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Carol runs a home-based accounting practice specializing in income tax preparation, consults with small/micro business start-ups, and assists nonprofit organizations.
She is a member of the Ohio Society of CPAs, the National Association of Tax Professionals,and the Society of Non Profit Organizations. Carol has served on several nonprofit boards including her church, American Heritage Girls, Inc., PregnancyCare of Cincinnati and her own homeschool co-op.
As a speaker with the Ohio Society of CPAs Speakers Bureau, Carol has presented workshops on money management, business start up, taxes, budgeting, and homeschooling to various community, church and homeschool groups.
Carol was born and raised in Wisconsin and graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Engineering Management. She worked ten years as a Cost Analyst for the US Navy before staying home with her two daughters. While being a stay-at-home mom, Carol took accounting classes via distance learning and earned her CPA license.
She and her family live in Cincinnati, Ohio and they enjoy swimming, reading books, traveling and homeschooling.
My Mission Statement
I assist homeschool group leaders by offering practical advice on starting and running a homeschool organization by combining my knowledge of accounting and experience in homeschooling. I'd like for group leaders to think of me as their CPA, someone who understands accounting, nonprofit organizations, homeschooling, and most importantly understands them.
I also give presentations on working from home, starting a business and budgeting with a focus on Biblical money management. My presentations on money management appeal to women, working mothers, entreprenuers, and homeschool families living on tight budgets.
Honorarium
Past Engagements/Seminars
"Recordkeeping & Transcripts for High School Students" Cincinnati, OH - 10/2009
"Budget is a Dirty Word" Cincinnati, OH - 10/2009
"HEAV Convention" Richmond, VA - 6/2009
"Midwest Homeschool Convention" Cincinnati, OH - 4/2009
"Midwest Homeschool Convention" Cincinnati, OH - 3/2008
Presentations
Budget is a Dirty Word: Money management for those who hate to manage money
This workshop covers planning your spending to fit your priorities, how to set up your finances to run automatically, how to know if you are in financial trouble and how to get out of debt successfully. Scriptures and Biblical concepts are sprinkled in, but this workshop is not a Bible study on finances. The class is practical and lively with group participation.
Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out
Co-ops are very popular in homeschooling lately. Have you thought about starting one? Are you currently in a co-op or leading one? There are many challenges and blessings to belonging to a homeschool co-op. Leader Carol Topp is a homeschooling mother and treasurer of a co-op. She is also a CPA who works with non-profit organizations on how to start and manage their groups. The workshop will discuss starting a co-op as well as tips for running a successful, happy co-op.
How to Start and Manage a Homeschool Organization:Boards, Budgets and Bylaws
As the homeschooling movement grows, so do support groups and homeschool co-op groups. This means more organization is needed to handle larger memberships. Many homeschool groups find themselves needing to formalize their groups with by-laws and boards of directors. They are handling more money and larger budgets. Here is some advice from a homeschooling mother and CPA who works with non-profit organizations on how to start and manage a larger group. Carol Topp, owner of HomeschoolCPA.com, will discuss Boards, Budgets and By-laws in this helpful workshop for group leaders and board members.
How to Teach Kids About Money (When You're Not Doing So Great Yourself)
So you don’t consider yourself a financial role model. Take heart, you can still teach your kids financial principles. This workshop offers tips on how to teach your kids the money basics as part of your busy lifestyle. We’ll also discuss what topics to teach at each age from preschoolers to college age.
Is Your Homeschool Group Ready for the Next Step? 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt Status
Many homeschool organizations are asking, "Should we consider becoming a tax-exempt organization? What are the benefits? What are the costs? Do we need it? Is it worth it?" Becoming a formally recognized not-for-profit organization (known as "501c3" or "tax exempt status" to the IRS) involves a lot of government paperwork. Is it worth the effort? Presenter, Carol Topp, a homeschooling mother and CPA, has helped several homeschooling organizations obtain tax-exempt status through her organization HomeschoolCPA. She will discuss the pros and cons of 501c3 status, offer tips, helpful resources and checklists.
Micro Business for Teenagers
Encouragement for teenagers to start and run their own micro businesses. They will learn a lot while earning some money. A micro business can be started quickly and easily with no debt from home. Presenter Carol Topp, CPA has counseled dozens of teenagers starting a business and will discuss business plans, ideas, taxes and record keeping. Carol puts difficult accounting and tax issues into easy-to-understand English. Teenagers and their parents are encouraged to attend together!
Wanna be a WAHM (Work at Home Mom)?
The Pitfalls and Possibilities of being a Work At Home Mom. More and more homeschool mothers are becoming WAHMs (Work at Home Mothers). In this workshop, homeschooling mother and WAHM herself, Carol Topp, CPA, will discuss how to start a home-based business, avoiding WAHM scams, and balancing homeschooling and working. She knows how, she's been doing it for six years! As an accountant, Carol helps small, home-based businesses get off the ground. She'll offer her professional knowledge and her personal experience on being a WAHM in this helpful workshop.
Publications
Question and Answers for Homeschool Leaders
A 62 page ebook containing some of the most frequently asked questions from homechool leaders on the IRS, nonprofit and tax exempt status, boards, conflict, money, fundraising, volunteers, paying workers and insurance.
2009
Paying Workers in a Homeschool Organization
A 20 page ebook that covers paying workers as employees or independent contractors. Includes sample forms, tips and advice to help you pay workers in accordance with the IRS laws. Written specifically for homeschool organizations.
2009
Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out
188 page book that will help homeschool parents, leaders and co-op members run successful, happy homeschool organizations. There are stories of how other co-op leaders started their groups, what worked and what didn’t, and what they wouldn’t do again. The book also shares how to deal with conflict, why a board and bylaws are needed, and practices that help avoid frustration and burnout.
Aventine Press 2008
Money Management for Homeschool Organizations
A 39 page ebook covering money management for small, medium and large sized groups. Sample forms and examples of financial statements in clear English are provided. Also covered are topics such as using Quickbooks, collecting fees, creating a budget, insurance, and hiring paid teachers. All written specifically for homeschool groups.
2008
Tax Exempt 501c3 Status for Homeschool Organizations
A 51 page ebook explaining the pros and cons of tax exempt 501c3 status. Is it needed? Is it worth it? Also covered are non profit incorporation, the application process, and how to maintain tax exempt status. Written specifically for homeschool groups.
2008
