Incorporating 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

Do a PESTLE Analysis 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 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

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 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 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

Sample Co-op Equity Statement 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 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

Choosing a ‘Co-op Type’ and its Impact on Your Business

The type of co-operative you create is defined by who owns the co-op. In Canada, there…

Guide to Federal Bylaws

Guide to Federal Bylaws Writing bylaws is an important step in the process of creating your…

Filing a Memorandum of Association

Incorporating in British Columbia is a bit of a process. So use the three documents on…

Workplan for incorporating in Saskatchewan

This plan is designed for steering committees and boards of co-operatives developing in the Land of…

Incorporating a co-op in Western Canada — a provincial comparison

Here’s a snapshot of the differences and similarities of the incorporation process in Western Canada. No…

Incorporating in Manitoba

To incorporate in Manitoba, download the articles supplied here and use the forms provided by the…

Workplan for incorporating in Alberta

Designed for steering committees and boards of co-operatives developing in Alberta, this workplan for incorporating in…

Workplan for incorporating in British Columbia

Designed for steering committees and boards of co-operatives, this Workplan for incorporating in British Columbia can…

Filing Articles of Incorporation in Alberta

To begin filling in your articles of incorporation in Alberta, please download the PDF or visit…

Sample Bylaws for a Federal Co-op

These sample bylaws are designed for groups incorporating a federal co-op. They can help co-ops navigate…

Workplan for incorporating in Manitoba

Designed for steering committees and boards of co-operatives incorporating in Manitoba, this plan can help coordinate…

Workplan for incorporating federally

This workplan for incorporating federally is designed for steering committees and boards of co-operatives who want…

Incorporating a co-op in Saskatchewan

To incorporate a co-op in Saskatchewan, download and fill out the PDF included on this page….

A Guide to writing co-op bylaws in Manitoba

Writing co-op bylaws in Manitoba Below is a guide to writing co-op bylaws in Manitoba. Writing…

Sample Rules of Association for British Columbia

In British Columbia, bylaws are called Rules of Association and are filed with the Memorandum of…

Sample Co-op Bylaws for Manitoba

The Government of Manitoba through the Companies Office provides several sets of sample bylaws for co-operatives…

A Guide to writing Rules of Association in BC

What are the Rules of Association in BC? Rules of Association (or bylaws) are the rules…

Sample Co-op Bylaws for Alberta

Designed for those starting co-ops, these co-op bylaws for Alberta can help co-ops navigate the legislation…

A Guide to writing bylaws in Alberta

Below is a guide to writing bylaws in Alberta. Writing bylaws is an important step in…

Incorporation time frame

When you incorporate a co-operative, the steps need to be completed within a specific time frame….

Articles and bylaws (video)

If you’re thinking of building your business as a co-op, you’ll need to go through the…

Choosing a name (video)

Here’s a few things to keep in mind when choosing a name for your co-op. On…

Why should you incorporate your co-op? (video)

Incorporating a co-op is the process of creating a legally recognized entity separate from any one…

Guide to Writing a Financial Plan

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

Sample Bylaws for Saskatchewan

Disclaimer: These bylaws for Saskatchewan were created by Co-operatives First staff and should not be used…

Shaping your Co-op’s Identity

Building a co-operative requires a lot of planning and development of documents, policies, and procedures. These…

Incorporation Checklist

If you’re ready to incorporate your co-op, congrats! You’ve already put in a lot of the…

Guide to writing Bylaws in Saskatchewan

Bylaws in Saskatchewan Bylaws are the rules and regulations that govern various aspects of a co-operative…

Already know what you’re looking for?

Choosing a ‘Co-op Type’ and its Impact on Your Business

Guide to Federal Bylaws

Filing a Memorandum of Association

Workplan for incorporating in Saskatchewan

Incorporating a co-op in Western Canada — a provincial comparison

Incorporating in Manitoba

Workplan for incorporating in Alberta

Workplan for incorporating in British Columbia

Filing Articles of Incorporation in Alberta

Sample Bylaws for a Federal Co-op

Workplan for incorporating in Manitoba

Workplan for incorporating federally

Incorporating a co-op in Saskatchewan

A Guide to writing co-op bylaws in Manitoba

Sample Rules of Association for British Columbia

Sample Co-op Bylaws for Manitoba

A Guide to writing Rules of Association in BC

Sample Co-op Bylaws for Alberta

A Guide to writing bylaws in Alberta

Incorporation time frame

Articles and bylaws (video)

Choosing a name (video)

Why should you incorporate your co-op? (video)

Guide to Writing a Financial Plan

Sample Bylaws for Saskatchewan

Shaping your Co-op’s Identity

Incorporation Checklist

Guide to writing Bylaws in Saskatchewan

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