Up and Running 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

Sample Co-op Equity Statement

If your co-op shares its profits with your members, you should also provide members with an…

How to issue dividends

Disclaimer: This document intends to provide the reader with a basic understanding of the role of surplus…

Write a compliance checklist

Your co-operative’s board of directors is the primary steward of the business and is responsible for…

How to write a Board of Directors’ Code of Conduct

A code of conduct is a tool your co-operative’s Board of Directors can use to hold…

Sample Bookkeeper Contract

Contracting a professional to do your co-operative’s bookkeeping is a great idea. Download the sample contract…

How to Build a Board Calendar

As a board member, it’s your duty to oversee your co-op’s operations and ensure it’s compliant…

Sample Board Duties

The board of directors is central to all co-operatives. Boards represent the co-op’s members and oversee…

Board Governance Tips for Indigenous Co-operatives

Good governance is an important part of a co-op’s success. Creating the conditions for good governance and efficient decision-making takes effort…

Everything you need to know about managing records

One of the most important responsibilities of your board is keeping and managing the co-op’s records….

How to Waive an Audit

Most co-operatives have to undergo an annual audit. This is a process where an independent third-party…

Annual Meeting Checklist

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is an important event for co-ops. It provides a forum for…

Annotated Agenda for an AGM

This tool is designed to help you guide your co-op’s members through an annual meeting. Below…

What you need to know for your first AGM

What you need to know for your first AGM Okay, you’ve incorporated – that’s awesome! You’ve…

Providing Notice for Annual General Meeting

Providing Notice for Annual General Meeting Each year, your co-op needs to hold an Annual General…

A Guide to Meeting Minutes

A guide to meeting minutes Meeting minutes are some of the most important documents for co-operative…

Three AGM Resolutions Every Co-op Needs for their Annual General Meeting

AGM resolutions Each year, a co-op’s board must hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the…

Annual General Meeting Preparation

Chairing an Annual General Meeting (AGM) can be intimidating. All eyes are on you and people…

Keeping track of members in a co-op

Because a co-op distributes profits a little differently than other business types, keeping track of member…

How to Read Financial Statements

How to Read Financial Statements This resource provides a guide on how to read financial statements….

A Guide to Co-operative Insurance

Finding out your co-operative insurance needs Starting a business comes with risk. From an operations perspective,…

Sample Terms of Reference

Looking for a sample Terms of Reference to use for your co-op? Look no further. Here’s…

Sample Resolution

Creating a Sample Resolution When it comes to making decisions in a co-operative, the provincial and…

Sample Membership Agreement

Sample Membership Agreement (Disclaimer: While much of the content in this sample membership agreement has been…

Sample Financial Policy

Looking for a financial policy template to use for your co-op? Look no further. Here’s our…

Member Engagement and Onboarding

Members are the foundation for any co-operative. It’s important for new members to understand their co-op,…

Creating a Terms of Reference

Creating a Terms of Reference When finalizing documents for your co-op, you don’t want to skip…

Creating a Strategic Plan

Creating a strategic plan for your co-op This tool is intended to guide co-op boards or…

Creating a Human Resources Policy

A human resources policy is a guiding document that a co-operative will use to manage its…

Free Online Governance Course

Learn how to better govern through our online governance course Take our FREE online governance course….

Sample Manager Job Description

This sample job description is not the property of any business, rather includes information commonly found…

Guidelines for co-operative elections

A co-op elects its board of directors each year at its annual general meeting (AGM). Here’s some…

Filing your Annual Return

One of the most important requirements for co-operatives is filing an annual return. An annual return…

Creating a Conflict of Interest Policy

Every co-op should have a conflict of interest policy as part of its bylaws or policy…

Board of Directors Evaluations

The board of directors is central in a co-operative business. The directors need to be able…

Board Member Recruitment

Recruiting board members is essential for co-ops. It is important to make sure that you not…

Board Decision-Making Exercise

The board of directors is central to the operations of a co-operative business. Boards should always…

Being a Board Member in a Co-operative Business

Co-operative businesses are governed and run by boards of directors. They manage the staff, create policies…

Co-operative Annual General Meetings

If you’re moving your AGM online, click here and here for tips. If you’re looking for…

Ongoing Capitalization

Raising a co-op’s capital Raising financial capital is an important step when developing a co-operative business,…

How to allocate your co-op’s profits

Disclaimer: This document intends to provide the reader with a basic understanding of the role of…

Already know what you’re looking for?