Questions?
OUR MOST COMMON CUSTOMER QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED RIGHT HERE. Not finding what you want? Reach out directly through our CONTACT page.
Frequently Asked Questions
That depends on how much time you have to dedicate to the course and how knowledgeable you are about the products and terminology, however we estimate that it will take someone about a month of part time studying to complete this course or approximately 60 hours of study time.
Payments are processed through Stripe and you can pay by Visa or Mastercard. You will then have instant access to the course material. We also accept checks made out to YBI LLC, however you will not have access to the site until after the check clears our bank.
Yes, subject to the terms and conditions of use, if you are not satisfied with the course or course material, send us a written notification within the first 7 days of enrollment and your course fee will be refunded (less processing fees).
No, this comprehensive course is designed to give everyone, regardless of their locale, the foundation for them to be able to get started and grow in the yacht brokerage field. We have had students from as far away as Singapore, France and Costa Rica who have taken the course and received their Certificate of Achievement in the “Fundamentals and Essentials of Yacht Brokerage”.
While we cannot guarantee anyone a job, we do have yacht brokerage companies who are always on the lookout for ethical and properly trained professionals. Remember the same barrier for individuals looking to get into the yacht brokerage is the same one experienced by companies looking for new people to join their team – there is no formal training course!
Yes, we are very hands on and are available via e-mail or telephone after the first contact. We welcome questions and suggestions and encourage feedback.
Most yacht brokers, similar to real estate agents, are commission only sales; however, there are some companies and new boat manufacturers that pay a salary or a draw with a smaller commission schedule.
In most States, after you have completed this course you will have the foundation to start as a yacht broker immediately.
Yes, (if you are selling brokerage vessels over 32′ in length) and you have to be bonded as well. This course contains all of the information needed for you to be able to get your bond and license.
Florida Law requires that a newly licensed salesperson work under a FL licensed yacht broker for 2 years before they can apply for a Broker’s license.
Almost all States require an Occupation License, but this is different from a Yacht Brokerage license. To our knowledge the State of Florida, Virginia and California are currently the only States that require specific licenses to ply Yacht Brokerage. At the time of this writing California is the only state that requires individuals to take a test prior to issuing a license. However, always check with the laws in state or country where you intend to do business – as laws are constantly changing.
Actually, technically you don’t work for someone else, similar to real estate you are an “independent contractor” and as such you set your own hours, schedule and method of working. While we feel it would be advisable to work under an experienced Broker while you cut your teeth on listing and selling some boats, you are not obligated to do so in most States.
Ah, how long is a piece of string? Like most industries the 20/80 rule applies in yacht brokerage, 20% of the brokers make 80% of the money. It will depend on where you are in the country/world, length of selling season, value of boats typically sold, number of yachts sold. Obviously if you are selling a $10,000,000 yacht where a commission may be as high as $300,000 for the individual salesman, it’s easy to earn some very good money. Brokers who are top of their game earn millions of dollars a year. The sky is truly the limit!
We have had dozens of students through the course, the testimonials you read on the Home page are actual quotes from students who have taken the course and yacht brokerage owners who have hired them! Over 75% of students who have successfully completed the course have jobs at a yacht brokerage company! We also have companies that ask us for referrals of new students who have completed the course.
Hear what Brokerage Firm Principals have to say.
Carmine Galati CPYB
The Yacht Brokers Institute is a very informative and helpful step to a successful career in yacht sales. We at our company see this as a hiring prerequisite.
Curtis Stokes CPYB
Everyone has been very complimentary about the course. It is really helping me ramp up new salespeople starting with us. It gives them a basic understanding to start with and more confidence starting out.
I thoroughly enjoyed the course and value the technical information I have learned. The F&E of Yacht Brokerage is a course that out of the classroom covers a lot of ground and makes clear situations that could be pretty tricky. I was able to close my first brokerage deal in the first three months.
One of the largest obstacles to getting a job at an established yacht brokerage is the knowledge base needed to be able to hit the ground running so that you understand the process, legal responsibilities and pitfalls without being a liability to the company.
The course was awesome! I really learned a ton of new information. I went into the program thinking this will be a breeze (being a 30 year boater)- boy was i wrong! The course and tests really prep you for things that will come up during sales negotiations and client interactions – I highly recommend this course to anyone thinking about a role as a yacht broker!
We have all heard that if you want to be happy in your work, do something you love. For the first 28 years of my adult life, I wasn’t doing this. With the help of the YBI, I now feel that I have a good solid base to start enjoying an exciting career in the yacht brokerage industry. Thank you Rae and your team for putting together this comprehensive course.
I recommend the F&E course. The course material has a seamless way of communicating the information clearly for beginners while also diving into detail that only Brokerage Professionals would know. The course holds high credibility within the field and an asset to anyone seeking employment within the Yacht Brokerage Field.