How do I check a boat dealership’s winterizing and shrink-wrapping workload?

Winterizing and shrink-wrapping arrive in a rush, so look at how the dealership handles the peak. Request the job list, the dates and the invoices. Count how many boats were done per week and compare with the number of people on the crew. If work ran late or boats were turned away, there is capacity you can improve, or a limit you should know about.

Ask how customers book. Is there a standing annual arrangement, a call-in list or a stored database? Repeat customers are the real asset here, so find out how many come back each year and whether the lot keeps their boat details and past work. A booking list that lives in the owner’s notebook is easy to lose at handover.

Check the supplies and equipment. Shrink wrap, heat guns, antifreeze and fittings are bought in bulk before the season, so ask what is on the shelf and what the dealership usually orders. Find out whether temporary staff are used and how they are trained. Your accountant can compare the seasonal income with its costs, and you can ask when the owner would hand over bookings for the coming fall. Also ask how weather delays are handled, since a late cold snap can push many jobs into a few days.

Key takeaways

• Review last fall’s job list against crew size and supplies used.
• Find out how much work comes from repeat customers and where their records live.
• Ask how seasonal staff are found and trained.