Early Stages in developing a co-op

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

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 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 Do a PESTLE Analysis How to find new co-op members Why create a business plan? (video) Roles and Responsibilities Business Planning Pitch Practice Allocating Surplus in a Co-operative Business 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 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 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 A Guide to Co-operative Insurance Member Engagement and Onboarding Guidelines for co-operative elections Filing your Annual Return Co-operative Annual General Meetings Ongoing Capitalization Allocating Surplus in a Co-operative Business

Additional Resources

Co-ops and charitable status

How to start a co-operative: a step-by-step guide

Starting a co-op? This article provides a step by step guide on how to start a…

How to name your co-op: a by-province guide

One of the first steps to incorporating a co-operative is reserving a legal name for the…

Choosing a business structure: A questionnaire

Co-ops are different from other corporations. How they are different is generally found in the way…

What is a steering committee, and what does it do?

When starting a co-op, one of the first things you should do is form a steering…

Creating an action plan

So you’ve formed a steering committee. Now what? Figuring out where to start can be overwhelming….

Transitioning a Business to a Co-operative

Why think about transitioning a business to a co-operative? Many business owners are thinking about retirement…

Co-operative Members and Governance

The foundation for any co-operative is its members. Co-op members can support their business financially by…

Choosing a Co-op Type

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

Hosting a Community Meeting

Early in the process of setting up a co-op, meetings provide a group the chance to…

Focusing Ideas for Your Co-operative

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

Co-operative Business Model Comparison with Other Models

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

Building Consensus

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

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