Homeschool Co-Op Trials: Spreading the Word, The Website & Official Registration

Spreading the word was easy and effective. We had a flyer on the announcement page at church, and I created a Facebook and Instagram page for the co-op. I heard from many families just within our own church who were so grateful that the co-op was forming. This gave me the boost I needed to press forward. Months passed, and I kept receiving interest, so I got to work on figuring out what else was needed to achieve a smooth launch for when Fall said hello.

This next bit might have been the most stressful part of starting the co-op. We had excited families ready to join the co-op. We had determined the details for where and when we would meet. However, our administrative structure was lacking…a lot.

Where to begin?

I realized we needed a website to have as a central hub for families to have access to resources and content. I spent a few hours researching all my options before I settled on what I thought was the best route. At the time, I did not realize that I had neglected one tiny detail: a method for collecting payments from participating families. This small detail had escaped me because my focus had been on providing support to families and a social environment for our children. However, the co-op would still need to provide snacks and occasional supplies for any special events or outings. So, here I was researching the most efficient way to process digital payments. Sure, handing someone cash requires little effort, but (if they are anything like me) they likely would not carry cash consistently. Several families also wanted to pay up front for multiple months, so it soon became clear that it would be easier to offer a debit/credit card option through a secure online portal.

After spending days in research and then hours building my website, I had to redo the website with a different subscription plan than I had planned on initially. Thankfully, it was easy to just copy and paste the content once the layout was formulated into the new platform. The new site allowed the co-op to receive payments online with a monthly and yearly subscription options for our families.

In the process of researching finances, I realized I would need to register the co-op with our state as a nonprofit organization. This also meant I would need to open a separate business account with a local bank. I am trying my hardest to keep my personal and professional items separate so that as the co-op grows and we have more structure, our members can have more transparency with finances and there can be others in leadership with access to the account.

In the midst of all this, I experienced moments of doubt. Life got very busy, and I experienced overwhelming events in my personal life, professional life, and spiritual life during this time. But, even in the midst of these elevated human emotions, I was reminded of seeking first God’s will and persevering in this pursuit for His glory.

Prayer quickly became the most important part of my day. I do it frequently now; my go-to is the “breath prayer,” as it is quick and allows you time to become calm before acting. So, for those out there in similar situations, you can do it! Focus on the families who will be benefiting from the co-op and focus on God’s glory.

Now that the website was in order, it was time to ensure that registration forms were correct and that the payment portal was working before sending out word that it was live. My husband was willing to be my successful first test subject to register our kids on his laptop (to ensure that I was not doing anything as an editor on the website).

I am happy to say everything is up and running! Now, I am beginning preparations for our first meeting. We are planning a meet-and-greet picnic to ease everyone back from the summer months and allow time for our families and children to get acquainted.

I want to summarize the lessons I learned in this season:

1. Write down everything your website will need to do before you look for products and services. This will save you from unnecessary work and lost time.
2. Pick a website platform that is user-friendly on both the back-end and front-end so that you and your families will have an easy time navigating the software and site.
3. Do test runs on your forms and links before sending out announcements on social media, via texts or emails, and before printing flyers to hand out.
4. Breathe, pray and trust the LORD, for He knows and sees everything you are going through. He is your strength. So, put on the armor of God; wear it proudly, use it frequently, and never, ever hesitate to take time away from all your responsibilities to spend time with Him. You must fill your own cup so that you can continue to do His work and fill the cups of others.