I’d maybe start with, I agree with $x amount even though you missed the deadline but expect the rest returned to me within x days, or I plan to contact tenants rights group to help me seek all damages allowed.

You need to get that going immediately because if it's the last option you don't want to be starting from square one.

We have no clue where to get started though.

Just a tip: make sure you go into it with an experienced brokerage who really know their way around.I’ve personally been helping international investors get into the Dubai scene and work with experienced local companies that handle everything from start to finish. 

We have two vacation rental investor groups starting up next month and meeting monthly. 

Does anyone have any ideas where to start.  

Do we pay ourselves as 1099 contractors or start reimbursing ourselves for the initial capital we invested?

They all have there unique challenges but using a PMS from the start was a good option for us.

To start you may have to do everything but eventually you will want to build a business not a job that relies on your physical labor.  

If you just hire the cheapest or first PMC you speak with and it turns into a bad experience, please don’t assume ALL PMC’s are bad and start trashing PMC’s in general.