Establishing and running a nonprofit requires a serious time commitment. Paperwork, planning, and implementation take considerable energy and working within the confines of a small business NPO model can make this requirement all the more conspicuous.
For a potential NPO founder, an earnest examination of how much time he or she is willing to commit is one of the most fundamental steps in establishing an NPO. Talking to family and friends can also help a potential entrepreneur to decide if the intense time commitment will fit a personalized schedule. Many NPOs are started as limited partnerships. With the help of a well-chosen partner, the workload of starting an NPO is considerably lightened. Once the business is established and a board is chosen, the founder is no longer responsible for taking care of every aspect of the business. However, even a smoothly running NPO requires a serious time commitment.
One other aspect of time commitment to consider is how long it takes to put in place all of the elements of an NPO. Though states often finalize NPO status approval within a month, three years is a typical wait time from the beginning of the application process to the final approval of the IRS.
The time commitment that an NPO demands is considerable. On a personal level as well as a bureaucratic one, beginning a nonprofit organization is not for those who desire a rapid-start business model.
