CoopZone - Planning and organizing the business

Social Capital and Financing Co-op Start-Ups

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:12:45 -0700

Brief Description:

Marty Frost's presentation from the 2007 Annual General Meeting.

Co-operative Development Toolkit

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:15:14 -0700

Brief Description:

FactSheets

The following factsheets provide a general overview and guide to selected topics in co-op development. They are suitable for those people that need to answer a particular question quickly or need a fast overview of a particular topic. These factsheets are also suitable to be distributed in hardcopy as part of a literature rack or as a resource to clients.

Telelearning Call Four: Market Research

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:30:34 -0600

Brief Description:

Co-op market research.

The URL below will take you to a link with a downloadable copy of the recording of this tele-learning session, which last approximately 90 minutes. The attachment, also below, will take you to a summary transcript of the session.

Job Description Form

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 18:11:16 -0700

Brief Description:

A generic job description form.

Co-op Feasibility

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:43:32 -0700

Brief Description:

A document about co-op feasibility.

Excerpt:

Co-op Feasibility

Written by Russ Christianson

All right, you have already completed the Co-op Self-Assessment. If you still feel confident that a co-op business is the right thing for you and your group, the next step is to investigate its feasibility. A feasibility study involves gathering, analyzing and evaluating information with the purpose of answering the question: “Should the co-op go into this business?”

The Capitalization of Co-operatives

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 18:44:47 -0700

Brief Description:

A comprehensive presentation by MCE Conseils of Montreal on capitalizing a co-operative, given at the CWCF 2005 Conference.

Pricing For Profit

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 17:20:46 -0700

Brief Description:

A presentation on pricing for profit from the CWCF's AGM 2006.

Preparing & Marketing Financing Proposals: A Guide for Worker Co-ops

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 06:23:49 -0700

Brief Description:

The purpose of this Guide is to help you navigate the financial planning and marketing process for your co-op.

There is really no distinction between what your business plan and/or financing proposals need in order to get approved by financiers and what your co-op needs in order to succeed. As a general rule: whatever is of priority to potential financiers is also important for your co-op’s business success.

CorNu Enterprises

Sat, 16 Dec 2006 15:53:31 -0700

Brief Description:

CorNu Enterprises has provided a comprehensive business development tool written for busy people. Although there is a cost associated with each module, one can choose only that which is required.

Strategis: Canada's Business and Consumer site.

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 07:26:59 -0700

Brief Description:

A guide to the business resources available through the Government of Canada.

Co-operatives in Ontario, Guide To Setting up a Co-operative

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 09:23:56 -0600

Brief Description:

A How-to guide for starting a co-op in Ontario under various conditions

Excerpt:

WHAT CO-OPERATIVES CAN DO FOR YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY
For many years, Ontarians have used co-operatives as a way of combining their energy, skills, and resources to reach shared goals and fulfil common needs. People form co-ops to:
! Lower the cost of business supplies and consumer goods. Because business service co-ops and consumer supply co-ops buy in bulk, members benefit from lower costs on everything from food to fertilizers.
! Start their own businesses and create their own jobs. Worker co-ops are enterprises owned and operated by their employees. Worker co-ops can be formed for any business purpose, from carpentry to film production.
! Get better prices for products and services. By forming marketing or producer co-ops, people can earn more from their products and services by selling directly to the public. These co-ops also help producers lower their marketing and distribution costs.
! Obtain convenient, reasonably priced child care. Child care co-ops give parents an important role in shaping the care of their children.
! Find affordable housing and have a chance to help make the decisions about the upkeep of their homes.
The co-operative way of doing business and providing services is guided by some basic principles: • ! Open, Voluntary Membership: Anyone who can use a co-op's services and is willing to accept the responsibilities of membership may apply to become a member.

! Democratic Control: Members have an equal voice in running their co-op. Each member has one vote, no matter how much he or she has invested, and only members may vote.
! Limited Return on Capital: Since the main purpose of co-ops is to provide goods, services or jobs for their members, people do not generally invest in co-ops for speculative purposes. By law, co-op shares may appreciate in value only to a limited extent.
! Co-operative Education: Co-ops are committed to educating their members and the general public about the co-operative way of delivering services and doing business.
! Co-operation among Co-operatives: To encourage the growth of co-ops, co-operatives and co-op organizations actively develop local, provincial, national, and international networks.

USDA: Rural Development Homepage

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 08:56:24 -0600

Brief Description:

Business plan guide for the agri-food sector

SBDC Net:National Information Clearinghouse

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 08:10:21 -0600

Brief Description:

A list of examples of business plans for various types of businesses.

Business Plan Handbook

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 07:36:20 -0600

Brief Description:

A series of business plans are provided with informational notes attached.

Co-operative By Design - Building Blocks to Co-op Development

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 17:51:54 -0600

Brief Description:

Co-ops By Design is a clearly written guidebook, with a focus on BC, designed to help you help yourself. It takes you through the process of developing your co-op, from forming your core group, to developing your business plan, to starting your co-op operations.