How to Start a Non Profit Business

Have you spent years struggling to find a way to help fill a need in your community or state?  Have you recently decided that a non-profit organization might be the best way to do this?  If you want to start a non-profit but are unsure on where to start, here are a few helpful tips.

The absolute first thing you need to do is create a mission statement.  What is the goal of your non-profit and how to you intend to achieve it?  Who will benefit from your services and what values will guide the way that you operate?

You also need to look at things from a financial point of view.  Will your business be informal or will you incorporate it so that it can continue even if you leave?  Do you want it to be able to receive tax deductible donations and to have tax exempt status? 

What about financing?  You also need to ensure that you have the money needed to operate your non-profit.  This can come from corporate sponsorship, personal finances, or even bank loans, but you need to have everything in place.

While you can file for incorporation and tax exemption on your own, it may not hurt to seek legal counsel when starting a non-profit.  You want everything to be legal and professional, and with the right guidance you can ensure that you are making the right choices.  Take the time to look at all angles and you can start your non-profit off on the right foot.