listing's, contracts, and sales procedures which can vary.

I've been in this industry 15 years and never once had a new broker pay his way into my business. Just another way for a starving broker to make a buck.

Z Yachts and World Maritime are hardly starving companies.
The companies that charge for training are primarily geared for new brokers coming into the industry. The brokers who are in those companies and are doing fine, (relative to the times) and they all say the training was worth it. Even YBAA charges for prep and certification. Real estate charges for training . You pay to become a Capt. you pay to become Yacht Crew, There is a price for education. And there are a few companies that charge a minor fee for indoctrination. When you think about it a person who will invest in themselves will try harder. A sign of the times.

Sure RobM. Companies like World Maritime's entire buisness is getting fools to pay them money! Ever look at the web site? Most of the boats have been off the market for years and they never seem to sell anything! The money made is from new brokers paying the fees. Guys that dont have a chance in yacht sales being sold on the dream of being a broker! And yes the YBAA charges for Prep and Certification, and McDonalds charges for a burger, whats your point. Good brokerages dont charge for training. You work to help producers and keep them not charge them. Sign of the times? LOL Happy to train you for your $5k! Shoot, you can fly in and Ill even let you buy my dinner.

RobM in Stamford, Connecticut said: Z Yachts and World Maritime are hardly starving companies.
The companies that charge for training are primarily geared for new brokers coming into the industry. The brokers who are in those companies and are doing fine, (relative to the times) and they all say the training was worth it. Even YBAA charges for prep and certification. Real estate charges for training . You pay to become a Capt. you pay to become Yacht Crew, There is a price for education. And there are a few companies that charge a minor fee for indoctrination. When you think about it a person who will invest in themselves will try harder. A sign of the times.

Training for what? Luck? all the industry is... is luck. I get a central listing and it sells I make money. My luck is if I can match a seller to a buyer and I can negotiate a commission for this. I train my new brokers in listing agreements, contracts etc... I count on them to come in with knowledge on surveying, some engineering, skills to operate a vessel for a sea trial etc... I am broker of boats therefore should have a few years experience working on boats. Sea going vessel's are nothing like homes. Also selling a house has a lot more legalistic ave you have to take. If one of my new brokers matches a seller and buyer I walk them through the steps to complete the sell and take part of their commission. Nothing I could teach is worth 5,000 bucks. Most new brokers do not make it. So why hurt them more financially than they are going to hurt their selves for trying. It takes time and money to work your way in and If you can afford 5 k to get trained and months to live until you make a sell. Then you my friend are a lucky man. I saved up for 12 years 4 USCG 8 years working on motor and sailing yachts from engineer to captain until I left that to open a brokerage firm. It took me over 1 year to make my first sell on a 30k boat at %6 commission. Then I "got lucky".