If you’re looking to cash in on the outdoor activity craze in The Natural State and start an ATV rental service, you have an important decision to make and choose the ideal business structure. Small companies typically have 4 options to select from:

• Sole proprietorship;
• Partnership;
• Limited liability company (LLC);
• Corporation.

Today, we are going to talk about limited liability companies and find out if they offer enough benefits to make your rental service flourish.

What is an LLC?

An LLC is a love child of a sole proprietorship and a corporation, combining the taxation model of the former with the limited liability of the latter. LLC’s easy setup, versatility, and asset protection have made it the go-to legal entity for small businesses all over the US. 

Benefits of an LLC

Starting a limited liability company comes with multiple benefits:

• Personal asset protection;
• Simple formation process;
• Clear taxation model;
• Legit business name.

Personal Asset Protection

Asset protection is the reason people choose limited liability structures over a sole proprietorship. Let’s agree, no one wants to lose their property, for example, a family car, if some angry customer files a lawsuit against your business. And believe us, running an ATV rental service puts you at constant risk of getting sued. People are going to crash and damage your vehicles all the time and then try to get away with it, but thanks to limited liability, you can sleep well at night knowing that your personal assets can’t be taken from you in court.

Simple Formation Process

Starting an LLC in Arkansas is very easy and cheap to set up. . All it takes is filling out the Articles of Organization form at the official website of the Arkansas Secretary of State and paying a fixed fee ($45). Or you can hire a professional business formation company and it will do everything for you. Some of the best-known LLC services are:

• ZenBusiness;
• Northwest Registered Agent;
• LegalZoom;
• Rocket Lawyer;
• Harbor Compliance;
• IncFile.

Not only these companies are going to handle all the paperwork required for the registration procedure but they also provide valuable business assistance and legal help to get your LLC going and prosper for years to come.

Clear Taxation Model

As we’ve discussed earlier, LLC owners are able to receive full income from their business operations and then split the taxes accordingly. The process is simple and it typically leads to lower payments compared to corporations.

Legit Business Name

Unlike sole proprietorships that require obtaining a trading pseudonym (DBA), LLCs can operate under the same name they were registered by. This relieves you from more unnecessary paperwork and also earns your business a few extra points in the customers’ eyes in the form of the LLC tag after the company’s name.

How is an LLC taxed?

Limited liability companies enjoy pass-through taxation, similar to sole proprietorships and partnerships. For business owners, this means they can get all the income and pay taxes individually, thus avoiding the so-called “double taxation”. 

There’s also an option to upgrade a limited liability company to an S corporation (at least in the eyes of the Internal Revenue Service) and get taxed as such. Doing so can save you some money in certain situations, but generally, this move is not recommended for small businesses such as ATV rental services due to high maintenance costs.

Disadvantages of an LLC

However, the LLC structure is not without its shortcomings. Here are some of them:

• Annual maintenance;
• Limited management turnaround;
• Lack of investment opportunities.

Annual Maintenance

All LLCs in Arkansas are required to submit a franchise tax report at the end of each year. This includes paying a $150 fee which is not a lot, but you should take this into account when planning the budget.

Limited Management Turnaround

An LLC can be managed by a single person as well as multiple owners, but passing the torch from one member to another proves to be a bit difficult since there is no actual stock to be shared. We recommend specifying all the details in the LLC operating agreement to avoid problems in the future.

Lack of Investment Opportunities

Continuing on the topic of stock, LLCs don’t have “shares” that you can buy and trade, so naturally, such a business structure cannot attract investors from the outside. So, if you have potential sponsors in mind that you are planning to add to the ownership, you should choose one of the corporation types instead.

Which is better for my Arkansas ATV rental company — an LLC or sole proprietorship?

Any rental business implies a high risk of damage for both the customers and the equipment which may potentially result in a lawsuit against the owner. Yes, a sole proprietorship can cover the losses with a well-structured insurance plan, but most people would be afraid to put their own belongings on the line. For this reason alone, we recommend going with a limited liability company structure.

However, thanks to its incredibly cheap setup and management, a sole proprietorship is a good way to test the waters and get the feel of a small rental business (up to 5 vehicles, for example). If you like what you see, you can always upgrade to an LLC later and expand your lineup.

Do I need to open a business bank account for my LLC?

A business bank account is the only way to separate your personal belongings from the company’s assets. This account will be used for receiving rental fees from the customers and paying salaries to your employees (and yourself too). 

Opening a bank account in Arkansas is relatively easy and can be done for $100 or even for free.

Conclusion

An LLC is the perfect legal entity for an ATV rental business in Arkansas. It takes little time and cost to start and maintain; the taxation is straightforward; and your personal property is going to be protected from any potential lawsuits.

The post Do I Need an LLC for My Arkansas ATV Rental Company? appeared first on Ouachitaatvadventures.

Common causes of malfunction
Constant riding at the limit and improper operation of the equipment often becomes the cause of a number of breakdowns. Because of high loads can fail:

• The battery.
• Starter.
• Commutator.
• Ignition system.
• The fuel system.

But more often, problems arise from some small thing, like low-quality gasoline, lack of oil or improper preservation of machinery.

Checking technical fluids
The first thing a motorcycle enthusiast should do if the ATV does not start or stalls is to check the gas tank. With prolonged idle time, the fuel may evaporate, and if the tank is empty, you should refill the gasoline. But if there is fuel in it, it is advisable to drain it. Very often you get low-quality fuel, which after a while simply ceases to ignite.

You should not forget about the oil. If low-quality fluid was poured into the system, the unit will lose dynamics and may even stall. This problem is especially acute for four-stroke quads, since their power unit must literally “swim” in oil.

Starting the engine after a long downtime
Another reason why the ATV does not start – improper preservation of equipment. Even if you leave the machine in the garage for a day, it should be prepared for downtime, otherwise starting the engine will become a real challenge.

For preservation it is necessary:

• Start the utility vehicle.
• Close the fuel tap.
• Wait until the remaining petrol in the carburetor is not used up. It takes about 5-10 minutes.
• Lift the seat of the machine.

Remove the fuse. It is also possible to dismantle the battery of the unit if the air temperature outside is low.
Many riders ignore such a simple procedure, but it is the one that most often causes problems with starting the equipment. For example, it is almost impossible to start a “cold” engine right away. Therefore, the driver begins to methodically press the “start” button, and at the same time the battery is discharged. Already after 10-15 attempts, the battery is saturated, and it becomes unreal to start the equipment.

Important: In severe frost it is necessary to carry out preservation of a scooter. If this is not done, the condensate will gather in the bottom of the carburetor and the ATV will have to “warm up” for several days.

Problems with the starter
The reason why the ATV does not start, can be the starter or damaged contacts. In this case, you should:

• Check the condition of the wires. Very often the starter contacts are oxidized, so they should be regularly inspected and cleaned.
• Check the starter relay. Here, too, oxidation can appear. Although the part is sealed, moisture can enter the device through microcracks. If the problem is in the relay, then it must be removed, cleaned of corrosion and oxidation. After that, the contacts are lubricated with a special grease composition.

However, if the damage is severe, it is better to replace the part.
But what to do if the Chinese ATV does not start because of problems with the starter in the field or far from home? In this case, the rider needs to close the relay contacts with a screwdriver. Thus, the rider will be able to start the machine bypassing the faulty starter.

No spark
Lack of spark is another simple but unpleasant failure. It usually occurs due to damage to the coil or breakage of the wires that go to the spark plug. Solving the problem is easy. The rider just needs to unscrew the spark plug, put it in the cap, put it with the metal part on the motor and press “start”.

The post What should I do if my ATV won’t start? appeared first on Ouachitaatvadventures.

To begin with the rider needs to decide what is a priority for him: speed or permeability. It is from this is worth pushing back deciding what tires on the ATV is better to put.

If you like a drive on your ATV or want to participate in the race, then you should choose tires of small diameter (12-14 inches). Such rubber will significantly increase the speed of the vehicle, but its cross-country ability will be reduced.

Larger wheels on the contrary, will allow the ATV to pass even on difficult trails: marshy areas, streams, mud, snow. The fact is that the large tires have a larger contact patch, which improves traction. But if you install on the test bike tires of large diameter, then the torque of the unit will be reduced and the wear and tear of the components (engine and suspension) will increase.

But it is better not to experiment with tires for children’s ATV. If there are 8-inch wheels on the machine, then you need to change them for rubber of similar size. Installation of wheels of a different diameter will lead to a deterioration in controllability, loss of sensitivity and reduced power.

Features of tires for motorcycles

It should be noted at once that almost all rubber for ATVs is designed for off-road. Although some manufacturers produce tires for public roads.

Now on the market are presented:

• Radial tires. Such wheels are better suited for flat trails and high-speed riding. Actually, if you plan to drive around the city, then radial tires are suitable for you.
• Diagonal tires. This rubber is the most common solution, as it provides a better stability for the ATV when riding on marshy terrain or mud.

It is necessary to pay attention to the tire marking. This will greatly simplify the choice of appropriate rubber.

The wheel size is usually specified in the English or metric system. The first option looks like this: 25×8-12. The first two numbers indicate the height and width of the tire, and the last one is the radius of the disk.

The metric system looks a little more complicated, for example: 200/70R12. Where 200 is the width of the tire, and 70 is the ratio of width to profile height.

To choose a tire for the ATV it is necessary to take into account the tread pattern. It depends on how the motorized vehicle will behave off-road.

Types of patterns:

• For loose soil and dirt. Products of this type are designed for riding on wet and viscous trails. The tires feature a deep herringbone pattern. It allows you to avoid slippage and improve traction with the road. In addition, there are additional grousers on the rear tires.
• For grass. Such rubber improves the behavior of the scooter on the field or lawn, thanks to the even distribution of the load. Most often, such tires are chosen for riding on the dacha or the countryside.
• For sand. On such rubber, there are special blades that help “take away” loose soil. The tread pattern resembles blocks. It is important to note that these are quite narrowly oriented tires, so you can use them only for driving on sand.
• For snow. Such tires are distinguished by a deep pattern, spikes and are even sometimes supplemented with chains.
• For sports. Racing tires are made of soft rubber and have small ledges, which increase the stability of the scooter on smooth tracks. Also the “shoulders” of sports tires are reinforced, allowing the vehicle to overcome the roughness.

But if you plan to ride on dirt, lawn, snow and other surfaces, then it is better to take universal tires. The fine pattern of the tires allows the ATV to feel good on any type of track.

Optimal wheel pressure
Even if you choose the best tires for the ATV, without proper maintenance their effectiveness will be low. This means that the rider needs to monitor the tire pressure and change it based on the peculiarities of the trails.

• When riding on flat surfaces like concrete, asphalt or dirt, the pressure in the wheels should be 0.49-0.88 atm.
• To ride on sand, the rider needs to reduce the values to 0.19-0.39 atm.
• When riding on soft trails (fields, swamps), you should set the pressure to 0.29-0.78 atm.

The post How to choose tires for an ATV? appeared first on Ouachitaatvadventures.

1. ATV for hunting, fishing and household needs. For such activities more often buy utilitarian ATVs, which are characterized by universal characteristics. Average tank volume, all-wheel drive, diesel or gasoline engine capacity of 50 hp. (from 500 cc and above), payload of about 150 kg, wheel width from 170 mm, ground clearance of 10 cm.
2. ATV for high-speed riding on flat surfaces and rough terrain with small drops. Suitable models have petrol engines with the injector from 800 cc and above.
3. ATV for tourists with a penchant for extreme hobbies. Suitable models with the following parameters: gasoline engine of 750 cubic centimeters, full driveline with independent suspension, liquid cooling, a large tank and a payload of 250 kg or more.

What ATV to choose a beginner?

Choosing ATV/SSV equipment for the beginner is a responsible process, because the first ATV must not disappoint the owner neither with technical parameters, nor with the characteristics of operation. It is better to choose from the category “utilitarian”, because utilitarian ATVs are more versatile, and will help to determine which driving style is preferable.

ATV for beginners must have the following characteristics:

• SUFFICIENT POWER RESERVE (FROM 50 HP), SO THAT THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS WITH OVERCOMING OBSTACLES;
• INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION FOR COMFORTABLE RIDING IN ALL CONDITIONS;
• AUTOMATIC GEARBOX OR VARIATOR;
• MEDIUM-SIZED WHEELS.

The post How to choose an ATV for different operating conditions? appeared first on Ouachitaatvadventures.

Clothing for ATV riders

Many fans of machinery are interested in what you can ride an ATV in the QuadRider club. Appropriate clothing for riders should be made of high quality synthetic materials, and not all of them are suitable.

The ammunition should be distributed over the following three layers:

1. The first layer, which is responsible for dissipating the moisture generated between the body and the garment. This is a thermal underwear “for outdoor activities,” which should not be worn on other clothing. Such clothing fits the body, and its composition must be polypropylene, polyester or spandex. Wool, plain cotton or fleece are not suitable in this case.
2. The second layer is responsible for the important preservation of the necessary warmth and the removal of moisture. The best material in this case is fleece with a thickness of 100 to 200 g/m. For example, a suitable thing is a sweatshirt that does not contain wool.
3. The third layer is protective against external negative factors. It does not prevent the drainage of excess moisture outside, but prevents its penetration into the interior. In this case, the appropriate material is in the form of a two-layer membrane, which is produced by many manufacturers.

When riding on the ATV under a strong load gets the outer clothing, which occurs in adverse weather conditions, in contact with different elements of the ATV and hooks when crossing the forest terrain. The most suitable option of clothing for ATV riders are modern motorcycle jackets that have inlays of special Cordura and created from wear-resistant material, as well as equipped with protection for the shoulders and elbows. Serious attention in the options of suitable clothing for the ATV pilot deserve motocomber suits, made of durable waterproof fabric. But they poorly permeable and slowly drain the resulting moisture from the surface of the body. In overalls can not cross the river to wade, which is very impractical, and removing and wearing a suit is not convenient for a man and takes a long time. The suit for riding an ATV is considered suitable under the following conditions:

• The skin and inner garments remain dry after removing the suit;
• You don’t have to adjust them on the road and you don’t feel uncomfortable;
• the suit provides the necessary warmth.

Clothing should protect against moisture build-up and allow excess moisture to pass through, fit, provide thermal protection, and provide the necessary wind protection. Clothing should be easy to wash and use for long periods of time, and the moisture-proof material used to make it should not absorb dirt. The outfit is easy to clean at home. All models should have regulators and expanders in the form of zippers that the ATV rider can use in case of discomfort.

Pants

Membrane special pants and waterproof pants are chosen for the ATV with mandatory consideration of the complexity of the upcoming routes. They protect against the impact of bushes, branches and possible bruises in a sudden fall, as well as do not constrain the movement when riding. Pants are durable and hardwearing. The best option is when the pants can be fastened to the jacket with a snake. This easily creates a semblance of a jumpsuit, which leads to improved aerodynamics and the role of protective inserts. In doing so, the edges of the jacket stop developing in the wind. In the absence of protective inserts on the knees of pants, special kneepads are additionally purchased. Large selection of sizes available allows you to quickly choose pants for ATV tailored to the figure, the wishes and personal preferences of the ATV rider.

Footwear

Finntrail waders are suitable for your feet, chosen for outdoor activities and long ATV rides. Another suitable option is waders with a special neoprene sock called Finntrail Athletic plus. Presented model is equipped with fabric protection, located on the knees and in vulnerable areas. In waders, combined with boots, the feet will invariably sweat, and it is almost impossible to dry such shoes in hiking conditions because of the impossibility of turning inside out. Also the ideal is the boots with a high made cuff and special motocross boots, and now the latter are in demand among the many professional athletes who choose to travel on an ATV.

Equipment for the ATV

The elements of necessary equipment for an ATV pilot necessarily include:

• balaclava and head helmet;
• goggles;
• Robust kneepads and elbow pads to prevent injuries in a fall;
• special safety shoes;
• body armor for the back and torso;
• waterproof heavy-duty gloves;
• quality thermal underwear to keep you warm.

A protective helmet provides safety for the pilot, which is relevant when crossing a forest with lots of branches, dust, and dirt. It is also an option for protection from rain and cold, possible shocks and concussions. Rugged helmet occupies an important place in the necessary equipment. It can be open, completely covering the head of the ATV rider, as well as covering it only three-quarters. The more open element provides greater visibility, but a reduced level of protection. Thermal underwear for warm and cold season drains the sweat produced and increases the comfort of the ride. Special undergarments and neck insulators made from windstopper are useful. A thin synthetic balaclava that quickly dissipates accumulated moisture is more suitable for the head. The eyes of the ATV rider is necessarily protected by special goggles, which may differ from each other by season, the degree of elasticity, color and cost.

Equipment is considered complete only if there is protection for your elbows, knees and hands. Knee pads, waterproof gloves and elbow pads are used for this function. An attribute of the equipment becomes 2-3 sets of waterproof gloves, from which protection and comfort is required. The palm surface should have a special anti-slip coating. At the same time, such products must be protected from touching some parts of the ATV, as well as from the impact of branches when riding in the woods.

The post Clothing for ATV riders appeared first on Ouachitaatvadventures.

In order for your ATV to be ready for harsh winter cold, you need to take care of its preparation in advance. It is desirable to make preparations in late summer or fall. The first tip will be to change the oil and other fluids necessary for the operation of the vehicle. This is considered a mandatory part of ATV maintenance, so it is quite logical to begin with this preparation of the ATV for the cold weather. Water tends to penetrate the oil and lubrication of the machine, while riding in deep ditches that are filled with water. Also water can form in the form of condensation when there are sudden changes in temperature. You should not leave water in the mechanisms of the ATV, as parts will wear out much faster and eventually cease to function properly. If your locality is famous for very cold winters, the water can turn into ice and, accordingly, increase in volume. In this case, the probability of damage to the integrity of parts of the ATV increases.

To avoid such problems we recommend changing oil and filter in the engine, as well as oil in the transmission and four-wheel drive mechanism. We have no doubt that you will easily notice the watery oil, as it has a milky color.

The second equally important item is engine lubrication. You may ask a pertinent question why the engine of an ATV needs additional lubrication, because it is practically “bathed” in oil. The reality is that the oil is in the lower part of the engine. Cylinders, pistons and rings remain dry. This is what causes corrosion processes. To treat the engine with oil, you should remove the air filter and start the car. After that, oil is sprayed into the throttle or carburetor intake. It is likely that the engine will reduce the revs and produce a lot of smoke. This means you need to open the throttle valve more. Keep the engine running until the oil has covered all the parts.

Additional off-season ATV maintenance activities

The next step is to remove the battery. If it is stored for long periods of time during the cold season, there is a risk that the battery will not work in the spring. We recommend removing the battery from the ATV. This will help prolong the life of the battery for several years. The battery should be stored in a warm place. Place it on a shelf or wood stand. Remember to charge it for a few hours each month to keep the battery in working order.

Carburetor clogging and fuel drying out in the carburetor can be prevented by adding a fuel stabilizer before the cold weather sets in. Just a few minutes will save you time and nerves in the spring. Before you make your last ATV trip, pour the stabilizer into the tank and hit the road. If you do not need to go anywhere, it is enough to fill the stabilizer and start the engine for a couple of minutes. This operation should be done before greasing the engine. We wish you success! Take care of your ATV!

The post How to properly prepare your ATV for winter appeared first on Ouachitaatvadventures.