Sell your Dive & Charter business in Key West

If you own a dive and charter company in Key West (Monroe County) and are thinking about selling or retiring, Business Hunters is a local, direct buyer. We keep the process confidential and aim to keep your employees and your name in place. Here is what typically matters when a dive and charter company in Key West changes hands.

Demand for dive & charter work in Key West

Key West has a working waterfront with charter boats, dive and snorkel operators, marinas and boat repair, and nearby Stock Island has boatyards and commercial fishing docks serving boats from across the Lower Keys.

Areas served from Key West commonly include Old Town, New Town, the Historic Seaport at the Key West Bight, Stock Island, White Street, North Roosevelt Boulevard and the Truman Waterfront.

What drives the value of a dive and charter company

• Vessels: age, condition, inspection status, capacity and whether they are part of the sale.
• Booking channels: repeat customers, hotel and resort partners, online reviews and direct bookings.
• Certified captains, mates and dive instructors who stay after the sale.
• Permits, dock or mooring access and the operator's reputation and brand.

What a buyer will look at

• Vessel surveys, inspection and maintenance records
• Seasonality and revenue by month
• Crew licenses, certifications and retention
• Insurance, safety and incident history

Along with three years of financials, documented add-backs and an overview of your team. Try our free valuation estimator for a rough starting range.

About Key West

Key West is the southernmost city in the continental United States and the largest city in the Keys, with the historic Old Town district, Duval Street, heavy visitor and cruise traffic, a working waterfront at the Key West Bight and a long marine and fishing heritage. Neighboring Stock Island is home to boatyards and commercial fishing docks.

Selling in the Keys

Selling a business in the Keys has its own considerations. Many Keys businesses depend on seasonal visitor traffic, a limited local labor pool and workforce housing, and supplies that arrive by truck along US-1, so buyers will ask how the business handles the off-season, hurricane preparation and shutdown periods, and whether key employees live locally. Windstorm, flood and business-interruption insurance can be a significant cost, and buyers usually review it closely. Marine and waterfront properties add permitting and environmental questions. Gathering these details early makes the process smoother for you and for a buyer.

Licensing, permits and the transition

Operators who carry paying passengers typically need captains with U.S. Coast Guard credentials, vessels that meet Coast Guard safety and inspection requirements for their passenger count, commercial insurance, and the state fishing and local business licenses that apply. Dive operators also depend on instructor and professional certifications, and in the Keys, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary rules and permits can affect where and how a commercial operator works. Each approval should be reviewed in a sale.

Key West requires a City of Key West business tax receipt in addition to Monroe County's, and building and construction work goes through the city's own building department. Exterior work in the Old Town historic district may also involve review by the city's Historic Architectural Review Commission (HARC).

Why Key West owners sell to us

• Keep your employees and name. We buy businesses to keep them running.
• Flexible terms. Including seller financing and a transition on your schedule.
• Real estate options. We can buy your property or lease it back.
• Fast and confidential. No public listing, NDA on request.

How it works

1. Reach out by phone or the confidential form.
2. Have a private conversation and sign an NDA.
3. Receive an offer structured around your goals.
4. Close on your timeline and hand off smoothly.

Frequently asked questions

Do you buy dive and charter companies in Key West?

Yes. We buy established dive and charter companies in Key West and across Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. Reach out for a confidential conversation.

Can I sell my charter or dive business if I am the captain?

Often yes, but owner dependence matters. A buyer will look at whether other licensed captains and instructors can run trips, and a transition period where you introduce them to repeat customers and partners can protect the value.

What local licenses or receipts matter when selling a business in Key West?

Key West requires a City of Key West business tax receipt in addition to Monroe County's, and building and construction work goes through the city's own building department. Exterior work in the Old Town historic district may also involve review by the city's Historic Architectural Review Commission (HARC).

Will you keep my employees and company name?

Our goal is to keep the team and the name in place. They are a big part of what makes a local business valuable.

Can you buy my building or yard too?

Yes. We are backed by the Prop Hunters real estate team, so we can buy the property with the business or lease it from you.