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Freshwater Kayak Guiding
#12349235
07/20/17 03:27 AM
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 12
SmackJack
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 12 |
Howdy all! I'm just seeing what all would be required to become a freshwater guide using my kayaks rather than a boat. What kind of registration, liability, etc. Just thinking of ways to maybe make a little extra money on the side by getting to take people fishing! Living as close to a lake as I do it seems plausible atleast! Thanks in advance for the feedback!
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Re: Freshwater Kayak Guiding
[Re: SmackJack]
#12349674
07/20/17 03:01 PM
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 9,419
Floon Swenson
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 9,419 |
Start a business (I'd incorporate it for liability reasons), get your insurance, pay your fee to TX for a guides license, and then figure out how to get enough clients to cover those expenses so you are at least not operating at a loss.
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Re: Freshwater Kayak Guiding
[Re: SmackJack]
#12349686
07/20/17 03:08 PM
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 9,419
Floon Swenson
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 9,419 |
If you are serious about it, I'd probably take a legit Wilderness First Aid course as well. If you are going to be guiding moving water, swiftwater rescue training is a huge plus.
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Re: Freshwater Kayak Guiding
[Re: SmackJack]
#12349986
07/20/17 06:05 PM
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 12
SmackJack
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 12 |
I would strictly be on a lake and I have most of the gear required to start, just would have to keep it maintained and keep myself stocked up on bait and tackle. How would I go about getting incorporated? Just a small business type of set up?
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Re: Freshwater Kayak Guiding
[Re: SmackJack]
#12350109
07/20/17 07:16 PM
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 9,419
Floon Swenson
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 9,419 |
I would strictly be on a lake and I have most of the gear required to start, just would have to keep it maintained and keep myself stocked up on bait and tackle. How would I go about getting incorporated? Just a small business type of set up? An LLC or an S Corp would be what you're looking for. I'd probably go the LLC route since your guide income would be taxed on your personal tax return - no need for a corporate return. Both will shield your personal assets from liability, though. What you don't want is for somebody to be out with you, have a seizure or blackout from heat stroke, fall overboard, then drown. If you don't have some sort of liability protection, everything you own outside the business (your personal assets) would be on the hook for that in a lawsuit. You can set up an LLC online. I'd bet you could get it all filed for under $100.
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Re: Freshwater Kayak Guiding
[Re: SmackJack]
#12350111
07/20/17 07:18 PM
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 9,419
Floon Swenson
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 9,419 |
You don't want it to be a Sole Proprietorship.
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Re: Freshwater Kayak Guiding
[Re: SmackJack]
#12350228
07/20/17 08:36 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,108
wh2004
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,108 |
Main requirement would be knowing how to put people on fish.
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Re: Freshwater Kayak Guiding
[Re: SmackJack]
#12350331
07/20/17 09:37 PM
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 12
SmackJack
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 12 |
Thank yall for the info! I'm going to look into it for sure and see what comes of it, I could find fish, just have to have clients that aren't afraid to paddle far enough with me to get to them!
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Re: Freshwater Kayak Guiding
[Re: SmackJack]
#12351311
07/21/17 02:12 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 205
Pop751
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 205 |
Are you thinking about furnishing kayaks for your clients? Doing so would probably expand your potential client base, but also brings some other issues like storage and transportation. You'd also have to think about training a novice to paddle and handle the kayak and probably limiting how far you could take them. It's not a bad thing, but is something to think about. Good luck with your decision.
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Re: Freshwater Kayak Guiding
[Re: Floon Swenson]
#12351348
07/21/17 02:27 PM
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 216
C.M.
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 216 |
I'd probably go the LLC route since your guide income would be taxed on your personal tax return - no need for a corporate return. Both will shield your personal assets from liability, though. What you don't want is for somebody to be out with you, have a seizure or blackout from heat stroke, fall overboard, then drown. If you don't have some sort of liability protection, everything you own outside the business (your personal assets) would be on the hook for that in a lawsuit. What people forget sometimes is that having an LLC is not a guarantee of protection -- you also have to operate it as a company. If you don't -- there is a chance that "insulation" might be pierced by the court and your other assets will be on the line. Also, consider DBA (Doing Business As) -- even easier to setup than LLC.
Last edited by C.M.; 07/21/17 02:29 PM.
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Re: Freshwater Kayak Guiding
[Re: C.M.]
#12351406
07/21/17 02:54 PM
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 9,419
Floon Swenson
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 9,419 |
I'd probably go the LLC route since your guide income would be taxed on your personal tax return - no need for a corporate return. Both will shield your personal assets from liability, though. What you don't want is for somebody to be out with you, have a seizure or blackout from heat stroke, fall overboard, then drown. If you don't have some sort of liability protection, everything you own outside the business (your personal assets) would be on the hook for that in a lawsuit. What people forget sometimes is that having an LLC is not a guarantee of protection -- you also have to operate it as a company. If you don't -- there is a chance that "insulation" might be pierced by the court and your other assets will be on the line. Also, consider DBA (Doing Business As) -- even easier to setup than LLC. You're not getting any liability protection if all you have going is a DBA.
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Re: Freshwater Kayak Guiding
[Re: SmackJack]
#12351428
07/21/17 03:02 PM
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 9,419
Floon Swenson
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 9,419 |
You could always go rogue - no license, no insurance, and don't report any income.
If there's any emergency while out on the water, finish them off with a paddle chop and make sure nobody finds the body. Bring extra rope to tow the empty yak back to the ramp.
There's more than one way to skin this cat!
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Re: Freshwater Kayak Guiding
[Re: Floon Swenson]
#12352346
07/22/17 12:04 AM
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 216
C.M.
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 216 |
You're not getting any liability protection if all you have going is a DBA. Obviously, but (as I pointed out before) having an LLC isn't a guarantee either. It really depends what he wants... For example if all he has is a home, then he may not need liability protection -- your home is out of reach of creditors in Texas. If there's any emergency while out on the water, finish them off with a paddle chop and make sure nobody finds the body. Bring extra rope to tow the empty yak back to the ramp. LOL. Bulletproof business plan!
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