Co-ops 101

Insert written by the National Co-operative Business Association, USA, April 6, 2009.

Government of Canada, 2005. Explains the meaning of various terms and processes that are common in co-operative and general business practices. 


Ontario Co-operative Association, 3 pp. Chart comparing the co-operative, corporation, partnership, and sole proprietor business models on a wide variety of attributes from values and decision making to survival rate and taxation. A second chart compares the co-operative with the investor-owned business and nonprofit organization based on principles, voting, shares, securities regulations, distribution of surplus, and dissolution.

USDA, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Report 55, 51 pp., 1997. Summary of how a co-operative organizes and operates as a business, including comparison of the co-operative model with other business structures. Outlines the roles of various positions within the co-operative. Discusses financing and financial records and reporting.

Government of Saskatchewan. Benefits of co-operatives to farmers and communities. Comparison of co-operative with other business structures.

Rural Adaptation Council Inc. and the University of Manitoba. Describes sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, and co-operative business structure and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

What is a Worker Cooperative?

Que es Una Cooperativa de Trabajadores?

The Discussion Course on Cooperatives is a group-education tool for people who would like to become familiar with cooperative economics, history and philosophy.

OnCoop's guide to work through self assessment.

OnCoop FactSheet on Working with Consultants

OnCoop FactSheet on Financing Your Co-op

OnCoop FactSheet on Using the Seven Co-operative Principles in Practical Ways.

Link to OnCoop factsheet on Co-ops and Government.

Lynn Hannley's  presentation from the 2007 Annual General Meeting.

Peter Hough's  presentation from the 2007 Annual General Meeting on surviving the first three years of your co-op's launch.

OnCoop have developed a list that defines many of the common acronyms, nicknames and short forms that are used in the co-op and credit union sector:

Guide to housing co-operatives.

Guide to renewable energy co-operatives.

OnCoop FactSheet on childcare co-operatives.

Guide to financing a co-operative.

Using the 7 International Principles of Co-operation in Practical Ways

Why and how a co-op changes its structure.

Fact sheet explaining Director's Liabilities in the role of a co-operative.

For-profit vs. not-for-profit co-operatives

Share capital vs. non-share capital co-ops.

Fact sheet on co-operatives operating as charities.

Federal vs. Provincial incorporation for co-ops

How to incorporate a co-operative in Ontario

Fact sheet introduction to all-things Co-op.