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/biz/ - Business & Finance

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File: 632 KB, 999x859, Potomac River.png [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
22951250 No.22951250 [Reply] [Original]

Hi /biz/ I had an idea to start a business a while ago but I don't know really how to go about putting it into action. What I want to do is start an automobile ferry service across the Potomac River in Northern Virginia. There is no way to cross the river unless you go all the way up to Washington DC or down to Dahlgren, which can tack on a lot of time for people to have to travel; pic related. The issue is I don't know anything about starting a business, let alone operating a river ferry. Any advice?

>> No.22951272

>>22951250
I don't think you quite understand who resides on this board

>> No.22951283

>>22951250
Buy ocean

>> No.22951319

>>22951250
You’re better off going reddit if you want any real advice

>> No.22951321

>>22951250
just build a bridge you poor faggot, 250million should be easy for you to make

>> No.22951350

>>22951250
Buy SHIP

>> No.22951419

>>22951350
this

>>22951250
cause why the fuck would Virginians want to go to waldorf?

>> No.22951488

>>22951419
I think people who may work or want to work across the river might consider it. I know I've thought about trying to head over there but deciding it was too far since I had to go through DC. And people from Waldorf might want to come to VA. There's a decent amount of tourist stuff south of DC that's hard to get to unless you go around.

>> No.22951507
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22951507

>>22951350

>> No.22951531
File: 64 KB, 640x983, 1597254842401.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
22951531

>>22951250
Hahaha thanks for the idea, you'll see my ferries there very soon. You shouldn't have told me.

>> No.22951589
File: 28 KB, 655x509, 95f.png [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
22951589

>>22951531
I was afraid this would happen, some cryptocurrency turbo autist millionaire takes my boat idea

>> No.22952162

>>22951250
Just petition congress! Im sure youll have your project approved in no time!

AHAHAHAHAHA

>> No.22952187

Decent idea but ferries are slow and would cause a lot of traffic congestion for people waiting in the area

Also council approval LOL

>> No.22952215

>>22951250
If I take a SUTER wallet private key
and put it on this map

will you even look for it?

>> No.22952244
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22952244

>>22951250
Seems like it would be cheaper to just build a few more roads and bridges

>> No.22952459
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22952459

I can help you a bit as I lived on an island managing a property at night and took a ferry most days into town.
Held about 20 vehicles and could accommodate tour busses. Top deck was covered (open sides) and had seating and there was a main indoor seating area below that. Control piloting was on the other side.


Some of what you (and your investors?) will need off the top of my head:
Mooring at each bank (secure and resilient at least one of these).
Marshalling area and concourse to get vehicles on
A ferry and a pilot
A secure fuel bund
system for receipting
Appropriate operating policies and procedures to comply with what you're doing
Insurance (lots of).
Plan for a day or two off (other pilot etc).
If you wanna be the ferry pilot then someone has to take the money and marshal and you'll probably need a commercial license like a coxswain's
The ferry I used took cash or card. No e-tickets or swipe cards/passes but you could do that if volume warranted it. Seemed to be a two man enterprise and they ran it 7 days, 4 sailing a day or more if load was backed up.

Start of by studying the need. If the volume is there and it's profitable others will invest, possibly even the government.
Remember your craft will break down and will need to be slipped every now and then so there are days you will just bleed.

Pic related is like it but an additional structure on top and bigger deck

>> No.22952710

>>22952187

You're right on the traffic part, maybe I could play with the pricing so that less people want to go across, but enough that I stay afloat? (lol)
>>22952244
you're probably right, but I feel like I'd have a hard time monetizing that with tolls for a drive that takes under a minute

>>22952459
Thanks anon, this is a good starting list to sort out!

I also had the idea of starting a ferry that runs up the river that wouldn't take cars but would drop people off at the harbor for commuting into the city without the traffic. I don't know how long it would actually take to make the trip tho and it probably wouldnt be any faster than by car if traffic wasn't terrible. I know the commuter rail takes about an hour from Fredericksburg to Alexandria, and I don't think I'd run boats that far south, but maybe it could be more worthwhile closer to the city proper??