A parasailing business offers adventurous individuals the opportunity to experience sun, sea, and sand in an exciting and visually interesting way. Parasailing gives customers the freedom of flight and the exhilaration of skydiving in an accessible medium.
Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.
Tailor Brands ($0 + State Fees)
Start a parasailing business by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Parasailing Business
- Form your Parasailing Business into a Legal Entity
- Register your Parasailing Business for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Parasailing Business
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Parasailing Business
- Get Parasailing Business Insurance
- Define your Parasailing Business Brand
- Create your Parasailing Business Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your parasailing business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
STEP 1: Plan your business
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
- What will you name your business?
- What are the startup and ongoing costs?
- Who is your target market?
- How much can you charge customers?
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
What will you name your business?
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Parasailing Business Name Generator
If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:
- Your state’s business records
- Federal and state trademark records
- Social media platforms
- Web domain availability
It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
What are the costs involved in opening a parasailing business?
A startup for this type of business can be fairly pricey as you will need a powerful boat, outfitted with a parasailing base and winch, at least one parasail, tethering rope, and single and double harnesses for your riders. You will also need insurance for the business and your customers riding the parasail.
What are the ongoing expenses for a parasailing business?
Boat and equipment maintenance will be some of your biggest costs. Replacing the tow rope is essential for proper safety and should probably be replaced each year. Fuel for the boat(s) will also add up, over time. Also, rent and utilities for your shop and wet and dry storage of the boat(s) will add to your overall annual bills.
Who is the target market?
Your target market for a parasailing business will be tourists and visitors to your beach, lake, river, etc. Focus on safe excitement for individuals, families, and couples. Tandem harnesses are often quite popular, as two participants are likely to influence each other into joining the adventure.
How does a parasailing business make money?
Parasailing businesses make their money through customers, either from booked reservations or walk-ins looking for excitement on the spur of the moment.
How much can you charge customers?
Assuming you have chosen a location with minimal competition and a steady flow of customers, your business can be quite profitable. As mentioned previously, there will be a sizable start-up cost for equipment, brick and mortar location, and a boat or two. Once these costs are covered, your earning potential should remain consistent and in the black. An average 10 minute parasail ride will cost about $30. You will realistically see 25-40 customers per day, if not more in the summer months and holidays.
How much profit can a parasailing business make?
Your profits will fluctuate some, depending on if you’re in season or not. A successful parasail business could see profits in the range of $150,000-250,000, annually.
How can you make your business more profitable?
Since many of your customers will be enjoying parasailing for the first time, they may want to capture the experience for posterity and the memories. Consider adding a photography or videography package to go along with the parasail ride. Attaching a GoPro camera to the harness will help capture the experience for your customers. Also, a photographer at the beginning or end of the trip will give customers a chance to have an excellent memory, encapsulated through quality digital photographs. These additions are surprisingly inexpensive, yet become big attractions for your customers and extra revenue for you.
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
STEP 2: Form a legal entity
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your parasailing business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.
This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.
In practice, this means that if your parasailing business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.
Ready to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Reality?
Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
STEP 3: Register for taxes
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Open a business bank account
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
- Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Get a business credit card
Getting a business credit card helps you:
- Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business’ expenses all in one place.
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
STEP 5: Set up business accounting
Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.
Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.
STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
State & Local Business Licensing Requirements
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a parasailing business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
Certificate of Occupancy
A parasailing business is generally run out of an office and place to store your boat. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.
- If you plan to lease a location:
- It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
- Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a parasailing business.
- After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
- If you plan to purchase or build a location:
- You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
- Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your parasailing business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.
Liability Waivers
To avoid liability and potential lawsuits, parasailing businesses should have their clients sign waivers.
An example of an appropriate waiver can be found here.
STEP 7: Get business insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Find out what types of insurance your Parasailing Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Parasailing Business.
STEP 8: Define your brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
How to promote & market a parasailing business
Since your business will likely be close to the body of water you’ll take your clients out on, your business can benefit from visible signage, such as billboards, a store sign or marquee, or even painted window signs. Customers often make decisions, based on the ease of access to the business and proper signage makes that search easier.
You should also network with other local businesses and the chamber of commerce to create business relationships, partnerships, and opportunities to increase the overall customer vitality of your area. Being involved with the decisions of your local entrepreneurs and business community are critical for the long term health of your business.
And, as mentioned above, take advantage of as many social media and internet-based advertising opportunities. You will be able to expand your coverage through linking to other businesses in your area, as well as travel and vacation sites. Remember, your number one goal is to create a reputation for safety, professionalism, and fun. Showing pictures and customer responses on your website and social media outlets will help expand your coverage and reach and solidify your reputation as a trusted leisure activity company.
How to keep customers coming back
Reputation is everything. You may not have as many return customers, as you will rely heavily on tourist and visitor traffic. What you will generate, though, is excellent word of mouth reviews and recommendations from past customers. This kind of endorsement is second to none. additionally, make sure you show off your safe, professional operating standards with every customer you encounter.
STEP 9: Create your business website
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
- All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
- Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
- Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
STEP 10: Set up your business phone system
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.
Is this Business Right For You?
Parasailing business owners need to have good people skills, knowledge of boating and parasailing safety guidelines, and experience running small businesses. Parasailing is an exciting activity for tourists and beach goers and the owner of a parasailing business should share the same kind of excitement about the business that the customers have for the parasailing experience.
Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
What happens during a typical day at a parasailing business?
Day to day activities revolve around client interactions. The more people you can take out on your boat(s), the better the business does. The business, therefore, must continually work to entice customers through your doors and offer these same customers a memorable and safe experience. Additionally, these businesses will:
- Advertise and promote their business locally and regionally.
- Inspect, repair, replace, and clean all equipment. Safety is key.
- Tune up and maintain tow boat(s).
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful parasailing business?
Since parasailing is primarily a tourist-driven business, you need to be able to successfully communicate with and entice potential customers. Expressing your enthusiasm for parasailing to your customer base is a necessary trait to possess. You should also have experience in and around boats, both driving and repairing and maintaining, as the boat is an essential part of your business. You should also be somewhat obsessive about safety and proper procedure. Your reputation as a careful and cautious parasail operator will go very far in attracting and retaining customers, via your reputation.
What is the growth potential for a parasailing business?
Proper location will prove to be one of the biggest factors in your business’ success. If you are visible and easily accessible to customers, and have a reputation for safety and reliability, you can see your business venture take off…no pun intended.
Take the Next Step
Find a business mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Learn from other business owners
Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.
Resources to Help Women in Business
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
- Funding
- Events
- Guides
- Support
If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
What are some insider tips for jump starting a parasailing business?
Since this type of business often thrives on being a novelty attraction, you will need to research the potential customer traffic, as well as competition, for the location of your parasailing operation. You will need to be unique and stand out as a different option for enjoying the water and natural surroundings. Your storefront and beachside kiosk(s) must be visible and readily prepared to sign up customers for time slots. To increase customer recognition, employ social media, such as Facebook and Instagram, as marketing and advertising sources, as well as methods for booking parasailing expeditions.
There is also the option of buying an existing parasailing business, as a turnkey operation. This method will afford you an existing business model to work to improve upon and the boat, equipment, and location to get started. This way, you will be able to allocate a bit more of your energy towards generating excitement about the new ownership. A change sometimes spurns new interest in an already existing business, just by virtue of new resonating in customers’ minds. And a fresh perspective may see more options for generating a greater revenue stream.
How and when to build a team
To begin, you’ll probably only need one or two additional employees, as the bulk of the work will entail routine maintenance of the equipment and boat, as well as the piloting of the boat for parasailing outings. As your clientele numbers grow, so can your team. Eventually, you may even have more than one location in your area, effectively capturing more business. These satellite outposts will need a team member or two to operate, yet your team will still remain relatively conservative in size. Maximize your potential by minimizing your overhead and operating costs.