Top 10 Tips for Homeschool Leaders: Preventing Fraud Let’s hope fraud or embezzlement never happens in your homeschool group! Do you have safeguards to spot it and prevent it? This is the third part of a 5-part series on Top 10 Tips for Running a Homeschool Group, Carol Topp, CPA shares some tips to prevent fraud. The recording is from workshop given to homeschool leaders in Wichita, Kansas. You will find the audience questions might be a question you would ask! In the podcast Carol mentions her...
Oct 17, 2019•10 min
Top 10 Tips for Homeschool Leaders: Bylaws “Are bylaws and a board really necessary or is that only for homeschool groups that are 501c3 nonprofits?” was a great question asked by a homeschool leader at a workshop given to homeschool leaders in Wichita, Kansas. In this second part of a 5-part series on Top 10 Tips for Running a Homeschool Group, Carol Topp, CPA, will answer that question and discuss bylaws and boards. She even explains IRS 501c3 tax exempt status too! Each episode can be found a...
Oct 03, 2019•10 min
Top 10 Tips for Homeschool Leaders: Board duties What does it take to be a board member of a homeschool group? Is it just attending meetings? Carol Topp, the Homeschool CPA explains the 4 duties of nonprofit board members: Duty of Care, Loyalty, Compliance and Management. This is the first part of a 5-part series on Top 10 Tips for Running a Homeschool Group, a workshop given to homeschool leaders in Wichita, Kansas. You will probably find many of the audience questions would be a question you m...
Sep 19, 2019•10 min
Tiny homeschool groups have different challenges than large programs. They are limited on resources, volunteers, and activities. But they still have questions about legal status, money and taxes that the large homeschool organizations have. In this 4-part podcast series, Carol Topp, CPA answers the common questions that tiny homeschool groups face. Find all the episodes at HomechoolCPA.com/Podcast Episode #175 Are We a Nonprofit? Episode #176 Do We Need to File Anything? Episode #177 Do We Need ...
Aug 22, 2019•14 min
Tiny homeschool groups have different challenges than large programs. They are limited on resources, volunteers, and activities. But they still have questions about legal status, money and taxes that the large homeschool organizations have. In this 4-part podcast series, Carol Topp, CPA answers the common questions that tiny homeschool groups face. Find all the episodes at HomechoolCPA.com/Podcast Episode #175 Are We a Nonprofit? Episode #176 Do We Need to File Anything? Episode #177 Do We Need ...
Aug 08, 2019•18 min
Tiny homeschool groups have different challenges than large programs. They are limited on resources, volunteers, and activities. But they still have questions about legal status, money and taxes that the large homeschool organizations have. In this 4-part podcast series, Carl Topp, CPA answers the common questions that tiny homeschool groups face. Find all the episodes at HomechoolCPA.com/Podcast Episode #175 Are We a Nonprofit? Episode #176 Do We Need to File Anything? Episode #177 Do We Need t...
Jul 25, 2019•15 min
Tiny homeschool groups have different challenges than large programs. They are limited on resources, volunteers, and activities. But they still have questions about legal status, money and taxes that the large homeschool organizations have. In this 4-part podcast series, Carol Topp, CPA answers the common questions that tiny homeschool groups face. Find all the episodes at HomechoolCPA.com/Podcast Episode #175 Are We a Nonprofit? Episode #176 Do We Need to File Anything? Episode #177 Do We Need ...
Jul 11, 2019•18 min
A military family can be an asset to your homeschool group. Find out how from homeschool leader Melissa Robb and School Liaison Officer at Newport, RI Naval Base, Pamela Martin. These two ladies have a heart for helping homeschool military families and you’ll learn the benefits of inviting them into your group. In this episode of the HomeschoolCPA podcast, Carol Topp will share: How to host a welcome meeting for military families What information a military family needs form local homeschoolers ...
Jun 27, 2019•17 min
Homeschool leader Melissa Robb was never in the military, but she developed a heart for homeschool military families moving to her area. Listen as she tells Carol Topp about how she helped military families with information, connections and friendship. In this episode of the HomeschoolCPA podcast, Carol Topp will share: How to welcome a military family moving to your area The struggles that military homeschool families face How homeschool leader Melissa Robb developed a heart for military famili...
Jun 20, 2019•19 min
As a homeschool leader you may need form resources to help you understand a special needs child in your homeschool co-op. Faith Berens, the Special Needs Consultant at the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), shares several resources with host Carol Topp in today’s episode. • HSLDA’s list of resources https://hslda.org/content/strugglinglearner/default.asp • KeyMinistry.org Download their free toolkit • Joni And Friends • CLC Network. Books for children with autism • Let All the Childr...
May 30, 2019•16 min
Special needs children can be a challenge for a homeschool group leader. In this episode, Faith Berens, Special Needs Consultant at the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) explains to host Carol Topp how a homeschool co-op can welcome a child with special needs. In this episode of the Homeschool CPA podcast, Faith shared: • All children want to feel welcomed • Tips for accommodating a child with special needs including using intake forms and having a pre-visit time • Why asking “How ca...
May 16, 2019•15 min
Some homeschool groups that started as a for-profit business want to convert to a nonprofit organization. Most of these nonprofit organization also want 501c3 tax exempt status from the IRS as well. In this 3-part podcast series Carol Topp, CPA has explained the basics of a nonprofit organization and how to form a nonprofit corporation. In this third episode Carol discusses 501c3 tax exempt status. The first two episodes (#168 and 169) can be found at HomeschoolCPA.com/Podcast In this episode, C...
May 03, 2019•15 min
Sometimes a homeschool group started as a for-profit business desires to convert to a nonprofit organization for its many benefits. Can that be done? How hard is it? How costly is it? In the next 3 podcast episodes Carol Topp, CPA will explain how to convert a for-profit business into a nonprofit organization. In this second episode Carol discusses bylaws and nonprofit incorporation: The first episode #168 on forming a nonprofit board aired on April 4, 2019. Find it at HomeschoolCPA.com/Podcast ...
Apr 18, 2019•18 min
Sometimes a homeschool group that started as a for-profit business now desires to convert to a nonprofit organization for its many benefits. Can that be done? How hard is it? How costly is it? In the next 3 podcast episodes Carol Topp, CPA will explain how to convert a for-profit business into a nonprofit organization. In this first episode covering the basics Carol discusses: Your organization’s purpose will not be making a profit but now will be educational and maybe religious. The control of ...
Apr 04, 2019•17 min
Do you have too many plates spinning? Do you wear too many hats in running your homeschool program? Jamie Buckland, a homeschool leader from West Virginia started Appalachia Classical Academy and knows where you are coming from! Jamie explains to host Carol Topp how she is working herself out of a job. Some of her advice incudes: Listen to your staff (employees or volunteers) Give opportunity for feedback Welcome correction and be open Let them own it. This can apply to hired teacher, volunteers...
Mar 21, 2019•17 min
Ugh! As a homeschool leader, don’t you hate having those hard conversations with families, students of your staff? Jamie Buckland, a homeschool leader from West Virginia started Appalachia Classical Academy and understands having to deal with conflicts. Jamie explains to host Carol Topp how she manages to deal with conflict in her group. Some of her advice incudes: Don’t ignore conflict Do not generalize over a specific violation Set clear expectations Time your conversations. Practice what you ...
Mar 14, 2019•17 min
Should your homeschool program pay teachers? Jamie Buckland, a homeschool leader from West Virginia started Appalachia Classical Academy and pays her teachers as employees. How and why would she do that? This podcast will give you something to think about and consider for your homeschool program. Jamie explains to host Carol Topp how she started her classical homeschool program including: How she received advice from other homeschool leaders Why her program charges tuition Why she pays teachers ...
Mar 07, 2019•19 min
Sometimes homeschool leaders must deal with angry members. It seems as if the ugliness from social media creeps into our homeschool groups. It’s happened to Alicia Strunkel, a homeschool leader form Georgia. Alicia explains to host Carol Topp how she has learned to deal with upset people both online and in person. Alicia shares some tips including: Don’t try to defend yourself Don’t become argumentative Don’t fan the flame and it dies out Let it go! Aim for personal peace Alicia also explains he...
Feb 28, 2019•15 min
Are you a people pleaser? Alicia Strunkel, a homeschool leader form Georgia, is, but after 11 years of leading homeschool groups, she has learned how to deal with opposition. Alicia explains to host Carol Topp how she has learned to deal with her feeling when people are upset with her decisions. Alicia shares some tips including: Putting your feelings aside Look at the situation objectively Look at the bigger picture Ask yourself “What can I learn?” Focus on your group’s purpose My favorite quot...
Feb 21, 2019•11 min
Does your homeschool group have a hard time getting volunteers? Maybe you need to keep meetings to a minimum since homeschoolers are busy people. Homeschool leader Michele Gross shares some great tips on keeping meetings to a minimum but still staying in communication. Michele has been a homeschool leader for 15 years and currently is the founder and director of The Learning Connection in New Jersey. In this episode of the HomeschoolCPA podcast, Carol Topp will share: Keep meetings to a minimum....
Feb 14, 2019•16 min
Does your homeschool group have a hard time finding volunteers? Many groups struggle with getting people to help out. Homeschool leader Michele Gross shares some great tips for recruiting volunteers with host Carol Topp. Michele has been a homeschool leader for 15 years and currently is the founder and director of The Learning Connection in New Jersey. In this episode of the HomeschoolCPA podcast, Carol Topp will share: Don’t strive for an event. If you have no volunteers, there is no event. Pol...
Feb 07, 2019•14 min
Is your homeschool teacher an employee or Independent Contractor? In 2018 California Supreme Court tried to make that questions easier to answer with a simpler 3 part test: The ABC Test for Independent Contractor status. Can You Pass The Three-Part ABC Test? Employers must be able to answer yes to all three parts of the ABC Test if they want to classify workers as independent contractors: The worker is free from the control and direction of your homeschool organization or business in relation to...
Jan 31, 2019•11 min
Did you know there are some tax forms to file before April 15? There are if you are a homeschool business owner or homeschool nonprofit that paid anyone more than $600 in 2018. I’m talking about the IRS Form 1099-MISC that is given to Independent Contractors paid more than $600 by your homeschool business or group. In today’s podcast Carol answers a question from a new Classical Conversations director who asks, “Do I need to give Classical Conversations a 1099-MISC for the licensing fees I paid ...
Jan 24, 2019•11 min
Taxes! 2018 tax returns will be better rough with massive tax law changes and the new look for the Form 1040. Tax preparation for homeschool business owners is even more complex than regular taxpayers. Fortunately, HomeschoolCPA is here to help. I’m offering a free, live webinar. Taxes for Homeschool Business Owners Webinar Free live on Monday January 21, 2019 at 8 pm ET. Webinar replay: $10. HomeschoolCPA.com/HSBIZTAXES This webinar is for: Paid teachers at a homeschool co-op CC tutors getting ...
Jan 17, 2019•12 min
Homeschool leader Amanda Shafer is a woman of many talents. After first serving as her board secretary, she is now switching to serving as their treasurer! Amanda’s been secretary of her homeschool group, Heartland Homeschool Association in southeast Missouri. But she agreed to a new role as treasurer. In this episode of the HomeschoolCPA podcast host Carol Topp and Amanda discuss: Keeping a master file of important papers Having a calendar at every board meeting What a homeschool organization’s...
Jan 10, 2019•15 min
Homeschool leader Amanda Shafer is a woman of many talents. After first serving as her board secretary, she is now switching to serving as their treasurer! Amanda’s role a secretary of her homeschool group, Heartland Homeschool Association in southeast Missouri included sending emails, newsletters and handling registration for 90 families! It was a large task. Listen to hear how Amanda stayed organized and reduced the full day-long paper registration to an online system that takes only 10 minute...
Jan 03, 2019•13 min
Carol Topp, the HomeschoolCPA was recently asked if a homeschool co-op had to be a nonprofit? The homeschool leader, Laura, asked, “Does a homeschool co-op have to be a nonprofit or can it just run using PayPal account to collect insurance and facility fees that get paid doesn’t out again. Is it illegal to not be a nonprofit?” I understand her confusion. I discuss nonprofit status so often that homeschool leaders wonder if its absolutely necessary. In this episode of the podcast, Carol explains ...
Dec 20, 2018•10 min
Homeschool leader Melissa Robb has noticed that the reason people homeschool has changed. Do you notice a difference in your area, too? In today’s podcast Carol Topp interviews homeschool leader Melissa Robb from Rhode Island. Melissa’s organization, ENRICH, hosts monthly information meeting for people interested in homeschooling. She discusses what she has seen: Parents now think about homeschooling when their children are infants or preschoolers Many parents are homeschooling to avoid a bad si...
Dec 13, 2018•11 min
Homeschool leader Melissa Robb doesn’t just care about her group’s members, she also helps the public by leading introduction to homeschooling sessions! This is a terrific idea that I wish every homeschool group did. Melissa explains why her homeschool group, ENRICH in Rhode Island devotes time to these information events and how they benefit her group and homeschooling in general. In this episode of the HomeschoolCPA podcast Melissa explains: • Why she started does monthly Introduction to Homes...
Dec 06, 2018•12 min
Has anybody ever disappointed you? Maybe you feel personally hurt by your homeschool group members. Homeschool leader Becky Abrams leads a homeschooling co-op in Oregon. She has learned how to avoid take things personally. It takes practice, but Becky shares some tips and a very helpful mindset (involving a bus driver) that will help you overcome disappointment. In this episode of the HomeschoolCPA podcast Becky explains: How to deal with unmet expectations How to avoid taking things (like a fam...
Nov 29, 2018•17 min
