Guide to Federal Bylaws Writing bylaws is an important step in the process of creating your…
Read MoreStarting a co-op? This article provides a step by step guide on how to start a…
Read MoreWriting a business plan? Check out our free Biz Plan Generator to help you through the…
Read MoreStarting and operating a business comes with risks. Co-ops are no different. Risk identification and management…
Read MoreNOTE: This tool has been created with the help of a presentation provided by Mary Childs…
Read MoreChairing an Annual General Meeting (AGM) can be intimidating. All eyes are on you and people…
Read MoreAGM resolutions Each year, a co-op’s board must hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the…
Read MoreA guide to meeting minutes Meeting minutes are some of the most important documents for co-operative…
Read MoreProviding Notice for Annual General Meeting Each year, your co-op needs to hold an Annual General…
Read MoreWhat you need to know for your first AGM Okay, you’ve incorporated – that’s awesome! You’ve…
Read MoreThis tool is designed to help you guide your co-op’s members through an annual meeting. Below…
Read MoreBecause a co-op distributes profits a little differently than other business types, keeping track of member…
Read MoreOne of the first steps to incorporating a co-operative is reserving a legal name for the…
Read MoreDo a PESTLE analysis to assess an opportunity A PESTLE analysis is a tool entrepreneurs use…
Read MoreFinding out your co-operative insurance needs Starting a business comes with risk. From an operations perspective,…
Read MoreA guide to finding new co-op members The first step in how to find new co-op…
Read MoreWhat is share capital While incorporating a co-op, and planning to raise money, words like ‘shares’,…
Read MoreCreating a Governance Structure Who’s in charge? Who gets to decide? To answer these questions, groups…
Read MoreSo you’ve formed a steering committee. Now what? Figuring out where to start can be overwhelming….
Read MoreCreating a co-operative, like any business, requires a lot of time, effort, and (usually) money. Depending…
Read MoreHow to Read Financial Statements This resource provides a guide on how to read financial statements….
Read MoreWhen starting a co-op, one of the first things you should do is form a steering…
Read MoreCo-ops are different from other corporations. How they are different is generally found in the way…
Read MoreThe Annual General Meeting (AGM) is an important event for co-ops. It provides a forum for…
Read MoreMost co-operatives have to undergo an annual audit. This is a process where an independent third-party…
Read MoreThe Alberta Chambers of Commerce (ACC) is a voluntary federation of independent Chambers of Commerce and…
Read MoreThe Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce represents the Saskatchewan business community, advocating on behalf of all sizes…
Read MoreMB Chamber engages member chambers and corporate partners to work together and present a unified voice…
Read MoreStart Up Canada helps every entrepreneur by connecting local ecosystems from coast to coast to coast,…
Read MoreFuturpreneur has been fueling the entrepreneurial passions of Canada’s young enterprise for two decades. They are…
Read MoreA code of conduct is a tool your co-operative’s Board of Directors can use to hold…
Read MoreThe type of co-operative you create is defined by who owns the co-op. In Canada, there…
Read MoreYour co-operative’s board of directors is the primary steward of the business and is responsible for…
Read MoreDisclaimer: This document intends to provide the reader with a basic understanding of the role of surplus…
Read MoreIf your co-op shares its profits with your members, you should also provide members with an…
Read MoreThe BC Chamber of Commerce is the largest and most broadly-based business organization in B.C. They…
Read MoreSIEF offers commercial and agriculture lending and business consulting services. Located in Saskatoon, on the Asimakaniseekan…
Read MoreThe first stop for Métis entrepreneurs and communities in Saskatchewan. They leverage relationships with funding partners,…
Read MoreOne of the most important responsibilities of your board is keeping and managing the co-op’s records….
Read MoreGood governance is an important part of a co-op’s success. Creating the conditions for good governance and efficient decision-making takes effort…
Read MoreThe board of directors is central to all co-operatives. Boards represent the co-op’s members and oversee…
Read MoreAs a board member, it’s your duty to oversee your co-op’s operations and ensure it’s compliant…
Read MoreContracting a professional to do your co-operative’s bookkeeping is a great idea. Download the sample contract…
Read MoreGovernment of Canada site for programs and benefits for businesses. Find the right programs and services,…
Read MoreSK Startup Institute is your first step as an entrepreneur looking to get a head start…
Read MoreBusiness Link helps Alberta small businesses start and thrive. Their team of experts is there to…
Read MoreThe World Trade Centre Winnipeg is an information portal for Manitoba entrepreneurs.
Read MoreGDI’s Pathways program provides unique supports to Métis entrepreneurs who are looking to create, maintain, or…
Read MoreIncorporating in British Columbia is a bit of a process. So use the three documents on…
Read MoreThis plan is designed for steering committees and boards of co-operatives developing in the Land of…
Read MoreHere’s a snapshot of the differences and similarities of the incorporation process in Western Canada. No…
Read MoreCharitable status is a legal designation granted by the federal government to organizations that apply and…
Read MoreTo incorporate in Manitoba, download the articles supplied here and use the forms provided by the…
Read MoreDesigned for steering committees and boards of co-operatives developing in Alberta, this workplan for incorporating in…
Read MoreDesigned for steering committees and boards of co-operatives, this Workplan for incorporating in British Columbia can…
Read MoreTo begin filling in your articles of incorporation in Alberta, please download the PDF or visit…
Read MoreThese sample bylaws are designed for groups incorporating a federal co-op. They can help co-ops navigate…
Read MoreDesigned for steering committees and boards of co-operatives incorporating in Manitoba, this plan can help coordinate…
Read MoreThe Federal government maintains an information guide on co-operatives and key legislative provisions from each provincial…
Read MoreThis workplan for incorporating federally is designed for steering committees and boards of co-operatives who want…
Read MoreThinking about starting a renewable energy co-op? Download this great toolkit from the Solar Energy Service…
Read MoreLooking for a sample Terms of Reference to use for your co-op? Look no further. Here’s…
Read MoreCreating a Sample Resolution When it comes to making decisions in a co-operative, the provincial and…
Read MoreSample Membership Agreement (Disclaimer: While much of the content in this sample membership agreement has been…
Read MoreLooking for a financial policy template to use for your co-op? Look no further. Here’s our…
Read MoreMembers are the foundation for any co-operative. It’s important for new members to understand their co-op,…
Read MoreCreating a Terms of Reference When finalizing documents for your co-op, you don’t want to skip…
Read MoreCreating a strategic plan for your co-op This tool is intended to guide co-op boards or…
Read MoreA human resources policy is a guiding document that a co-operative will use to manage its…
Read MoreTo incorporate a co-op in Saskatchewan, download and fill out the PDF included on this page….
Read MoreWriting co-op bylaws in Manitoba Below is a guide to writing co-op bylaws in Manitoba. Writing…
Read MoreIn British Columbia, bylaws are called Rules of Association and are filed with the Memorandum of…
Read MoreThe Government of Manitoba through the Companies Office provides several sets of sample bylaws for co-operatives…
Read MoreWhat are the Rules of Association in BC? Rules of Association (or bylaws) are the rules…
Read MoreDesigned for those starting co-ops, these co-op bylaws for Alberta can help co-ops navigate the legislation…
Read MoreBelow is a guide to writing bylaws in Alberta. Writing bylaws is an important step in…
Read MoreWhen you incorporate a co-operative, the steps need to be completed within a specific time frame….
Read MoreLearn how to better govern through our online governance course Take our FREE online governance course….
Read MoreIf you’re thinking of building your business as a co-op, you’ll need to go through the…
Read MoreIf you’re starting a new business, it’s important to clearly define and articulate your plans: what…
Read MoreHere’s a few things to keep in mind when choosing a name for your co-op. On…
Read MoreFinancing a business is challenging at the best of times. Understanding the benefits of using debt…
Read MoreIncorporating a co-op is the process of creating a legally recognized entity separate from any one…
Read MoreBig co-operatives often look for opportunities to invest in the communities they serve through business advice,…
Read MoreWestern Economic Diversification (WED) is a government department that falls under the Ministry of Innovation, Science…
Read MoreThe provincial co-operative associations are co-op coalitions in their respective provinces that work towards improving the…
Read MoreFunded by Western Economic Diversification, the four business information centres in each province provide a variety…
Read MoreIs your financial management sound? Does it include regular financial planning and budgeting? Is the full…
Read MoreTo succeed today you need to have sound business sense and a set of practical tools….
Read MoreThe Alberta Community and Co-operative Association works for the development and promotion of co-operatives across Alberta….
Read MoreThe Community Futures network consists of over 268 local non-profits across rural Canada that provides development…
Read MoreExplore Futurpreneur’s resources by topic for both entrepreneur’s and mentors.
Read MoreThe Futurpreneur Canada Cash Flow Template is here to help you outline your start up costs,…
Read MoreProviding co-op development services to the four western provinces, Co-operatives First has the supports, resources, and…
Read MoreThis sample job description is not the property of any business, rather includes information commonly found…
Read MoreA co-op elects its board of directors each year at its annual general meeting (AGM). Here’s some…
Read MoreOne of the most important requirements for co-operatives is filing an annual return. An annual return…
Read MoreEvery co-op should have a conflict of interest policy as part of its bylaws or policy…
Read MoreThe board of directors is central in a co-operative business. The directors need to be able…
Read MoreRecruiting board members is essential for co-ops. It is important to make sure that you not…
Read MoreThe board of directors is central to the operations of a co-operative business. Boards should always…
Read MoreCo-operative businesses are governed and run by boards of directors. They manage the staff, create policies…
Read MoreIf you’re moving your AGM online, click here and here for tips. If you’re looking for…
Read MoreNow for everyone’s favourite topic: taxes! No? Alright, while they may not be fun, they are necessary….
Read MoreRaising a co-op’s capital Raising financial capital is an important step when developing a co-operative business,…
Read MoreWriting a business plan? Check out our Biz Plan Generator to help you through the process. …
Read MoreRaising the funds you need to start a new business isn’t easy. If you want to…
Read MoreBudgeting a Co-operative Budgeting is one of the most important things a co-operative business can do….
Read MoreThe Roles in a Co-op The roles in a co-op depend on how members choose to…
Read MoreWriting a business plan? Check out our free Biz Plan Generator to help you through the…
Read MoreDisclaimer: This document intends to provide the reader with a basic understanding of the role of…
Read MoreDisclaimer: These bylaws for Saskatchewan were created by Co-operatives First staff and should not be used…
Read MoreBuilding a co-operative requires a lot of planning and development of documents, policies, and procedures. These…
Read MoreIf you’re ready to incorporate your co-op, congrats! You’ve already put in a lot of the…
Read MoreBylaws in Saskatchewan Bylaws are the rules and regulations that govern various aspects of a co-operative…
Read MoreWhy think about transitioning a business to a co-operative? Many business owners are thinking about retirement…
Read MoreThe foundation for any co-operative is its members. Co-op members can support their business financially by…
Read MoreChoosing a co-op type is an important step in developing a co-op. Co-operative businesses use a…
Read MoreEarly in the process of setting up a co-op, meetings provide a group the chance to…
Read MoreWhen forming a co-operative, there are often more people to work with and more ideas to…
Read MoreThe co-operative business model combines the best of small business ownership and a corporation. It often…
Read MoreBuilding consensus in a co-operative business can be important for its sustainability, especially in the early…
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