You did it! You have the power of great church books in the palm of your hand! With this course, you will get the skills you need to keep your church or ministry financially healthy. We encourage you to take your time, take notes and take courage, knowing you will have all you need to start your journey toward a financially healthy ministry.

In order to operate a church and fulfill the vision God has given you, money matters. Even more, resources matter. In lesson one, you’ll learn everything you need to know to create a healthy budget that serves your church.

Budgeting to Grow Your Church

7 Simple Steps to Creating a Budget

How to Add Back 7% to your Budget

Video Course Workbook

Video Course Answer Sheet

Budget Template

You have completed lesson 1. Now you have an understanding of why budgets matter, how to create them, and have some insight into understanding your ministry’s financial records.

Churches and ministries largely rely on the generous contributions of donors and church members. In this lesson, we will explore how to create an accounting program for your ministry and how to properly handle the various types of donations you may receive.

The Do's and Don'ts of Church Donations

Accepting Contributions via Credit Card

Tax Deductions and The Church

Restricted vs. Designated Offerings

Tithes & Offerings Counting Policy

Tithes & Offerings Count Sheet

Donations Receipt

The Do’s and Don’ts of Church Donations

You finished lesson 2! You have learned how to build a strong accounting system and manage donations, tithes, and offerings.

Running a church or ministry is no small task—and having workers is a must, from the senior pastor to the part-time children’s staff. During this lesson, you will discover what the IRS says about income and how it should be treated as an employer and an employee.

How to Pay Your Pastor and Church Staff

How Income is Taxed

Managing Payroll and Overtime Regulations

Salary Compensation Agreement

In this lesson, you’ve explored how the IRS defines income, ministerial compensation, setting salaries, and managing payroll.

Many churches operate without ever considering the importance of using credit. During this lesson, we will discuss how, if used wisely and correctly, credit can be the key to achieving financial success and a tool you can use to finance projects to build the kingdom of God.

Leveraging the Power of Credit

Benefits of Church Credit

Obtaining a Small Installment Loan

Debit & Credit Card Policy

You’ve completed lesson 4! We hope that you gained valuable information that may help your ministry build credit.

Reimbursements allow staff to make purchases for ministry operations when a church debit, credit card, or check aren’t available. In lesson 5, you’ll learn everything you need to know about properly managing reimbursements.

Understanding Reimbursements

Standard and Advanced Reimbursements

When Reimbursed Funds are not Returned

Reimbursement Request Form

Now that you’ve finished lesson 5, you’re almost finished! During this session, you learned how the IRS defines reimbursements, the different types of reimbursements, and how to properly document and handle them.

A major part of the Church’s mission is to do good to all people. In today’s lesson, you’ll learn the ins and outs of creating a compliant benevolent program that will bless your community—all while protecting your church.

Creating a Generous Benevolence Program

The Basics of Benevolence

4 Steps to Creating a Benevolence Program

6 Steps to Follow When Running a Benevolence Program

Benevolence Request Form

Financial Benevolence Application

You completed the Financially Healthy Church Video Course. We hope this video course has helped you feel confident and equipped to have a financially healthy church.Please download our attached Certificate of Completion for this course. You will be able to customize this certificate with your name and completion date.<a href='https://s3.amazonaws.com/marketing2019-startchurch/2021/bookkeeping_course/video_course_certificate.pdf' target='_blank'>Click here to download now</a>If you have any questions for us at StartCHURCH, or if you want to share with us your story about your church plant, please give us a call at (833) 269-0708.

Chart of Accounts Template

Travel Expense Policy

Compensation Policy

Board Meeting Minutes Approving Salary 

Donation Thank you Letter

In Service Money Trail

The Financially Healthy Church Video Course

You completed the Financially Healthy Church Video Course. We hope this video course has helped you feel confident and equipped to have a financially healthy church.

You’re almost there!

Here are your next steps: