I am just starting out here in South Carolina looking to network meet a community of like-minded individuals.  

When I call the company what questions should I ask in order to know what I have to know if whether I would want to buy or wholesale (I've done neither ever) but just to get kind of a script or advice on what to say.

Steps to do now.  1.  

By no means cheap but solid rent + demand, fun place to live, decent inventory (relatively speaking), and is still commutable to the city. 

I’m brainstorming ideas on how I can market myself to potential mentors in the STR game in order to gain experience.

Guests are used to cleaning fees, so adjusting it to match the actual expense is reasonable.It’s also helpful to check comparable listings in your area to see what other hosts are charging.

A good real estate accountant can save you thousands of dollars by leveraging entity selection and formation, tax deductions, cost segregations, bonus depreciation and tax planning.I recommend finding an accountant specializing in real estate taxation, business taxation, financial planning and tax planning.Consider working with your accountant remotely to expand your options.I would also recommend looking for an accountant willing to work with you throughout the year.

As Michael mentioned you just need to respond to the IRS and state this is what you're doing.

I've been listening to Bigger Pockets for about a year now and excited to join the community.

The successful wholesalers spend $10k + monthly on marketing3.