Accounting & Bookkeeping & Small Business Forum

[Doris]

I am new to UAC and I will soon be finishing the PB course. I would like to market to churches and non-for-profit organizations. Does anyone have ideas for marketing to these groups and a suggestion for the software? Thanks

[Richard Noot]

Doris wrote: I am new to UAC and I will soon be finishing the PB course. I would like to market to churches and non-for-profit organizations. Does anyone have ideas for marketing to these groups and a suggestion for the software? Thanks There is certainly a hugh need for those who are proficient in accounting for churches. The biggest problem is that churches are cheap and will
hire someone that does not have the slighest idea of what they are doing to do their books. Then to make matters worse they will have a bank officer or CPA thst has no special training in non profits do their compliance audit. THE RESULT IS THAT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT BETWEEN 80-90% OF CHURCHES ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE FEDERAL AND IRS RULES AND REGULATIONS. If you choose to pursue this area there are two websites that I recommend. www.startchurch.com and www.chitwoods.com.

[stasia2003]

Richard Noot wrote: Doris wrote: I am new to UAC and I will soon be finishing the PB course. I would like to market to churches and non-for-profit organizations. Does anyone have ideas for marketing to these groups and a suggestion for the software? Thanks There is certainly a hugh need for those who are proficient in accounting for churches. The biggest problem is that churches are cheap and will
hire someone that does not have the slighest idea of what they are doing to do their books. Then to make matters worse they will have a bank officer or CPA thst has no special training in non profits do their compliance audit. THE RESULT IS THAT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT BETWEEN 80-90% OF CHURCHES ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE FEDERAL AND IRS RULES AND REGULATIONS. If you choose to pursue this area there are two websites that I recommend. www.startchurch.com and www.chitwoods.com.

Thanks for keeping it real Richard. :lol:

I do know what you mean though. My sister is the bookkeeper for her church but she does not have any formal training in bookkeeping. She used to be the Head Cashier of a major supermarket years ago, but that's a far cry from actual bookkeeping. When I mentioned to her about the training she needed, she wasn't trying to hear it. Churches do their accounting the way they want to do it. That's why I don't really market to them.

[Richard Noot]

I have shared the same experiences you have. Working with churches can be a full time challenge. You usually find yourself at odds with the finance commitee and the board of directors. The old way of doing business is usually not challenged by the government because of the separation of state and church. It usually takes an audit of the pastors return and or a complaint by a disgruntled church member to start an investigation. By then the damage has been done. I personally have just finished a five year tax return audit on a minister with the result of him owing over $35000.00 in taxes and penalties. The church had failed to establish a parsonage allowance for him and the result was it was all subject to self employment tax.

[stasia2003]

Richard Noot wrote: I have shared the same experiences you have. Working with churches can be a full time challenge. You usually find yourself at odds with the finance commitee and the board of directors. The old way of doing business is usually not challenged by the government because of the separation of state and church. It usually takes an audit of the pastors return and or a complaint by a disgruntled church member to start an investigation. By then the damage has been done. I personally have just finished a five year tax return audit on a minister with the result of him owing over $35000.00 in taxes and penalties. The church had failed to establish a parsonage allowance for him and the result was it was all subject to self employment tax.

$35000? Ouch!