Fishing Booking Settings: Hourly Pricing Model with Discount Tiers

It's been a busy month. Our open beta is in full swing, and we're seeing more fishing captains and anglers sign up. With each new captain and angler joining the platform, we're getting tons of feedback and feature requests; and we're actually listening.

If you've been keeping up with us, you probably noticed we recently rolled out fine-grained block scheduling. It was a big step forward in giving captains more control over when they're available to take customers out on the water. But it also created a problem we didn't see coming: pricing got really confusing, really fast.

The Pricing Problem We Accidentally Created

Before we added custom scheduling, pricing was straightforward. Captains set rates based on half-day blocks; morning or afternoon trips. Simple enough for everyone to understand. A half-day trip cost X amount, and customers could easily compare one captain to another.

But when we introduced custom scheduling blocks and tied individual prices to each one, things got messy in a hurry. Captains were confused about how to price different time slots. Customers couldn't easily compare rates between captains anymore. One captain might have a 4-hour block priced at $400, while another had a 5-hour block at $450. Which one was the better deal? It wasn't obvious.

We realized we'd made things harder instead of easier. That's not what we're here to do.

So we took a step back and asked ourselves a simple question: What's the easiest way for customers to compare prices across different captains?

The Solution: Straightforward Hourly Rates

The answer turned out to be pretty simple: hourly rates.

Now, captains set one base hourly rate, and it gets applied automatically to all their scheduling blocks. No more guessing. No more confusion. No more trying to figure out if a 6-hour trip at $600 is better than a 5-hour trip at $475.

Here's how it works in plain English:

• Captains pick their hourly rate — let's say $100 per hour
• That rate applies to every booking — whether it's 4 hours, 6 hours, or 8 hours
• Customers see clear pricing — a 6-hour trip is $600, simple as that
• Easy comparison shopping — customers can quickly see which captains fit their budget

Think of it like hiring someone to paint your house. You wouldn't want one painter charging by the room with different prices for each room, while another charges by the square foot, and a third has some complicated formula. You'd want to know the hourly rate and how long the job takes. Same idea here.

When setting your hourly rate, think about your expenses (fuel, bait, equipment wear), your experience level, and what other captains in your area charge. Don't undersell yourself; your time and expertise have real value.

Captains Wanted Discounts — So We Built Them

But we didn't stop there. We kept listening, and we kept hearing the same thing from captains: they wanted a way to offer discounts for customers who book longer trips or multiple days.

One captain put it perfectly: "I'd happily give someone 10% off if they book two back-to-back days instead of just one. It means more guaranteed income for me and less downtime between trips."

That made total sense. Longer bookings are better for business. They mean:

• More predictable income — you know you're booked solid
• Less time spent marketing — one customer instead of multiple bookings
• Better relationships — spending more time with customers builds loyalty

So we built exactly what captains asked for.

Introducing Discount Tiers: You're in Control

We call them discount tiers, and they give captains complete control over how they reward longer bookings.

Here's how it works:

Setting Up Your Discounts

You can create discount tiers based on how many hours a customer books. For example:

• 5% off for trips over 16 hours (like a two-day trip)
• 10% off for trips over 32 hours (a long weekend fishing adventure)
• 15% off for trips over 48 hours (a week-long expedition)

You can also set a minimum number of hours before any discount kicks in. Maybe you only want to offer discounts on trips longer than 8 hours. That's completely up to you.

How Customers See It

When a customer is booking a trip, the system does all the math automatically. If they book enough hours to qualify for a discount, they'll see:

• The original price based on your hourly rate
• The discount percentage they're getting
• The final discounted price

Everything is transparent and easy to understand. No hidden fees, no surprises at checkout.

Longer bookings mean more guaranteed income and less downtime between trips. Discount tiers let me reward customers who commit to longer adventures."

Why This Matters for Your Business

Think about it from a business perspective. Would you rather have:

• Four separate 4-hour bookings at $400 each = $1,600
• One 16-hour booking at $1,520 (with 5% discount)

The second option might be slightly less money, but it also means:

• Only dealing with one customer instead of four
• Less time cleaning and prepping the boat between trips
• More predictable schedule
• Potentially better reviews from a customer who spent quality time with you

For many captains, that trade-off is absolutely worth it. And now you have the tools to make it happen.

We're Listening — And We're Just Getting Started

Here's the thing: we built this platform for captains. Not for investors, not for some corporate board, but for the people who actually take customers fishing every day.

That means giving you the tools you need to run your business the way you want. Every feature we add comes directly from feedback like yours. Real captains telling us what works, what doesn't, and what they wish they had.

Your Feedback Shapes Our Roadmap

We're not done building. Not even close. We have a long list of features we're working on, and that list changes based on what you tell us matters most.

Want to see something added to the platform? Have an idea that would make your life easier? Running into a problem that's slowing you down?

We want to hear from you. You can submit feedback anytime using the button on the left sidebar once registered. It comes straight to us, and we respond to every single message. No automated replies, no black hole where feedback disappears. Real responses from real people who are building this thing.

🎣 Submit Your Ideas: See the feedback button under your username bottom left? Use it. Tell us what you need. We read every message and many of our best features started as captain suggestions.

The Future of Fishing Charter Bookings

We're building something special here; a marketplace that actually works for the people who use it. Not a platform that extracts value from captains, but one that helps you grow your business and connect with customers who want exactly what you offer.

Every captain who joins, every piece of feedback we get, every feature we build; it all adds up to something bigger. A community of fishing professionals who are shaping how this industry works online.

What's Next?

We're already working on the next round of features based on your feedback. We can't spill all the details yet, but here's a hint: we're looking at better ways to showcase your boat, your experience, and what makes your charters special.

Because at the end of the day, you're not just selling a fishing trip. You're selling an experience, memories, and your expertise. The platform should help you communicate that.

Join Us on This Journey

Thanks for being part of this journey. Whether you've been with us since day one or just joined yesterday, you're helping build the future of fishing charter bookings.

Ready to Take Your Charter Business to the Next Level?

If you're a fishing captain looking for a better way to manage bookings, set your own prices, and connect with serious anglers, we'd love to have you on board. Our open beta is live, and we're onboarding new captains.

Questions? Feedback? Just want to chat about the platform? Hit that feedback button in your dashboard or reach out to our team. We're here to help you succeed.