The open-book building model: building a custom yacht in full transparency
At most yacht builders you receive a single price, and never see exactly where your money goes. We do the opposite: you see every invoice. Here is how the open-book building model works — and why it is in your favour.
Having a yacht built to your own specification is a considerable investment. You want to know where your money goes — not afterwards, but the entire way. That is precisely why we build according to the open-book model.
What is the open-book building model?
The open-book model means full insight into the costs. Every specialist working on your yacht — from the aluminium cutter to the upholsterer — invoices transparently at the actual price. You see exactly what your yacht costs, down to the last set of cushions.
On top of that, Sognareyachts charges a single agreed-upon fee for build supervision and coordination. Our margin is therefore not hidden in mark-ups on materials or components. What a component costs is what you pay.
How it works in practice
- Together we draw up a clear budget as the starting point.
- Every specialist invoices transparently; you get to see those invoices.
- Our coordination fee is fixed in advance — it does not change along the way.
- At any moment you know where you stand and where your budget is going.
Why this is better for you
Transparency changes the entire relationship. There are no hidden margins and no surprises afterwards. And because you see all the costs, you stay in control: if you want to invest more in the propulsion, the finish or the electronics, that is your choice — visible and open to discussion.
It also means our interests run parallel to yours. We earn from guidance and craftsmanship, not from what appears on the invoices. That builds a trust a sealed fixed price can never offer.
Open-book versus a fixed price
With a traditional fixed price you receive one amount and a boat. What happens within that amount — which margin, which choices, which savings — stays out of view. If something turns out cheaper along the way, you rarely notice it.
With the open-book model you see everything. It asks openness of us and involvement of you, but it delivers a yacht of which you know exactly how it is built — and why it is worth what it is worth.
Arrange an introduction
In a no-obligation conversation we show how the open-book model works out for your yacht — and everything that is possible.
Frequently asked questions
What does the open-book building model mean?
You build with full insight into the costs. Every specialist invoices transparently, from the aluminium cutting package to the last set of cushions, and you see exactly what your yacht costs. On top of that Sognareyachts charges an agreed-upon fee for build supervision and coordination — no hidden margins.
Do I know roughly what my yacht will cost in advance?
Yes. Together we draw up a clear budget as the starting point. Along the way you see the actual invoices, so you always know where you stand. Our coordination fee is fixed in advance, so no surprises are added afterwards.
Can I decide for myself where my budget goes?
Yes. Because you see all the costs, you decide for yourself what to invest in: the propulsion, the finish, the electronics. Every choice is visible and open to discussion, so your budget ends up exactly where it matters to you.
Do you charge a fixed fee?
Yes, we agree a fee in advance for build supervision and coordination. Our margin is therefore not hidden in mark-ups on materials or components — you see all of it at the actual price.