For a new yacht build project, some clients prefer to hire a professional yacht owner's representative to deal with the shipyard instead of the client themselves. This usually allows for more efficient communication and better results, as the owner's representative acts on behalf of the client and uses their experience with yacht construction and shipyards. In addition, clients do not have to negotiate directly with the yacht yards, which can sometimes be a challenge due to cultural differences, for example.

Common duties of a yacht owner's representative include shipyard visits, tracking construction milestones, and negotiating drawings and equipment for the yacht.

Some yacht clients do not have the time to follow the process, do not enjoy it, or simply want to leave it to an outside expert. Owner's representatives are often found on yacht newbuildings over 24 meters in length.