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HomeCorporations CodeArt. 1§ 10810 Nonprofit Professional Service Corporations

§ 10810 Nonprofit Professional Service Corporations

Corporations Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 10810 Nonprofit Professional Service Corporations

This law says a group of professionals (like doctors or lawyers) can create a nonprofit company to help pay for their work, but only if they follow strict rules. For example, at least 25% of all professionals in California must join, and everyone in that profession must be allowed to join too.

Key Takeaways

  • •A nonprofit for professionals (like doctors or lawyers) can only be formed if at least 25% of all professionals in that field in California join.
  • •Every licensed professional in that field must be allowed to join and work with the nonprofit on the same terms.
  • •The nonprofit cannot let people vote by proxy (someone else voting for them) or use cumulative voting (where one person gets extra votes).
  • •The professional board (like the medical board for doctors) must approve the nonprofit and check that all rules are followed.

Example

A group of doctors wants to start a nonprofit to help cover the costs of their medical services.

They can only do this if at least 25% of all doctors in California join, and every doctor in the state is allowed to be part of it. If they don’t follow these rules, they can’t start the nonprofit.

How to Calculate

At least one-fourth of all licentiates of the particular profession residing in California must become members.

  1. Find out how many licensed professionals (like doctors or lawyers) live in California.
  2. Calculate 25% (or one-fourth) of that total number.
  3. Make sure at least that many professionals join the nonprofit.

There are 100,000 licensed doctors in California.

Result: 25,000 doctors must join the nonprofit for it to be allowed.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 10810 Nonprofit Professional Service Corporations

A nonprofit corporation may be formed under Part 2 (commencing with Section 5110) or Part 3 (commencing with Section 7110) of this division for the purposes of defraying or assuming the cost of professional services of licentiates under any chapter of Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) of the Business and Professions Code or of rendering any such services, but it may not engage directly or indirectly in the performance of the corporate purposes or objects unless all of the following requirements are met: (a) At least one-fourth of all licentiates of the particular profession residing in California become members. (b) Membership in the corporation and an opportunity to render professional services upon a uniform basis are available to all licensed members of the particular profession. (c) Voting by proxy and cumulative voting are prohibited. (d) A certificate is issued to the corporation by the particular professional board whose licentiates have become members, finding compliance with the requirements of subdivisions (a), (b), and (c). Any such corporation shall be subject to supervision by the particular professional board under which its members are licensed and shall also be subject to the part under which it is formed, either Part 2 (commencing with Section 5110) or Part 3 (commencing with Section 7110) of this division, except as to matters specifically otherwise provided for in this article. (Added by Stats. 1978, Ch. 1305.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

nonprofit corporationlicentiatesprofessional servicesDivision 2Business and Professions CodePart 2Part 3professional board

Related Statutes

  • § 10811 Nonprofit Eye Care Services
  • § 10200 Nonprofit Corporation Classification
  • § 10840 Nonprofit Hospital Service Plans
  • § 5040 Chapter Definition Scope
  • § 6019 Nonprofit-Business Merger Rules

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 10810.
View Official Source