Create a Toastmasters club

Building a stronger community

How to start a new club

Toastmasters clubs meet at corporations, churches, colleges, community centers, and even in restaurants. While community clubs are generally open to anyone, sponsored clubs are often limited to affiliates of the sponsor since the meeting location and some of the fees may be covered. If your organization is looking to build leaders from within, Toastmasters is here to help.

Find out how to sponsor a club and why thousands already have on Toastmasters.org →

Submit a new club lead (Request Information Link) →
Find a Club →

Links for volunteers, mentors, Area and District Leadership

Ready to start your club?

Step one: Connect with the right person to express your interest and have help getting up and running.

A member from your local Toastmasters District will connect with you in a few short days. If you have questions you can always email cgd@d5tm.org. In the meantime, you can prepare by:

  1. Find 25-30 people over the age of 18 who want to join.
  2. Designate and secure a meeting location.
  3. Download a copy of How to Build a Toastmasters Club, a step-by-step guide to growing a successful club.
  4. Download and fill out the Application to Organize (link above). Once you submit the Application to Organize you will need to pay a one-time charter fee of $135 ($125 + tax).

All resources, forms and guides for starting a new club can be found on https://www.toastmasters.org/start-a-club

“How To” manual →

Applicable fees:

  • $125: One-time chartering fee
  • $25: New-member fee per person
  • $60: Six months’ membership dues per person

[2025 pricing, fees are subject to change.]

Are you ready to start a new club in San Diego County, Imperial County, or Yuma Arizona?

Sign up here, or email our Club Growth Director directly to answer any of your questions and help you develop the club that’s right for you and your team.

Click Here to Become a New Club in District 5 →

How our new clubs succeed:

Improv Toastmasters: Learn how a group of friends turned an interest in improv into three successful clubs.

Read More

Fallbrook Village Toastmasters: Learn how a brand new club was able to accomplish the District’s toughest goals in their first year.

Read More

Learn tips and tricks for building your club.

Essential materials you’ll need for your new club.

Track your status (reports):

Find great Toastmasters Resources →

What does a launch meeting look like?

The launch meeting is a demonstration meeting. This special abbreviated program shows prospective members or company sponsors how a club meeting is conducted and what the Toastmasters program can do for them.

You don’t need to be an expert speaker to help run a demonstration meeting. You could always volunteer to be the timer! Actually, less experienced Toastmasters make good speakers for demonstration meetings because they show how you can benefit from Toastmasters.

For more details, please contact: Club Growth Director →

Visit a Local Club’s Meeting →

Club Compliance

All Toastmasters clubs and members must be in compliance with the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (also known as “OFAC”). OFAC administers sanction programs on countries based on foreign policy and national security. Therefore, Club Officers must take the requisite measures to ensure clubs are in compliance by following the OFAC guidelines such as checking for club members on the Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN) in non-comprehensive sanctioned countries.

Find a list of countries here or contact us by email for further information.