Non-profit versus for profit. What's best for us?
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$3 Answers
The laws may vary depending on exactly where you are, but some of the following are likely to apply
- The non-profit must have a clearly defined purpose which is about doing good to some well-defined group or cause
- It cannot turn a profit, and all money it brings in must be used to pursue its mission, and serve whoever it is intended to serve
- It can pay staff, and you could be those staff. However ultimate control rests with a board, and the board is almost always *unpaid*. If the board members are paid more than minimally, your non-profit status may be called into question. Paid staff members may not be allowed to be full board members.
- Your freedom to vary what you do may be limited. Companies are free to pursue whatever opportunities they see, or to drop what it not working. Non-profits have to stay on their declared mission.
There's some quite good info here:
http://nonprofit.about.com/od/nonprofitbasics/a/qandastartnonpr.htm
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
The design of the venusarms.com page was interesting, if a little jarring. But it grew on me. The other pages did not.
As I explored farther, I decided that what was bothering me was the colors. I was using Firefox. The red and black plus the way that the site was designed did not make me think of an art site. It seemed like the colors of a cult site. (demonic). I think that the red might stay if the black was changed, but the venusarms.com page was arty and soothing.
For a sec or two, I did not realize how to register. Putting the words login and register in different colors might be easier for the novice.
After registering, I wanted to go back to venusarms.com but I could not figure out how to do so without changing the url in the address box.
I liked the interview with Stan Sakai. It seems like you might be in to that kind of stuff. I wonder if you could link with Hulu? The Naruto Shippuden page at viz.com might be a good place to link to.
I liked the stuff about the Katana.
You have done a lot of work, and I think that you should stay with a profit making enterprise. You need to attract artists, but I suppose that you know that.
Good Luck, and I will check back now and then at your site.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Good Answer!!
Thank you, those are all compelling reasons to avoid non-profitness and the link is really helpful.
In addition to the points already made, there are tax benefits to being a non-profit. People can make donations and get a tax rebate. And you don't pay company tax.
So if your income is only likely to cover your expenses, you should consider being a non-profit. Or if you plan to take donations.