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Maybe it started as a food drive at church, a youth league in Mount Healthy or a scholarship fund in a parent’s name. Now people want to give, and you want to do it properly. Starting a nonprofit in Cincinnati takes a handful of filings in the right order. We help prepare and file the paperwork, so you can spend your energy on the mission.
When You Need Help to Start a Nonprofit
It is time to make it official when money starts moving. If gifts are going into someone’s personal account, that person could owe tax on them and donors get no deduction. Grants usually require a formal group with its own bank account. Hiring even one part-time person brings payroll rules.
Our Process to Start a Nonprofit
We take it step by step. First, you pick a name, a purpose and at least a few board members. Next, your articles of incorporation are filed with the Ohio Secretary of State to form the nonprofit corporation. We can file them for you or walk you through filing them yourself. Your board then adopts bylaws. We focus on the tax and accounting side, so if you want legal advice on your bylaws or structure, talk with a lawyer.
Then you need a federal ID number, called an EIN. The IRS lets you get an EIN online for free. With it, you can open a bank account in the group’s name. From there we help with your 501(c)(3) application and register you with the state as a charity. If you will have staff, we tell you which payroll accounts to open before the first payday. Last, we set up books built around the categories your yearly 990 will ask for.
Start a Nonprofit Cost in Cincinnati
Our fee depends on how many steps you need and how far along you are. Some groups come to us already incorporated and only need the rest. Others start from an idea. Choosing a full Form 1023 instead of the short form adds time. State and IRS filing fees are separate and paid to those offices. We tell you our fee before we begin.
Don't Skip the Ohio Charity Registration
Many new groups stop after the IRS. In Ohio, most charities must also register with the Ohio AG’s office, and the state says this applies whether or not you have tax-exempt status yet. The state’s charitable registration information sheet advises registering within six months of forming. Groups run only for religious purposes are usually exempt. We add this step to your plan so it isn’t missed.
Why Choose Us to Start a Nonprofit
We have prepared taxes in Cincinnati since 1993, and nonprofit work is one of the things we are known for. Most startup helpers disappear after launch. We stay. The same office that helps you start can keep your books, run payroll and prepare your 990 every year after.
After launch, lean on our accounting support for nonprofits after launch.
Common Questions
Do we need a 501(c)(3) to start a nonprofit in Ohio?
No. Forming the Ohio nonprofit corporation and getting IRS recognition are separate steps. Most groups do both, because donors and grant makers want to see the IRS letter.
Should our church start a separate nonprofit for its outreach?
Sometimes. A daycare, food pantry or community center may work better as its own group with its own books. We can walk through the tax side with your leaders before you decide.