Are you looking for a way to connect with other homeschool families, but your community seems to be missing a piece. If you are ready to start a homeschool co op, then this if for you. Everything you need on how to start a homeschool co op.
Anyone can start a homeschool group, you just need to know how to start a homeschool co op.
Homeschool groups are a great way to connect with other homeschool families. We’ve been part of our homeschool co op for ten years now. Our kids have made good friends and so have I. And there is something for the whole family. That is what appealed to me the most. Regardless of the age, the kids could participate.
This post will give you the tools you need or at least point you in the right direction on how to start a homeschool co op.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase using one of these links, I make a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me keeps things free for you, and who doesn’t love free stuff. For more information, see my disclosures.
A few things to know. While I’ve been on a number of non-profit boards and been a founding member. I am not an accountant or a lawyer. Therefore, the information contained does not constitute legal advice.
The information provided in this post is designed for educational purposes only. I want to pass along information that I’ve learned, so you can research the best options for your co-op and get an idea of where to look for more information.
What Exactly is a Homeschool Co-op
Homeschool co-ops come in all shapes and sizes. That means you can really tailor your homeschool co-op to best fit the needs of your community. Homeschool isn’t a one-size fits all way to educate.
At its most basic, a homeschool co-op is a group of families who come together to share resources, teaching, and community. Families pool their strengths, talents, and energy to create something bigger than the sum of its parts.
If it is a true co-op, then everyone has a role to play. Whether it is teaching, assisting, a board member, or another role. Everyone contributes.
Your homeschool co-op could be academic focused—math, science labs, philosophy—this is great for those subjects you know your kids need, but you dread the thought of teaching it yourself.
Or your co-op homeschool could be enrichment focused—art, drama, field trips, music—all those subjects that are more fun to do with other people.
However you create a homeschool co-op, there are a few things that you need to do. Let’s get into how to start a homeschool co op.
How to Start a Homeschool Co op: Start with Your Mission
Just like there are so many ways to homeschool, there are so many ways to create a homeschool co-op. Start with your mission and vision.
Ask yourself these questions. Why do you want to create a co-op? What do you want to achieve? Who do you want to attend?
This is probably the most important step to determine what your group is going to look like, who you will serve, and it is essential to know when you create your corporate documents.
Grab a cute notebook or a notebook that tells it like it is and start writing down your ideas. Putting pen to paper will get the creative juices flowing, and it will help free up brain space because you aren’t trying to hold onto that thought once it is written down.
The Essentials for Starting a Homeschool Co-op
Once you’ve established your purpose, there are a few details that need to be worked out before you move to the next steps.
1. How often will you meet
Are you going to have a semester schedule? When will your breaks be? If you are just an enrichment co-op, then 9 weeks per semester might be a good amount. If you are planning to follow a curriculum, you will probably need more time. A standard college semester is 15 weeks
When you decide how often you want to meet, keep in mind holidays, what is easy for families, and if it fulfills your purpose.
2. Parental involvement
This is important to determine upfront. Will you have a drop-off program (this will probably come with more legal requirements and insurance)? Do parents need to remain on-site? If so, in what capacity? Do they need to help out in a class or an admin role?
Here are some ideas. Parents need to stay on-site, but they don’t need to help in a classroom. However, the fees are higher for this. Or parents are involved, and they pay a lower fee. Or all parents are required to participate in the co-op.
3. Meeting place
Where will you meet? This needs to be answered right away because the space will determine how many classes you can have and when you can have them.
Many churches are open to hosting a homeschool group. But they will have specific guidelines to follow in order to use their facility. These will need to be incorporated into how your co-op functions.
4. Meeting times
This will more than likely be determined by your host, but have an idea in mind. What works for your families? Is mid-week better, or Monday, or Friday? How many times per week will you meet? Will it be all day, just in the morning, or in the afternoon?
If you are open to all age groups, then meeting in the morning is probably your best option. That way families with younger kids can get home in time for naps. If it is just older kids, then maybe meeting in the afternoon is a better option.
If you have families interested, then take a poll to get an idea of what will work for the majority.
5. Group size
Capacity will be determined by your meeting place. There might be restrictions on how many people can be in the building or the classrooms you are using. Your meeting place will determine how many people you can accept.
Also, how many teachers you have will also determine how many people you can accept.
At this point, it is a good idea to start researching guidelines on daycares, private schools, learning pods, or other groups to determine if there are specific state laws that may apply to your group.
For example, if you have a nursery there are certain ratios of adults to babies that need to be followed, and it will depend on the age of the kids.
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How to Start a Homeschool Co-op as a Nonprofit
Now for the fun part…making all of your ideas official. Becoming a legal organization is going to protect you from being personally liable for what happens at co-op, and it will make it easier to get the appropriate insurance for your homeschool co-op.
Let’s turn your co-op into an official non-profit organization.
1. Define your mission and purpose
Go back to your ideas for your mission and purpose, and craft a purpose statement that aligns with the requirements of a 501(c )3.
It should be a concise statement of one or two sentences that captures the heart of your organization and clearly states the public benefit you provide.
According to the IRS, the exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c )3 are charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition, and preventing cruelty to children or animals.
Your bylaws will more than likely contain your purpose statement, which clearly states that you are an organization that operates as exclusively for charitable purposes. You will also have a mission statement, which defines what you actually do.
Here is an example of a purpose statement:
This corporation shall be organized and operated exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary, and educational purposes. Subject to the limitations stated in the Articles of Incorporation, the purposes of this corporation shall be to engage in any lawful activities, none of which are for profit, for which corporations may be organized under State Statute and Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 19545 (or their corresponding future statutes.)
This statement clearly expresses the non-profit status of the organization, and it states that the organization will not engage in for profit activities.
Here is an example of a mission statement:
Name of organization is a Christian homeschool co-op dedicated to equipping and supporting Christian home educators through academic enrichment, fellowship, discipleship, and biblical encouragement.
Our co-op exists to foster a Christ-centered learning environment where families can grow together, share resources, and cultivate a love for learning rooted in faith.
IRS Publication 557 will give you a deep dive into non-profits.
2. Choose a name
Choose a name that clearly communicates your mission, but is flexible enough t to grow with your organization.
Check the Secretary of State website to ensure the name isn’t taken, and check the Trademark Search database to make sure it isn’t trademarked.
3. Write your bylaws
In the hierarchy of your business’ governing documents, the articles of incorporation are at the top, and then the bylaws. It seems out of order to write your bylaws now, but it will help you as you complete your other paperwork.
The bylaws are the rules for how your nonprofit operates. But they are just the overview. This isn’t your handbook for families. It is the high-level operating document.
When you start out forming a corporation, you have a certain idea in your head of how things will operate. But reality may alter your ideas, and that’s ok. Keep your bylaws practical and straightforward. You can always amend them later. I suggest revisiting your bylaws every 3-5 years to see if there is any adjusting that needs to take place.
But right now, you just want to get a framework in place. There are a few things that you want to include in your bylaws: organization’s name, purpose, membership requirements, the structure and duties of the board of directors and officers, meeting procedures, voting requirements, annual accounting period, and how to amend the bylaws. You may also want to include a conflict of interest policy and provisions for handling vacancies and removals.
4. Appoint your board of directors
Yes, you want to have your board in place before filing any official documents. Have your first meeting. On the agenda, you want to have a vote for starting a new corporation, accepting the bylaws, and the first board accepting their positions. If your state requires it, you also want them to confirm their consent to be on the board.
Most states require at least three board members, some states requires less (so check with your state on the requirements). It usually looks better for a nonprofit to have three or more board members.
Typically, a board will consist of a President, Vice President (this may be optional), Secretary, and Treasurer.
5. File your articles of incorporation
Depending on your Secretary of State, you may need to write these yourself or there is a template provide that you just fill in. Check with your Secretary of State website to get the steps on filing your articles. This is the first document you will file, and it officially forms your organization.
The biggest mistake I’ve seen many nonprofits make is filing their bylaws as their articles of incorporation. It is just giving too much information that isn’t required. You don’t want to update your articles of incorporation every time you amend your bylaws. Keep these two documents separate.
Your Articles of Incorporation should include (but check state requirements): name and duration, purpose, principal address and mailing address, registered agent, and dissolution.
6. Get your employee identification number (EIN)
This is free to get from the IRS. This is the number you use to file taxes, open a bank account, and for any other business conducted on the organizations behalf.
The website is easy to use, and you can file for it yourself. There are third-party sites willing to take your money to do it for you. But that is completely unnecessary. The IRS website will walk you through each question. Read them carefully and answer them. That’s it! You have an EIN number.
7. Apply for 501(c)3
More than likely, you will be able to complete the 1023-EZ form. This is a streamlined form for smaller organizations. If your annual revenue is under $50,000 and your assets under $250,000 you are more than likely eligible. There is an Eligibility Worksheet found at the end of the instructions for 1023-EZ. Before you start to file, go through the worksheet.
You will complete the form online. The cost of filing is $275 (as of this writing). The form isn’t difficult, but it will require time. Answer the questions thoroughly. Most of the information required will be in your bylaws.
It can take anywhere from two months to six months to receive your determination letter. This letter approves your tax exempt status. But here’s the good news, the determination letter will be effective from your date of incorporation.
This information is current as of this writing. Be sure to do your research as things may have changed.
8. Open a bank account
Call the bank of your choice because you may need an appointment to open a business account. I’ve discovered that most banks aren’t that familiar with opening a nonprofit account, so know your stuff.
You will need your EIN letter, articles of incorporation, and a resolution or minutes from the board authorizing the account and who can be on it.
Some of my interactions with the bank also wanted the determination letter, but I had to insist that it wasn’t necessary to open the account. I did send it to the bank once we received it. Under the IRS rules, you are allowed to function as a nonprofit while your application is pending.
9. Register as a charity in your state
Each state has its own charity guidelines. Be sure to check with your Secretary of State. Many states also require registration for charitable solicitation. In other words, if you are going to ask for donations you need to register in that state.
If you want to be exempt for sales tax, you will need to apply for that as well. Your state may require separate filings for state income tax or property tax (if you have property). The Secretary of State website should have all the requirements listed.
There may be other requirements, so be sure to check with your specific state.
10. Maintain compliance
You will need to file the annual required reports with your state as well as file the appropriate IRS 990 form each year. The forms are 990-N (annual gross receipts are $50,000 or less), 990-EZ (annual gross receipts between $50,000 and $200,000), or 990 (anything above $200,000).
This information is current as of this writing.
Conclusion: How to Start a Homeschool Co op
How to start a homeschool co op isn’t just about logistics, paperwork, and figuring out how many toddlers can fit in a church nursery before chaos reigns. It’s about creating a community. A place where moms and kids alike can grow, learn, and thrive together.
The process takes time. Mission statements don’t write themselves, bylaws aren’t exactly light reading, and dealing with the IRS isn’t anyone’s idea of fun. But it’s all worth it.
So grab your notebook, rally your people, and take that first step. Because the homeschool community you’ve been dreaming about? You might just be the one meant to build it.
FAQ: How to Start a Homeschool Co op
Q: Do I have to be an expert to start a homeschool co-op?
A: Nope! You don’t need a degree in education or a background in nonprofit management. You just need a mission, a few motivated families, and a willingness to learn as you go. Every successful co-op started with one person saying, “Let’s do this!”
Q: How many families do I need to start?
A: You can start with as few as three families or as many as you can handle without losing your sanity. The key is quality over quantity. It’s better to have a small, committed group than a huge one with no direction.
Q: Do we have to become a nonprofit?
A: Not necessarily. You can absolutely start small and operate informally. But if you want to open a bank account, accept donations, or protect yourself legally, forming a nonprofit is the smart long-term move.
Q: What’s the hardest part of starting a co-op?
A: Getting everyone on the same page. People have feelings about curriculum, schedules, and snack policies. Having clear bylaws and a mission statement will save you a ton of headaches later.
Q: Where do most homeschool co-ops meet?
A: Churches are the most common (and usually affordable) option. But libraries, community centers, and even local businesses sometimes open their doors to homeschool groups—just ask!
Q: How much should we charge families to join?
A: It depends on your expenses—facility fees, supplies, insurance, and maybe a little coffee fund. Start small, be transparent about where the money goes, and adjust as your co-op grows.
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