Did you know that 83% of Americans that look for a new place of worship take the preaching quality into account when choosing where to go? If you are looking at how to start a church legally, you are in the right place. We are going to give you the steps that you have to take to ensure that everything you are doing is legal and in order.
Keep reading to learn the ins and outs of starting a church.
1. Initial Plan
First, you will have to sit down with a pen and paper and create an initial plan for your future church. This is where you figure out what the mission for your church is. This mission needs to define who you are, what you believe, and what you want to bring to your community.
During the initial phase you will also have to think of a name for your church, the denomination you will follow (Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, etc) or non-denominational. You will also have to define what your objectives and goals are with starting a new church.
2. Fundraising Phase
Unless you have your own money that you will be using to start up the church to cover all the costs, you will have to create fundraising campaigns. The money raised will help cover startup costs, software implementation, the facility, etc.
You will have to first apply for an EIN or Employer Identification Number in order to stay in compliance with the IRS when it comes to taxes. This number will identify your church when you open a bank account and conduct your fundraisers.
Set up your donation platforms either online, crowdfunding, events, text-to-tithe services, etc. You want the methods you choose to appeal to most of your supports and make it easy for them to donate money to your church.
3. Complete the Paperwork
Next, you will want to take care of all the legalities for your church. If you do not feel comfortable with this step you might want to hire a lawyer to help you fill out the paperwork. Besides the EIN we mentioned above you will also have to complete the applications for a Certificate of Formation and a 501(c)(3) status.
During this step, you will also want to purchase the software that you will use to manage everyone that attends your church. The best way to keep in touch with everyone is with a reputable system such as Icon Church Management.
Now You Know How to Start a Church Legally
We hope that now you feel confident about how to start a church legally. It is time to take action and get your church up and running in the near future. Starting a church can help so many people in your community and will help you feel like you are doing a great deed to help humanity.
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