Tips for Starting a Successful Business

Martial Arts Organizations Can Boost Non-Profit Success And Avoid Trouble By Working With An Association Management Firm

20 October 2016 by Brianna Cole

Exceptional entrepreneurs do like to give back to the communities that made them successful. Martial arts school owners, in particular, frequently feel a duty and obligation to help others. This is why so many martial artists become involved with various charitable entities. Extremely successful martial arts business owners may even launch affiliate schools in various states. In association with the various subordinate schools, a non-profit endeavor may be set up to promote an important cause. Righteous action does also comes with many legal responsibilities. Failure to adhere to necessary duties due to lack of transparency or proper oversight creates huge headaches and legal woes. Affiliating with an association management service could aid in preventing avoidable problems from sinking both the non-profit and the commercial enterprise.

Inexperience Leads to Troubles

A great martial artist may become a great business person. Years of observing how a school is best run may lead to learning by osmosis. There are, however, distinct differences between running a for-profit and a non-profit venture. Simple mistakes can get a honest person into significant amounts of trouble. For example, running a seminar to help raise money for children with cancer is perfectly fine. Turning the event into a combination fundraiser and new student enrollment drive may create a legal gray area. Working with an experienced association management firm might prevent a contentious dilemma from occurring.

Common Egregious Non-Profit Mistakes

Common mistakes are not forgivable because they are common or due to the inexperience of the person in charge. Hiring the wrong person comes with consequences. Diverting money from the non-profit to the commercial wing of an organization -- no matter how little -- is a dangerous thing to do. For martial arts organizations with many chapters, things become even more difficult when the person in charge has to monitor activities of members hundreds -- if not thousands -- of miles away. Distance, however, won't be a viable legal defense in a civil or criminal suit. The organization's head must run things properly or delegate tasks to a third party that will.

Sign an Association Management Agreement

An established association management firm could serve as that helpful third party. Seeking out a firm that has extensive experience working with niche-consumer small businesses as well as non-profits might deliver the necessary help a martial arts organization wishing to do the right thing. Ultimately, this would benefit those receiving assistance from the non-profit wing.

For more information, talk to a professional like Duval Realty Inc.

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