Business Planning Archives

Early Stages

How to start a co-operative: a step-by-step guide Creating an action plan What is a steering committee, and what does it do? Choosing a business structure: A questionnaire How to name your co-op: a by-province guide Transitioning a Business to a Co-operative Co-operative Members and Governance Choosing a Co-op Type Hosting a Community Meeting Focusing Ideas for Your Co-operative Co-operative Business Model Comparison with Other Models Building Consensus

Incorporating

A Guide to writing Rules of Association in BC Guide to Writing a Financial Plan

A Guide to writing co-op bylaws in Manitoba

Guide to writing Bylaws in Saskatchewan

Guide to Federal Bylaws

Choosing a ‘Co-op Type’ and its Impact on Your Business Incorporating a co-op in Western Canada — a provincial comparison Incorporation time frame Articles and bylaws (video) Choosing a name (video) Why should you incorporate your co-op? (video) Shaping your Co-op’s Identity Incorporation Checklist

Business Planning

How to find new co-op members How to create a governance structure Creating a Preliminary Budget — A Guide Building a Business Model Canvas Risk Identification and Management Legal Risks for Co-op Start Ups How to write a value proposition Do a PESTLE Analysis Why create a business plan? (video) Roles and Responsibilities Business Planning Pitch Practice How to allocate your co-op’s profits Co-operative Members and Governance

Financing

How to handle share capital in a co-op Debt vs Equity (video) Tax Treatment of Co-operative Businesses Ongoing Capitalization Guide to Writing a Financial Plan Financing your Co-operative Business Budgeting and Co-operatives

Up and Running

Three AGM Resolutions Every Co-op Needs for their Annual General Meeting What you need to know for your first AGM How to Waive an Audit Sample Board Duties How to Build a Board Calendar How to write a Board of Directors’ Code of Conduct Write a compliance checklist How to issue dividends Creating a Terms of Reference Creating a Strategic Plan Creating a Human Resources Policy Free Online Governance Course Creating a Conflict of Interest Policy Board of Directors Evaluations Board Member Recruitment Board Decision-Making Exercise How to allocate your co-op’s profits

How to write a Board of Directors’ Code of Conduct Write a compliance checklist

A Guide to Co-operative Insurance How to Read Financial Statements Keeping track of members in a co-op Everything you need to know about managing records Board Governance Tips for Indigenous Co-operatives Sample Bookkeeper Contract How to write a Board of Directors’ Code of Conduct Write a compliance checklist How to issue dividends Sample Co-op Equity Statement How to write a communication plan Member Engagement and Onboarding Guidelines for co-operative elections Filing your Annual Return Co-operative Annual General Meetings Ongoing Capitalization How to allocate your co-op’s profits

Additional Resources

Goparity Pacific Economic Development Canada Co-ops and charitable status Prairies Economic Development Canada

How to write a value proposition

You know how your co-op benefits people – but it can feel difficult to explain to…

Legal Risks for Co-op Start Ups

NOTE: This tool has been created with the help of a presentation provided by Mary Childs…

Risk Identification and Management

Starting and operating a business comes with risks. Co-ops are no different. Risk identification and management…

Building a Business Model Canvas

Writing a business plan? Check out our free Biz Plan Generator to help you through the…

Creating a Preliminary Budget — A Guide

Creating a co-operative, like any business, requires a lot of time, effort, and (usually) money. Depending…

How to create a governance structure

Creating a Governance Structure Who’s in charge? Who gets to decide? To answer these questions, groups…

How to find new co-op members

A guide to finding new co-op members The first step in how to find new co-op…

Do a PESTLE Analysis

Do a PESTLE analysis to assess an opportunity A PESTLE analysis is a tool entrepreneurs use…

Why create a business plan? (video)

If you’re starting a new business, it’s important to clearly define and articulate your plans: what…

Roles and Responsibilities

The Roles in a Co-op The roles in a co-op depend on how members choose to…

Business Planning Pitch Practice