From the idea to your own club! Would you like to enrich the sporting diversity in your region? Find out here step by step how to successfully start your own club, from the first meeting to the articles of association and registration as a registered association.
Sports clubs: strong communities that strengthen cohesion and revitalise the region
Your region lacks certain sports programmes and you want to fill the gap by founding a sports club? What a great idea! A sports club strengthens the community, brings people together and promotes health, talent development and team spirit. Sport keeps you fit, serves the common good and creates a meeting place for like-minded people.
Legislators also recognise the value of sports clubs and support them with simplified regulations and tax benefits. This makes founding a club easier than you might think. In this article, we show you step by step how to set up your own sports club.
Legislators also recognise the value of sports clubs and support them with simplified regulations and tax benefits. This makes founding a club easier than you might think. In this article, we show you step by step how to set up your own sports club.
The association as a legal form
Clubs are democratic communities in which all members make decisions together, not just the founder. By being affiliated to sports associations, clubs can take part in organised competitions and use their structures. Another advantage is the liability of the organisation: the association is liable for its actions, not the individual members. This makes the work of the board easier and makes voluntary work more attractive.
With non-profit status, clubs benefit from state subsidies, tax breaks and the opportunity to receive donations and issue donation receipts. Clubs are also insured through their sports associations. As a rule, this includes sports accident insurance, club liability insurance and legal expenses insurance, so that the club's operations are legally and financially protected.
The democratic structure of an association can also pose challenges in terms of governance. Anyone seeking to make major changes needs the approval of the members. This is in contrast to purely commercial organisations, where decisions can often be made more quickly. In addition, a sports club must not have the primary aim of making a profit, which regularly leads to discussions about future development.
The board of a registered association (e. V.) must be entered in the register of associations, and every amendment to the articles of association requires approval by the members and re-registration. These bureaucratic processes can take weeks or even months. Although registration as an „e. V.“ is not mandatory, it does offer advantages: An unregistered association can have disadvantages in terms of tax and liability law. A registered association, on the other hand, is recognised as a legal entity, which creates more legal certainty and organisational stability.
With non-profit status, clubs benefit from state subsidies, tax breaks and the opportunity to receive donations and issue donation receipts. Clubs are also insured through their sports associations. As a rule, this includes sports accident insurance, club liability insurance and legal expenses insurance, so that the club's operations are legally and financially protected.
The democratic structure of an association can also pose challenges in terms of governance. Anyone seeking to make major changes needs the approval of the members. This is in contrast to purely commercial organisations, where decisions can often be made more quickly. In addition, a sports club must not have the primary aim of making a profit, which regularly leads to discussions about future development.
The board of a registered association (e. V.) must be entered in the register of associations, and every amendment to the articles of association requires approval by the members and re-registration. These bureaucratic processes can take weeks or even months. Although registration as an „e. V.“ is not mandatory, it does offer advantages: An unregistered association can have disadvantages in terms of tax and liability law. A registered association, on the other hand, is recognised as a legal entity, which creates more legal certainty and organisational stability.
How do I set up a sports club?
Before founding a sports club, you need at least seven founding members. This number is manageable, but it is advisable to involve more members right from the start. The reason: you need to agree on a clear club purpose, i.e. the sport(s) that your club will offer. Ideally, this purpose should be translated into a sustainable business model in order to be economically viable.
If you are starting from scratch, it makes sense to start with a single-division sports club that focuses on a single sport. However, if departments already exist or there is potential for several sports, a multi-sports club may be the better choice. The purpose of the club forms the foundation of the club and influences many decisions, especially the financing. While the purchase of training equipment is quickly resolved in a darts club, it poses a greater challenge in sports such as handball or gymnastics. A solid financing strategy should therefore be considered from the outset.
The first step in founding a sports club is choosing a suitable name. The club name must not be misleading or deceptive, for example with regard to the year of foundation, size or purpose of the club. A football club that has only just been founded should not call itself „FC Musterstadt 1889“. Geographical references must also be correct and comprehensible.
Another essential point is the association's articles of association. They define the purpose of the association and form the basis for the non-profit status check. Whilst sample statutes can be found on the internet or on the websites of sports associations, these should not simply be copied. Every association has individual needs and structures that must be taken into account in the articles of association. In addition to the purpose of the association, the articles of association regulate important aspects such as membership fees, admission and withdrawal procedures and contribution amounts. They are therefore the central document that determines the organisation and administration of the association.
The articles of association offer you flexibility in the distribution of positions within the association. You decide for yourself how the association should be structured and which offices there are. Only one person is legally required to be entered in the register of associations; how this position is named and how many other positions there are is up to you.
Tip: Make sure you allocate an odd number of board positions. This will prevent stalemates during votes, as there is always a clear majority. An even number can lead to a tie, which can delay decisions and unnecessarily complicate processes.
If you are starting from scratch, it makes sense to start with a single-division sports club that focuses on a single sport. However, if departments already exist or there is potential for several sports, a multi-sports club may be the better choice. The purpose of the club forms the foundation of the club and influences many decisions, especially the financing. While the purchase of training equipment is quickly resolved in a darts club, it poses a greater challenge in sports such as handball or gymnastics. A solid financing strategy should therefore be considered from the outset.
The first step in founding a sports club is choosing a suitable name. The club name must not be misleading or deceptive, for example with regard to the year of foundation, size or purpose of the club. A football club that has only just been founded should not call itself „FC Musterstadt 1889“. Geographical references must also be correct and comprehensible.
Another essential point is the association's articles of association. They define the purpose of the association and form the basis for the non-profit status check. Whilst sample statutes can be found on the internet or on the websites of sports associations, these should not simply be copied. Every association has individual needs and structures that must be taken into account in the articles of association. In addition to the purpose of the association, the articles of association regulate important aspects such as membership fees, admission and withdrawal procedures and contribution amounts. They are therefore the central document that determines the organisation and administration of the association.
The articles of association offer you flexibility in the distribution of positions within the association. You decide for yourself how the association should be structured and which offices there are. Only one person is legally required to be entered in the register of associations; how this position is named and how many other positions there are is up to you.
Tip: Make sure you allocate an odd number of board positions. This will prevent stalemates during votes, as there is always a clear majority. An even number can lead to a tie, which can delay decisions and unnecessarily complicate processes.
The founding meeting - now the sports club is founded
A decisive step towards the successful foundation of an association is the early provision of the draft articles of association to all founding members. This can now also be done digitally, which makes the process easier. Ideally, members should receive the draft at least four weeks before the founding meeting so that they can prepare and be present.
The founding meeting itself is similar to an annual general meeting. It needs to be organised in a structured manner, with a secretary taking the founding minutes. It is important to record the exact number of members present and all items on the agenda. To make the process more efficient, it is advisable to draw up prepared minutes with the key points so that only individual additions need to be made.
An essential part of the meeting is the election of the Board of Directors. Ideally, the positions have already been determined in advance to simplify the election process. In addition, the amount of the membership fees can be discussed and voted on. Once all the necessary resolutions have been passed, the founding minutes must be signed by all founding members present and the sports club is officially founded!
The founding meeting itself is similar to an annual general meeting. It needs to be organised in a structured manner, with a secretary taking the founding minutes. It is important to record the exact number of members present and all items on the agenda. To make the process more efficient, it is advisable to draw up prepared minutes with the key points so that only individual additions need to be made.
An essential part of the meeting is the election of the Board of Directors. Ideally, the positions have already been determined in advance to simplify the election process. In addition, the amount of the membership fees can be discussed and voted on. Once all the necessary resolutions have been passed, the founding minutes must be signed by all founding members present and the sports club is officially founded!
Costs for founding an association: What happens after the founding meeting?
Now the real work begins. Once the association has been founded, it must be legally secured by being entered in the register of associations by a notary, which costs around 250 euros and takes four to six weeks. Only after this process is the association fully legalised and should enter into financial obligations.
At the same time, an application for non-profit status must be submitted to the tax office. This requires documents such as the articles of association, the founding protocol and the contribution regulations. The non-profit status enables tax exemptions, the issuing of donation receipts and access to state subsidies. As soon as both steps have been completed, the organisation is legally secure and fully capable of acting.
At the same time, an application for non-profit status must be submitted to the tax office. This requires documents such as the articles of association, the founding protocol and the contribution regulations. The non-profit status enables tax exemptions, the issuing of donation receipts and access to state subsidies. As soon as both steps have been completed, the organisation is legally secure and fully capable of acting.
