For Florida charter fishing & boat tours
Open water, paying passengers, and federal rules before you leave the dock.
Six strangers on your boat in chop - charter fishing is one of the most liability-dense small businesses in Florida, and the licenses are only half the story.
Start My LLC — $164.99 All-In →Florida's $125 state fee included · filed by real people in our team
Why charter fishing & boat tours in Florida use an LLC
Passenger injuries at sea
A fall on a wet deck two miles out is a claim with no witnesses but your crew. Marine liability claims are large, and they name the operator.
The boat is the business - protect it both ways
Held personally, the boat is exposed to business claims; held by the LLC, a personal judgment can't take the business's hull either.
Charters are licensed businesses
A USCG captain's credential, FWC charter licenses, and marine insurance all sit cleaner under a company than a person.
What your charter business needs alongside the LLC
- USCG captain's license for carrying passengers for hire
- FWC charter captain/vessel license for fishing charters
- Marine liability insurance naming the LLC
Google Business Profile setup: Charters get booked from Maps searches at the dock - $99 to set yours up right. Learn more →
Questions charter fishing & boat tours ask us
Do I need more than an LLC to run charters?
Yes - the LLC is the business wrapper, not the operating authority. Carrying paying passengers requires a USCG captain's credential, and fishing charters need FWC licensing. The LLC holds those operations and their liability.
Should the boat be owned by the LLC?
Commonly yes, so business claims stop at business assets - but check your lender and insurer first. Documented vessels list the LLC as owner with the Coast Guard.
What does the LLC cost to maintain?
$138.75 to Florida each year by May 1. Everything else - insurance, licenses, dockage - exists whether or not you incorporate, so the entity is the cheap part.