Starting or expanding a boating business

If you want to use your boat for anything other than personal, private, or pleasure use you will require our consent, as it will be considered business use. This includes charity or local club usage.

This section sets out the different business sectors that your proposed activity might fit into, and provides an overview of the factors you will need to consider, the regulations you will need to comply with and the kind of business licence you will need.

Please be advised that due to vacancies and increased workload within the Business Boating Team, it is likely there will be a delay in our target six weeks response time for reviewing all Operating Proposals. Please submit Operating Proposals eight weeks in advance of when you propose to commence operating to allow for for our response.

General guidance

Areas to consider for anyone operating a boating business or wanting to set one up

Application process and fees

How to apply to set up a new boating business or expand an existing business on our waterways, and business licence fees

Flowers on the roof of a boat at Crick Boat Show

New business opportunities: invitations to tender

Here we will announce invitations to tender for sites that we have available to lease on our land, or waterspace for Business Boating Proposals

Business boating sectors

Please look at the different sectors featured below to learn more about specific requirements.

You can then familiarise yourself with our application process and fees to submit an operating proposal for the kind of business you want to set up.

If you are an existing customer (with an existing property contract) and wish to carry out physical works, it may be possible to progress straight to a works proposal. Please seek advice from your business boating manager/business boating surveyor.

If you aren't sure which sector is most relevant to your business, please contact us.

A family taking a boat holiday on the Grand Union Canal

Self drive hire

These are boats that are let out on hire to members of the public without a skipper or crew

Roving trader Tracey and The Doggie Boat at floating market

Roving traders

Roving traders sell goods or services from their boat at various locations around the canal network

Fixed location trading boat

Statically moored boat selling goods or services. Examples include cafe, restaurant, office, hairdressers, gallery or shop

Boat moored in the shade on the Coventry Canal

Static letting

These are boats let out for short or long stays

Marinas and moorings

Find out more about setting up new marinas and moorings

Community boat skipper at Angel Festival

Skippered passenger boats

Boats offering scheduled trips, private charters, water taxi or water bus services

Inside the Kailani Hotel Boat cruising southern England

Skippered hotel boats

Boats used as hotels with a qualified skipper and crew on board

Trade plates

These are provided to bona fide boat builders, brokers, engineers and mechanics to enable them to keep and move boats temporarily in their care on the waterway

Boats operated by charities and community groups

These are boats that are used primarily for community or educational use

Boatyards

Boatyards provide services to boaters that include boat building, repairs and servicing, brokerage, fuel sales, sewage and refuse disposal, chandlery, dry dock hire etc

Tug pulling barge with large freight on River Trent

Cargo

Our canals were originally built to transport goods around the country and in some places our waterways are still being used for this purpose

Club & activity boats

Information for clubs, associations, schools, colleges and others using the waterways for regular, supervised activities

Exhibit boats

Exhibit boats are boats that are owned by or formally on loan to a recognised canal museum, society or visitor attraction

Waterway maintenance workboat

These are for workboats that are used exclusively for qualifying waterway maintenance work

Emergency & safety boats

Licences are exclusively for boats owned and operated by the statutory emergency services or voluntary organisations nominated by them to carry out emergency rescue procedures