You started a business because you love fishing, but you're finding that being a great "technician" doesn't mean you're running a successful business. Discover the mental shift required to stop scrubbing decks and start building systems like a CEO.

Stop waiting for walk-up clients at the marina. Learn the three pillars of a profitable "Digital Dock" and how to engineer your online presence to attract high-end charter clients before they even see the water.

Most new captains make a fatal business error before they even leave the dock: they buy the "Ego Boat." Discover why taking on massive boat payments on Day One is the fastest way to go broke, and how staying mobile can save your first season.

Captains are great at reading water, but terrible at reading P&L statements. If you charge $700 for a trip because "that's what the guy down the dock charges," you are letting a stranger dictate your salary.

When you factor in engine depreciation, insurance, and the "Perishable Inventory" of weather cancellations, your actual take-home on a charter might be less than minimum wage. It’s time to stop pricing for occupancy and start pricing for profit.

Most new captains make their first mistake before they even leave the dock: they buy the boat and print cards, but they never form a company.

By default, you are a "Sole Proprietor." In the eyes of the law, there is no difference between your personal savings and your business liability. If a passenger gets injured, you aren't just losing the boat; you could lose your truck, your house, and your personal assets. We break down why the LLC is the only hull shape that handles the heavy seas of liability.

You’ve heard the rumor that 80% of businesses fail. That’s a myth. In the charter world, most captains don’t fail—they slowly bleed out.

The IRS has a specific code (Section 183) for businesses that don't consistently show a profit: they call them "Hobbies." If you are flagged, your deductions vanish, and your audit risk skyrockets. Here is the difference between a "Tax Write-off" boat and a legitimate charter business, and how to prove your profit motive to the government.