Early Stages

Building Consensus Business Model Comparison Choosing a Co-op Type Focusing Ideas Hosting a Meeting Shareholders and Governance in Co-operatives Transitioning a business to a co-operative

Incorporating

A Guide to writing Rules of Association in BC

Guide to Federal Bylaws

A Guide to writing bylaws in Manitoba

Guide to writing Bylaws in Saskatchewan

Articles & bylaws (video) Choosing a name (video) Guide to Writing Articles of Incorporation Incorporation Checklist Incorporation time frame Provincial comparison Shaping your Co-operative’s Identity Why incorporate? (video)

Business Planning

Allocating Surplus in a Co-operative Business Business Planning Pitch Practice Co-operative Business Planning Guide Focusing Ideas Roles and Responsibilities Shaping your Co-operative’s Identity Shareholders and Governance in Co-operatives Why create a business plan? (video)

Financing

Budgeting and Co-operatives Debt vs Equity (video) Financing your Co-operative Business Guide to Writing a Financial Plan Ongoing Capitalization Tax Treatment of Co-operative Businesses

Up and Running

Being a Board Member in a Co-operative Business Board Decision-Making Exercise Board Member Recruitment Board of Directors Evaluation Creating a Conflict of Interest Policy Creating a Human Resources Policy Creating a Strategic Plan Creating a Terms of Reference Online Governance Course

Allocating Surplus in a Co-operative Business Annual Meetings and Co-operatives Filing your Annual Return Guidelines for co-operative elections Member Onboarding and Engagement Ongoing Capitalization

Additional Resources

Co-ops and charitable status

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Building Consensus

Building consensus in a co-operative business can be important for its sustainability, especially in the early…

Business Model Comparison

The co-operative business model combines the best of small business ownership and a corporation. It often…

Choosing a Co-op Type

Choosing a co-op type is an important step in developing a co-op. Co-operative businesses use a…

Focusing Ideas

When forming a co-operative, there are often more people to work with and more ideas to…

Hosting a Meeting

Hosting a meeting can be a daunting task. But early meetings are key to a successful…

Shareholders and Governance in Co-operatives

The foundation for any co-operative is its shareholders (often called “members”). Shareholders can support their co-op…

Transitioning a business to a co-operative

Many business owners who are thinking about retirement want to make a succession plan. CIBC estimates…

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