Real Estate-Backed & Location Businesses · Buyer guide
Buying a Marina business
Published · Reviewed by The Diligence Standard Team · Updated
a Marina can look attractive on a summary P&L while the operating details underneath it change the cash flow, transferability and capital a buyer will actually own. Diligence should connect the reported earnings to the business-specific drivers that create them.
How the business works
Slip occupancy, storage, fuel/service ancillary revenue, waterfront rights and infrastructure condition drive value.
Risks to test
- Dock/seawall CapEx
- Environmental exposure
- Storm risk
- Waterfront lease/rights
- Seasonality
- Insurance
Evidence to request and reconcile
- Slip/customer roster
- Occupancy/rates
- Property/lease rights
- Environmental records
- CapEx/inspection
- Insurance/loss runs
Decision questions
- What dock/seawall work is coming?
- Are waterfront rights secure?
- What environmental obligations exist?
- How seasonal is occupancy?
- What storm/insurance exposure exists?