How to Start a Parasailing Business

Business Overview:

If you live near a resort community and love the water, learning how to start a parasailing business is a fun way to turn your hobby into a moneymaking business. Parasailing is a water activity in which an individual or couple is attached to a parachute which is then attached to a boat. The boat drives around and the parasailer gets a beautiful view from high above the water. If you already own a boat, you are well on your way to starting your parasailing business. Research the best types of parasailing equipment including the chute, harness, ropes, etc. by talking to other parasailing business owners. If no one in your area is interested in helping you for fear that you’ll take some of their business away, consider contacting parasailing businesses in other areas that you are not in direct competition with. A third crucial element to your business is insurance. If you and your crew are properly trained and your equipment is of high quality, parasailing is a safe activity; however, you do need to be financially covered in case of an accident. Next you’ll need to market your business. Print up flyers and distribute them to local restaurants, resorts and hotels. Consider offering a discount coupon on the flyer to attract your first customers. Since your target market likely does not live in your area and will only be in your area on vacation, it’s a good idea to set up a website with beautiful pictures of your boat and someone parasailing. List your prices and contact information. Often tourists will book activities like this before they travel so you need to have a good way of keeping track of appointments. You can run this business part-time if you wish and only take appointments or you can set up your boat and equipment near the beach (or at the dock if you work on a lake) during certain hours and take walk-up customers. Either way, this is one of the more exciting business ideas available to a water-loving entrepreneur.

A Day in the Life of a Parasailing Business Owner:

Your day will begin by checking any appointments you may have. You will set up your boat in your designated spot and meet your appointments or take walk-up customers. You will spend your day working with customers and driving the boat. If you have a crew that handles the parasailing duties for you, you will spend your day taking appointments and marketing your business.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will typically be tourists looking for an exciting adventure.

What You Need to Start:

• Boat
• Parasailing equipment
• Extensive knowledge of parasailing safety
• Crew (You can operate this business solo but having another person to help is a good idea for safety reasons.)
• Business license
• Insurance
• Marketing materials
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• If you live near a resort community, parasailing is a very popular activity.
• Once you make the initial investment, the overhead is very low and your profit margin is very high.
• This is a fun business.
• You get to work with many different and interesting people
• You get to be on the water all day doing what you love.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment can be high.
• Depending on your tourist season, this business may be very slow at certain times of the year.

Resources:

• Parasail Safety Council
• Professional Parasailing Association Europe
• Bureau of Labor Statistics Article on Turing Your Hobby into a Career
• Wikipedia on Parasailing

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