Workshops
COA in partnership with the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston is offering two upcoming workshops that will take place online. If you are unable to attend then please check back in as both workshops will be recorded and a link to the recording will be made available.
Legal Entities 101: Legal Entities for Creative Businesses
Whether you’re a new art school grad or a seasoned veteran, managing the business of your creative practice can be overwhelming, and maybe even a little scary. In this workshop, we aim to take some of the mystery out of being a small business owner by introducing you to basic, common legal entities. In this workshop, we’ll discuss traditional business structures—sole proprietorships, corporations (including benefit corps and co-ops), and limited liability companies (LLCs)—the advantages and disadvantages of each, and general formation and maintenance requirements. Artists of all experience levels and creative disciplines are welcome!
This workshop took place on January 21, 2022 on Zoom.
Access the recording HERE
Access closed captions HERE
Legal Entities 102: Charitable Nonprofits
What’s the difference between a nonprofit corporation and a for-profit corporation? Do “nonprofit” and “not-for-profit” mean the same thing? What is a “501(c)(3)”? Why do I need to file a return if my company is exempt from taxes? Whether you’re hoping to create a brand-new charitable nonprofit or you’re currently a leader in an existing one, if you’ve also struggled with any (or all) of these questions, then this workshop is for you! All start-up nonprofits are invited to attend this workshop led by experienced nonprofit attorneys, where we’ll walk through the fundamentals of the important (but complicated) process of establishing a charitable, tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation. Topics include:
- For-profit vs. nonprofit organizations
- Fiscal sponsorship
- Nonprofit corporate structure
- 501(c)(3) federal tax-exemption
- Duties of nonprofit directors and officers
- State and federal reporting requirements
This workshop took place on February 14, 2022 on Zoom.
Access the recording HERE
Access closed captions HERE
Some helpful links:
- CT Secretary of State Corporate forms, https://business.ct.gov/Manage/All-business-filings/Corporate-Filings?language=en_US
- CY Dept. of Consumer Protection Charity Solicitation Registration page, https://portal.ct.gov/DCP/Charities/Charitable-Solicitation-Registration-Information
- US Census NAICS system, https://www.census.gov/naics/
- Our Business on Board "Get on Board!" seminar, https://artsandbusinesscouncil.org/open-enrollment-seminars/ (workshops on serving on nonprofit boards)