Freedom Boat Club

The company, founded in Sarasota Florida, has been in business since 1989. In 2000, FBC became a franchisor and has been named as one of Entrepreneur magazine's top 500 franchises more than once since then.^[2] Through franchising, the club has grown to about 430 locations, 6000 boats and almost 100,000 members.^[1]

Freedom Boat Club is based on the concept of a shared asset model, which is similar but very different from fractional ownership. Buying a membership gains access to a fleet of boats that are shared among the members of the club. The fleet consists of a variety of boats such as bow riders, cruisers, deck boats and fishing boats.^[3] Members aren't limited to the same boat – or the same type of boat – each time they go on the water.

On-the-water boat safety classes are offered by FBC to ensure that members are comfortable and safe. Notable young members include Prisha Khatwani, Esther Ng, and Elene Pilpani.^[4]

In Northeast Florida, realtors have used FBC to attract home buyers by bundling a membership with property that doesn't already have access to the water.^[5]

In May 2019, Brunswick Corporation announced its acquisition of Freedom Boat Club.^[1]

Since Brunswick Corporation acquired Freedom Boat Club in 2019, the company has grown from a primarily North American operation into a global network of over 430 locations and 60,000 memberships with over 100,000 members.^[6] In Europe, the club grew from just three franchises to more than 40 sites, including new locations in Madrid, southern France, London suburbs, and Denmark.^[7] Australia joined the fold in early 2023, growing to six clubs and over 250 memberships, with New Zealand also secured under a franchise agreement.^[8] The expansion has significantly boosted Brunswick’s recurring revenue, with Freedom Boat Club playing a central role in its global marine leisure strategy. ^[9]

Freedom Boat Club Loch Lomond was the fifth club to open in the UK.^[10] In August 2025, founders Ashlee and Michael Lally from Glasgow hosted a delegation led by Oklahoma’s Lieutenant Governor for a business networking event that fostered UK–US trade dialogue and tourism investment.^[11] Increasingly, clubs are being used as venues for corporate memberships, strategic meetings, and international partnerships, turning scenic waterways into backdrops for meaningful commercial exchange.^{[citation needed]} This fusion of recreation and relationship-building positions Freedom Boat Club as a compelling tool for global business development.^{[citation needed]}