What we charge
A flat fee. Nothing to game.
You get our fee in writing before we do any work. It does not rise with the price of the boat or with the size of the discount, and we take nothing from dealers, lenders or surveyors.
Run the numbers
The "percentage of savings" shell game
Some brokers bill a share of what they "save" you off the sticker. Pad the sticker and the savings grow, while the price you pay stays exactly where it was. Drag the sliders and watch who benefits.
Illustration only. The numbers are yours to change and are not quotes or results from real deals.
- Sticker price on the listing
- $90,000
- "Savings" the percentage broker reports
- $10,000
- What you pay for the boat, either way
- $80,000
Climbs with every dollar of padding, on the very same boat at the very same price.
Quoted in writing before we start. It does not move when the sticker does.
A $10,000 padded sticker hands a 25% broker $2,500 for a discount that was never real.
Why flat
We wanted one incentive: your lowest total
How someone is paid tells you what they will do when nobody is watching. A dealer is paid on margin, add-ons and sometimes on your interest rate. A percentage broker is paid on the gap between a sticker and a sale price, which means a fat sticker is good news for them. We did not want either of those pulling on our advice.
So the fee is flat. Once it is agreed, there is only one way left for us to do well: get you a deal good enough that you tell other people about it.
How the fee is set
Your fee depends on the class of boat and the work involved. A personal watercraft from a local dealer is a smaller job than a used cruiser several states away that needs a haul-out, a survey and documentation checks. You will see the amount, and when it is due, in writing before we start. If it does not make sense against the size of your purchase, we will tell you that too.
What the buyer's fee covers
- A fit review, so you shop for the right boat in the first place
- Sourcing across dealers and private sellers
- A target price and a walk-away price built from comparable boats
- All negotiation with the seller, front end and back end
- A line-by-line read of the purchase agreement and loan terms
- Help arranging an independent survey and sea trial, and turning the findings into a better price or an exit
The full process is on the buyer's agent page. Surveyors, haul-out yards, transport companies and your state's tax and registration office bill you directly for their own work. We add nothing on top.
Selling works differently
When we broker the sale of your boat, we are paid a success-based fee when it sells. Nothing sells, nothing is owed. The terms are in the listing agreement you sign before we begin.
| Flat fee (WB Brokers) | Percentage of savings | Dealer's salesperson | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid by | You | You | The dealership |
| Earns more when | Never. The fee is fixed. | The starting sticker is higher | You pay more, add products or take their financing |
| You know the cost | Before work starts, in writing | After the deal, once "savings" are calculated | You never see it |
| Reason to say "do not buy this one" | Every reason. It costs us nothing. | Weak. No deal, no fee. | None |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Questions
Pricing, answered straight
Why is the fee not listed on this page?
Is the deal check really free?
Yes. The deal check costs nothing. You only pay if you then hire us to negotiate.
What if I hire you and do not end up buying?
Your engagement letter spells out exactly what is owed in that case before you sign it. Read that part first. We would like you to.
Is a buyer's agent worth it on a less expensive boat?
Sometimes not, and we will say so. On a small purchase, the free deal check and our fee guide may be all you need.
See your number
Ask for the fee. Then decide.
Tell us what you are shopping for and we will quote the flat fee in writing. No work starts, and nothing is owed, until you say go.