Charter Information Xchange (CIX)™

A resource for the charter and small passenger industry to promote professional, effective, and knowledgeable vessel and business operations.

What have you been missing? Recent topics covered on CIX include:

Making experience meet expectations -- How to make sure that all customers have a great experience when chartering your vessel.
Situations in which your boat qualifies for a tax deduction as a second home.
How to lower your self-employment tax burden when you only operate your charter business during part of the year.
How to stretch your small advertising budget to reach new people in the area.
How to use your website to effectively generate business.
Much more!

CIX is available exclusively to Professional and Sponsor members of NMCA.

CIX Main Index of Resources:

1. Coast Guard and Government Regulations governing charter and small passenger vessels and operations, including: comprehensive licensing forms and instructions for applying for or renewing a license • how licenses are revoked • checklists for the Coast Guard license process • crew manning (hours of duty) rules that apply to the industry • rules on what equipment is required on your type of vessel • federal rules on reporting casualties and accidents on your vessel • your responsibilities for drug and alcohol testing your captains and crew • Coast Guard notices to mariners • sources for NOAA marine charts • FCC radio licenses for commercial marine operators • National Marine Fisheries Service rules which apply to charter firms • Know which government posters you must post • etc.

2. Legal issues that charter and small passenger vessel operators should know with guidelines and over 25 articles authored by prominent admiralty attorneys including: how to avoid the most common legal problems • controlling situations which can give rise to litigation costs • keeping your vessel seaworthy legal wise • setting up a standard operating procedure in case there is a lawsuit • special rights in the law that apply to your captains and crew • knowing the basics of maritime law as it applies to you • taking the correct action and steps following an accident • what to look for when insuring your vessel properly • whether release of liability forms might work for your firm • maritime product liability • llife after incorporating • etc.

3. Business forms and standard contracts for operation of a charter or small passenger vessel company including: separate contract forms and charter agreements for sailing charters • fishing charters • bareboat charters • contracts for setting up relationships with employees, contractors and vendors • confidentiality agreement to ensure your best practices stay with your company • non-competition agreement • independent contractor agreement • what you need to know about the Jones act as it applies to your Captains and crew • contracts and forms for vessel delivery, storage • rental or sale of a vessel • etc.

4. Safety information on risk avoidance and practices for charter and small passenger vessel operators including information from insurance experts, marine surveyors, and voluntary safety programs promoted to the charter industry by the Coast Guard. Information procedures and consequences of accidents • rights that apply to your captains and crew • accident reports from the Coast Guard and the NTSB • safety placard examples for your vessel • and text for required passenger safety orientations • etc.

5. Tax information on operating a charter or small passenger vessel firm including: necessary IRS forms for basic business operations • forms for employer taxes • setting up the right entity for your operations (corporation, LLC or sole proprietorship) including forms • steps to ensure your marine firm is classified as a business and not a hobby • options of paying your employees or contractors and forms to do so • what to do if the IRS says you misclassified employees • rules and special tax benefits for employing family members in your business • choosing the right tax year for your business • how to borrow money from your own company • rules on taxes on diesel fuel • simple and tax beneficial ways to save for retirement • maximizing your tax deductions for your vessel • tax benefits of your spouse working for your business • five tax saving ideas for small business owners • llc basics • tax ideas for the self employed • tax deductions your small business shouldn't miss •tax code changes that benefit entrepreneurs • year-end tax planning moves • understanding small business deductions • online resources for tax help • managing loans to family members • etc.

6. Marketing Guidance for small marine businesses • including how to obtain the best exposure for your charter business at the lowest possible cost • simple steps you can take to widely market your business • how to create a website • having brochures produced outlining your services • 10 ways to make your web site work harder for you • 3 marketing tactics that work best • 10 deadly sins for small businesses online • managing client expectations • advertising on a shoestring budget • etc.

We welcome your participation and submittal of articles or information that you believe would be helpful to accomplish this industry effort to increase knowledge and promote better, safer and more effective practices in the charter industry. For more information please contact us.