When the day finally comes, what is your exit strategy?
Are you creating a legacy that will be passed down to your family? Or will you sell?
Will your marina fade? Or continue to flourish once you step away?
These are uncomfortable questions to plop into your inbox, yet ones every marina owner will eventually face.
For the Larsen Family, the answer was finding the perfect balance.
One that honored the three-generation legacy they had built at Larsen Marine, starting back in 1933.
For 90 years, Larsen Marine served the Lake Michigan community. They were a source of steady employment for their team of highly skilled and certified professionals and nurtured the growing boating community.
Through the generations, they grew to accommodate 850+ boats for the residents of Waukegan, IL, and wanted to continue to do so with the same level of integrity.
Greg Larsen, President of Larsen Marine, explains, “We were excited to find TopSide Marinas, and we quickly realized that their business practices and concern for quality customer service aligned with what three generations of the Larsen Family have provided.”
We, at TopSide Marinas, felt just as pleased.
“Acquiring Larsen Marine is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We are excited to continue the Larsen’s tradition of serving Lake Michigan boaters,” our co-founder, Jacob Boan, said.
And went on to say, “We partner with marina owners who have spent an immense amount of time, effort, and energy building impressive businesses. We take that to heart and believe it’s our job to first understand that legacy, and then continue it.”
These sentiments are buoyed by Stephen Lehn, co-founder of TopSide Marinas, “Everything we do comes back to hospitality. We want to foster environments where families and friends feel welcome to come and enjoy their time on the water.”
So, whatever path is in your future, we at TopSide Marinas wish you strong and healthy partnerships with aligned views—whether that partnership is with your family, friends, or new business associates.
If you’re interested in talking to us about your marina, we are only a reply away.
We are always looking to partner with marina owners who have put their heart into building healthy businesses and want to see their efforts continue to thrive.