Dominic Snell loves the water so much that when he’s not spending 40+ hours a week as a helmsman on a Lake Superior passenger ferry sailing back and forth between Houghton and Isle Royale National Park, he sails some more – as the captain of his own small business: Copper Country Boat Tours LLC. His tours have delighted visitors and locals alike, resulting in over one hundred five-star reviews and many repeat customers. 

While Dominic can tell you all about the Keweenaw Peninsula’s history and geological beauty, he knew that he needed some help on his entrepreneurial journey. Dominic had learned of the SBDC while living in Texas, so when he returned home, he immediately reached out to the Michigan SBDC hosted at Michigan Technological University for assistance. There he met Senior Business Consultant Daniel Yoder.

“I never had my own business before, and wondered if I even could. I needed to see a viable pro forma and business plan to believe. Daniel helped me with the numbers and to put my idea on paper. I definitely plan to work with Daniel again on preparing for taxes, my website and any other questions that may come up,” said Dominic.

Dominic’s side hustle has grown exponentially, with three boats already offering tours out of Houghton/Hancock or Copper Harbor and another boat soon to join the fleet. His next challenge is a good one: to find more captains willing to share voyages with more visitors to this beautiful peninsula. 

To learn more about Copper Country Boats Tours visit their website here.