What do the Duties of Care and Loyalty look like? HomeschoolCPA Carol Topp frequently mentions that homeschool leaders have a duty of care and loyalty to their groups. What does a duty of care look like? How do I know if I am being loyal? This is the first part of a 4-part series on tips for homeschool leaders a workshop given to homeschool leaders in Austin Texas in February 2020. Some of the ways to demonstrate a duty of care and loyalty for a leader include: * Have Board...

Mindset for Homeschool Leaders HomeschoolCPA, Carol Topp spoke to a group of homeschool group leaders in Texas about a good mindset and attitudes that are necessary for leading a homeschool group. In this episode Carol reminds leaders of three things they may have forgotten: * You cannot be all things to all people-so stop trying! * Your organization is not essential to the success of homeschooling! * You are not responsible for homeschooling other peoples’ children! This is...

During the COVID-19 pandemic many homeschool programs used Zoom to stay connected with members. Three group leaders share how they used Zoom in their programs in this podcast episode. In June 2020, Carol Topp of HomeschoolCPA.com hosted a webinar titled Planning an Uncertain Future for homeschool group leaders. The purpose of the webinar was to help homeschool groups plan their fall activities given the COVID-19 pandemic was making it uncertain of they could operate. This podcast will...

On June 1, 2020, Carol Topp of HomeschoolCPA.com hosted a webinar titled Planning an Uncertain Future for homeschool group leaders. The purpose of the webinar was to help homeschool groups plan their fall activities given the COVID-19 pandemic was making it uncertain of they could operate. The webinar is available to watch on YouTube at no charge. https://youtu.be/AaQ1c_XuUvY? It runs for one hour and 38 minutes! This podcast will air the highlights in smaller chunks over five...

Do you have a concern about lawsuits related to COVID-19? As a homeschool group leader you may have concerns that a lawsuit could be brought against your group is someone contracts COVID-19. On June 1, 2020, Carol Topp of HomeschoolCPA.com hosted a webinar titled Planning an Uncertain Future for homeschool group leaders. The purpose of the webinar was to help homeschool groups plan their fall activities given the COVID-19 pandemic was making it uncertain of they could operate. The...

Social Distancing in a Homeschool Group Three homeschool leaders discuss the challenges of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2020, Carol Topp of HomeschoolCPA.com hosted a webinar titled Planning an Uncertain Future for homeschool group leaders. The purpose of the webinar was to help homeschool groups plan their fall activities given the COVID-19 pandemic was making it uncertain of they could operate. This podcast will air the highlights in small chunks over five...

Tools for Planning an Uncertain Future Carol Topp of HomeschoolCPA.com hosted a webinar titled Planning an Uncertain Future for homeschool group leaders in June 2020. The purpose of the webinar was to help homeschool groups plan their fall activities given the COVID-19 pandemic was making it uncertain of they could operate. This podcast will air the webinar highlights in small chunks over five episodes. Join this episode on using a decision matrix and the other five episodes as Carol...

Planning an Uncertain Future for Homeschool Groups On June 1, 2020, Carol Topp of HomeschoolCPA.com hosted a webinar titled Planning an Uncertain Future for homeschool group leaders. The purpose of the webinar was to help homeschool groups plan their fall activities given the COVID-19 pandemic was making it uncertain if they could operate. The webinar is available to watch on YouTube at no charge. https://youtu.be/AaQ1c_XuUvY? It runs for one hour 38 minutes! This podcast will air the...

This episode is an excerpt from the Indiana Homeschool Leaders Retreat. Carol Topp discusses tax exempt status and answers questions about self-declaring tax exempt status for your homeschool support group.   Visit Carol’s website here               FEATURED PRODUCT from HomeschoolCPA:     The IRS and Your Homeschool Organization Does your homeschool group need to pay taxes? Could they avoid paying taxes by being a 501c3 tax exempt organization? Do you know...

Have you heard of pod schools? They are groups of parents who gather together to educate their children outside of their public school system. They became very popular as in-person schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the fall of 2020. In the previous episode (#195) host Carol Topp, the Homeschool CPA, discussed with guest Julie Schiffman two distinct differences between pod schools and homeschools. * Who does the educating, the pod teacher or the parent? * Where does the...

Have you heard of “pandemic pods”? They are groups of parents who gather together to teach or hire a teacher to educate 3-6 students outside of their public school system. They became very popular as in-person schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the fall of 2020. Carol Topp, the Homeschool CPA discusses with guest Julie Schiffman four distinct differences between pod schools and homeschools. * Who does the educating, the pod teacher or the parent? * Where does the...

 Some homeschool groups find it difficult to find a church host. Why is that? This episode is an excerpt from a homeschool leaders retreat held in Indiana. Carol Topp discusses the relationship homeschool groups have with churches who host their programs.   Visit Carol’s website here!                       FEATURED PRODUCT from HomeschoolCPA:     Money Management in a Homeschool Organization Does your homeschool group manage their money well?...

What Homeschool Leaders Don't Know About Losing Tax Exempt Status Carol Topp, CPA, the HomeschoolCPA will share tips on important issues that homeschool leaders may not know about. This episode will focus on helping homeschool leaders know what to do if their organization has lost its tax exempt status. Visit Carol's website here                     FEATURED PRODUCT from HomeschoolCPA:   Does your homeschool group need to pay taxes? Could they avoid...

What Homeschool Leaders Don't Know About IRS Annual Reports Carol Topp, CPA, the HomeschoolCPA will share tips on important issues that homeschool leaders may not know about IRS Annual Report. This episode will focus on helping homeschool leaders understand a report that the IRS requires from all tax exempt organizations--including your group! It's called the Form 990. Visit Carol's website here                   FEATURED SERVICE from...

What Homeschool Leaders Don't Know About Tax Exempt Status Carol Topp, CPA, the HomeschoolCPA, will share tips on important issues that homeschool leaders may not know about. This episode will focus on helping homeschool leaders understand tax exempt status. It's easier than ever to get tax-exempt status. Should your group apply? Visit Carol's website here                 FEATURED SERVICE from HomeschoolCPA:   Tax Exempt for Small Nonprofit...

What Homeschool Leaders Don't Know About NonProfit Status Carol Topp, CPA, the HomeschoolCPA will share tips on important issues that homeschool leaders may not know about. This episode will focus on helping homeschool leaders understand nonprofit status for their groups. What does it take to be a nonprofit? Only two things! Did you know that nonprofit status is not the same thing as tax exempt status? Visit Carol's website here               FEATURED PRODUCT from...

In the new Board Member Manual, Carol Topp, CPA offers has important topics your board should discuss every year. Make a plan to cover one topic a month and do board training all year long. She shares those topics on today's podcast.   Visit Carol's website here!                           FEATURED PRODUCT from HomeschoolCPA:   Homeschool Organization Board Manual This is a real life conversation: HomeschoolCPA: Do you have a copy of...

Can My Homeschool Group Collect Money Now That's For Next Year? Many homeschool groups collect deposits in the spring for next fall's programs. This helps with determining how many families will be returning. But how should these early deposits be recorded in a homeschool group's bookkeeping. Carol Topp, the Homeschool CPA offers some ideas. In the podcast Carol mentioned a handout that explains how to record early deposits in accounting software like QuickBooks. Here it is: Deferred...

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that many homeschool leaders have no group to lead. Some may enjoy the break from responsibilities, but other feel lost and lonely without their groups. Carol Topp, the HomechoolCPA is joined by Doreen Browning, co-moderator of the I am a Homeschool Group Leader Facebook group and Jamie Buckland, Classical Program Consultant. Listen as Carol, Doreen and Jamie discuss: * Leaders without a group can feel lost, lonely and without a purpose * Perhaps...

Stay Connected with Your Homeschool Group During COV-19 The COVID-19 pandemic and the requirements to practice social distancing has meant that many homeschool groups can no longer meet face-to-face. How can homeschool groups stay connected during this time? Carol Topp, the HomechoolCPA is joined on today’s podcast by Doreen Browning, co-moderator of the I am a Homeschool Group Leader Facebook group and Jamie Buckland, Classical Program Consultant. Listen as Carol, Doreen and Jamie...

Has COVID-19, the novel corona virus pandemic, caused your homeschool group to close, suddenly? How did you make the decision to cancel your program? Carol Topp, the HomechoolCPA is joined on today’s podcast by Doreen Browning, co-moderator of the I am a Homeschool Group Leader Facebook group and Jamie Buckland, Classical Program Consultant. Listen as Carol, Doreen and Jamie discuss: * Making hard decisions to close your homeschool program. * The benefits of having a team help...

Carol Topp, the Homeschool CPA, is frequently asked by small homeschool groups if they are setup up correctly. Do they owe taxes? Do they need to be a nonprofit corporation? Henry  writes, “Can a small homeschool education club focused on speech and debate be categorized as an "unincorporated association" and therefore not apply for recognition by the IRS and not file taxes? Less than $2,000 pass through the club to pay for insurance and facilities... This club formed in 2015...

Conflict of Interest: Paid teachers as board members in a homeschool group A homeschool leader is concerned about a conflict of interest if she wants to be a board member and paid teacher. Jessica, who wants to start a homeschool co-op emailed HomeschoolCPA Carol Topp this situation: “I have a question about the conflict of interest issue. Three ladies and I would like to incorporate to teach classes together and form a co-op. If we are the three board members, then does that mean we...

Carol Topp, the Homeschool CPA is sometimes asked if a homeschool family can be a charity.  Sometimes a homeschool spouse wants to set up a business and hire their spouse to homeschool their children. Can this be done? Are there tax breaks for doing this? R.A. writes, “I would like some preliminary information on setting up a 501(c)(7). I would like to set up my homeschool (my wife and 3 kids) up as a charitable organization. We have been homeschooling for 12 years.” Here’s her...