Dollars & Sense

By Carol ToppEducation Parenting Kids & Family

Dollars & Sense episodes

June 28, 2018Reasons to be an Exclusive Homeschool Group
Should public-school-at-home parents be joining your homeschool group? Or perhaps your group desires to be more exclusive and have all members be “independent” or “traditionally” homeschooling.

On the I Am a Homeschool Group Leader Facebook page, a question was asked about the pros and cons of mixing homeschool and public-school-at-home students in your group-or, put differently, being inclusive (open at all) or exclusive (limiting membership). Many homeschool leaders contributed their experiences and reason for their group’s decision. In this episode of the HomeschoolCPA podcast, Carol Topp will share some of the reasons that some groups are exclusive and do not allow public school students into their homeschool group including:
Leaders cannot serve everyone!
Overcrowding pre-schools or other activities in the homeschool group
Public school students have their own groups and support networks
It’s easier to be exclusive. There were too many disagreements in inclusive group
The group could lose a place in homeschool sports competitions if public school students are included

In the podcast Carol mentioned the Facebook group for homeschool leaders I am a Homeschool Group Leader. Join 400+ homeschool leaders for ideas, encouragement and respective exchange of ideas. https://www.facebook.com/groups/72534255742/

FEATURED PRODUCT from HomeschoolCPA:
Homeschool Co-ops:
How to Start Them, Run Them and not Burn Out
Need more information on how to start and run a homeschool co-op? Carol Topp’s book, Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out is packed with helpful tips and advice from other homeschool leaders.
Starting a homeschool co-op can be easy! This book Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out will give you ideas, inspiration, tips, wisdom and the tools you need to start a homeschool co-op, run it and not burn out!
Click Here to request more information!
Special Thanks to Our Network Sponsor – Well Planned Gal
Rebecca from the Well Planned Gal understands the challenges of working within a budget, managing multiple children, and trying to keep up with a variety of information. That is why she created popular planner bundles!
Combine organizational tools with year long encouragement by bundling Well Planned Day planners with the popular Family Magazine. For a limited time, Save 30% with one of her popular planner bundles. Each bundle contains 2 planner products with a one-year subscription to Family Magazine.
Click Here to Go to Well Planned Gal
The post Reasons to be an Exclusive Homeschool Group appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
14 min
June 21, 2018Reasons to Be an Inclusive Homeschool Group
An inclusive homeschool group allows everyone to join regardless of their method of homeschooling and that includes students that are doing public school at home. Is public school-at-home really homeschooling or not? Should public school-at-home parents be joining your homeschool group? Some leaders grapple with the question of whether their group should be inclusive or more exclusive.

A question was asked about the pros and cons of mixing homeschool and public-school-at-home students in your group at I Am a Homeschool Group Leader Facebook page. The discussion had many homeschool leaders contributing their experiences and reason for their group’s decision. In this episode of the HomeschoolCPA podcast, Carol Topp will share some of the reasons that leaders gave to allow public-school-at-home students in your group:
Openness to all regardless of their choice of homeschool methods
A desire to help everyone concerned about their children’s education
The parents feel like they are homeschooling and still need support
Public-school-at-home parents see the freedom that traditional homeschoolers have and many switch to traditional homeschooling.
Stronger together

In the podcast Carol mentioned the Facebook group for homeschool leaders: I am a Homeschool Group Leader. Join 400+ homeschool leaders for ideas, encouragement and respective exchange of ideas. https://www.facebook.com/groups/72534255742/

FEATURED PRODUCT from HomeschoolCPA:
Homeschool Co-ops:
How to Start Them, Run Them and not Burn Out
Need more information on how to start and run a homeschool co-op? Carol Topp’s book, Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out is packed with helpful tips and advice from other homeschool leaders.
Starting a homeschool co-op can be easy! This book Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out will give you ideas, inspiration, tips, wisdom and the tools you need to start a homeschool co-op, run it and not burn out!
Click Here to request more information!

Special Thanks to Our Network Sponsor – Well Planned Gal
Rebecca from the Well Planned Gal understands the challenges of working within a budget, managing multiple children, and trying to keep up with a variety of information. That is why she created popular planner bundles!
Combine organizational tools with year long encouragement by bundling Well Planned Day planners with the popular Family Magazine. For a limited time, Save 30% with one of her popular planner bundles. Each bundle contains 2 planner products with a one-year subscription to Family Magazine.
Click Here to Go to Well Planned Gal
The post Reasons to Be an Inclusive Homeschool Group appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
14 min
June 14, 2018 No Parental Involvement. Is That a Good Thing?
A homeschool curriculum touted the benefit of their program to be “No parental involvement needed.” Is that a good feature or not? Listen as Carol Topp, CPA warns homeschool leaders of the trap they can fall into if they don’t include parents in their homeschool program.
Visit Carol’s website here!

FEATURED PRODUCT from HomeschoolCPA:

Homeschool Co-ops:
How to Start Them, Run Them and not Burn Out

Have you ever thought about starting a homeschool co-op? Are you afraid it will be too much work? Do you think you’ll have to do it all by yourself? Starting a homeschool co-op can be easy! This book Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out will give you ideas, inspiration, tips, wisdom and the tools you need to start a homeschool co-op, run it and not burn out!
Click Here to request more information!

Special Thanks to Our Network Sponsor – Well Planned Gal
Rebecca from the Well Planned Gal understands the challenges of working within a budget, managing multiple children, and trying to keep up with a variety of information. That is why she created popular planner bundles!
Combine organizational tools with year long encouragement by bundling Well Planned Day planners with the popular Family Magazine. For a limited time, Save 30% with one of her popular planner bundles. Each bundle contains 2 planner products with a one-year subscription to Family Magazine.
Click Here to Go to Well Planned Gal
The post No Parental Involvement. Is That a Good Thing? appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
16 min
June 07, 2018 Accountability: Do you need it?
“I’m looking at a homeschool program that meets twice a week because it will hold me accountable,” explained a mother of preschoolers interested in homeschooling. My question to her was, “Do you need accountability?” Maybe not! Listen as Carol Topp explains her reply to this new mom considering a homeschool program for a very young child.
Visit Carol’s website here!

FEATURED PRODUCT from HomeschoolCPA:

Homeschool Co-ops:
How to Start Them, Run Them and not Burn Out

Have you ever thought about starting a homeschool co-op? Are you afraid it will be too much work? Do you think you’ll have to do it all by yourself? Starting a homeschool co-op can be easy! This book Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out will give you ideas, inspiration, tips, wisdom and the tools you need to start a homeschool co-op, run it and not burn out!
Click Here to request more information!

The post Accountability: Do you need it? appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
14 min
May 31, 2018 Good,Fast And Cheap: Can a Homeschool Co-op Be All Three?
A homeschool co-op offers drop-off high school classes and wants to remain high quality and low cost. The leader is struggling. I say she can’t offer all three: Cheap, good and fast (or convenient for parents). She’ll have to give up one of those goals to remain viable. Listen as Carol Topp, the HomeschoolCPA, explains how she advised this homeschool leader.

FEATURED PRODUCT from HomeschoolCPA:

Money Management in a Homeschool Organization
Does your homeschool group manage their money well? Do you have a budget and know where the money is spent? Do you know how to prevent fraud? This 115 page book will help you to open a checking account, establish a budget, prevent mistakes and fraud, use software to keep the books, prepare a financial statement and hire workers. Sample forms and examples of financial statements in clear English are provided.
Click Here to request more information!

The post Good,Fast And Cheap: Can a Homeschool Co-op Be All Three? appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
12 min
May 24, 2018 Policies for Homeschool Co-ops
Policies for Homeschool Co-ops
This podcast is an excerpt from a workshop titled Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out.
What types of policies should your homeschool co-op have? How will having policies help you avoid burning out as you lead your group? Carol Topp, the HomeschoolCPA, answers these questions and more from homeschool leaders.
Visit Carol’s website here!

FEATURED PRODUCT from HomeschoolCPA:

Phone Consultation with Carol Topp, CPA
Phone Consultation: A pre-arranged phone call to discuss your questions. My most popular service for homeschool leaders. It’s like having your own homeschool expert CPA on the phone!
Cost: $75/hour to nonprofit organizations. $100/hour to for-profit businesses. $60 minimum.
Q &A by Email: I am willing to answer questions by email, but it is very time consuming to read and reply to emails. I charge a reduced rate of $50/hour to read and reply to emails. Minimum $25.
Contact HomeschoolCPA, Carol Topp, CPA, to arrange a telephone consultation.
Click Here to request more information!

The post Policies for Homeschool Co-ops appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
11 min
May 17, 2018 Insurance Questions for Homeschool Co-ops
Insurance Questions for Homeschool Co-ops
This podcast is an excerpt from a workshop titled Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out.
Carol Topp, the Homeschool CPA answers questions from homeschool leaders about insurance, waivers, and using a church’s insurance coverage.
Visit Carol’s website here!

FEATURED PRODUCT from HomeschoolCPA:

Phone Consultation with Carol Topp, CPA
Phone Consultation: A pre-arranged phone call to discuss your questions. My most popular service for homeschool leaders. It’s like having your own homeschool expert CPA on the phone!
Cost: $75/hour to nonprofit organizations. $100/hour to for-profit businesses. $60 minimum.
Q &A by Email: I am willing to answer questions by email, but it is very time consuming to read and reply to emails. I charge a reduced rate of $50/hour to read and reply to emails. Minimum $25.
Contact HomeschoolCPA, Carol Topp, CPA, to arrange a telephone consultation.
Click Here to request more information!

The post Insurance Questions for Homeschool Co-ops appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
12 min
May 10, 2018 Boards, Bylaws and Budgets for Your Homeschool Co-op
Boards, Bylaws and Budgets for Your Homeschool Co-op
This podcast is an excerpt from a workshop titled Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out.
When running your homeschool co-op you should have a board, bylaws and a budget. Carol Topp, CPA offers advice and tips on these important topics to running a successful group.
Visit Carol’s website here!

FEATURED PRODUCT from HomeschoolCPA:

Phone Consultation with Carol Topp, CPA
Phone Consultation: A pre-arranged phone call to discuss your questions. My most popular service for homeschool leaders. It’s like having your own homeschool expert CPA on the phone!
Cost: $75/hour to nonprofit organizations. $100/hour to for-profit businesses. $60 minimum.
Q &A by Email: I am willing to answer questions by email, but it is very time consuming to read and reply to emails. I charge a reduced rate of $50/hour to read and reply to emails. Minimum $25.
Contact HomeschoolCPA, Carol Topp, CPA, to arrange a telephone consultation.
Click Here to request more information!

The post Boards, Bylaws and Budgets for Your Homeschool Co-op appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
13 min
May 03, 2018Nonprofit Incorporation for Your Homeschool Co-op
Nonprofit Incorporation for Your Homeschool Co-op
This podcast is an excerpt from a workshop titled Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out.
Carol Topp, CPA explains the benefits of forming your homeschool co-op as a nonprofit corporation and why a leader would want limited liability protection.

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 the pros and cons of 501c3 status? Do you know what 501c3 status could mean for your homeschool group? I have the answers for you in my book The IRS and Your Homeschool Organization. The information I share in my book has been helpful to homeschool support groups, co-ops, music and sports groups and will help you understand:
The benefits of 501c3 status
The disadvantages too!
What it takes to make the IRS happy
What your state requires
Why your organization should consider becoming a nonprofit corporation
What is the difference between nonprofit incorporation and tax exemption
IRS requirements after you are tax exempt
Click Here to request more information!
The post Nonprofit Incorporation for Your Homeschool Co-op appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
12 min
April 26, 2018 Starting Your Homeschool Co-op with a Mission
When starting a homeschool co-op, consider your mission.
This podcast is an excerpt from a workshop titled Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out.
Carol Topp, the HomeschoolCPA, reminds homeschool leaders that you cannot be all things to all people, nor is your homeschool co-op responsible for homeschooling other people’s children! So having a mission will help you focus and avoid burning out.
Visit Carol’s website here!

FEATURED PRODUCT from HomeschoolCPA:

Phone Consultation with Carol Topp, CPA
Phone Consultation: A pre-arranged phone call to discuss your questions. My most popular service for homeschool leaders. It’s like having your own homeschool expert CPA on the phone!
Cost: $75/hour to nonprofit organizations. $100/hour to for-profit businesses. $60 minimum.
Q &A by Email: I am willing to answer questions by email, but it is very time consuming to read and reply to emails. I charge a reduced rate of $50/hour to read and reply to emails. Minimum $25.
Contact HomeschoolCPA, Carol Topp, CPA, to arrange a telephone consultation.
Click Here to request more information!

The post Starting Your Homeschool Co-op with a Mission appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
14 min