Cooperative Development
Starting A Cooperative
Starting A Cooperative
How To Start A Cooperative
Sequence of Events Outline
- Invite leading potential member-users to meet and discuss issues. Identify the economic need a cooperative might satisfy.
- Conduct an exploratory meeting with potential member-users. If the group votes to continue, select a steering committee.
- Survey prospective members to determine the potential use of a cooperative.
- Discuss survey results at a second general meeting of all potential members and vote on whether to proceed.
- Conduct a needs- or use-cost analysis.
- Discuss results of the cost analysis at a third general meeting. Vote by secret ballot on whether to proceed.
- Conduct a feasibility analysis and develop a business plan.
- Present results of the feasibility analysis at the fourth general meeting. If participants agree to proceed, decide whether to keep or change the steering committee members.
- Prepare and incorporate legal papers.
- Call a meeting of charter members and all potential members to review and adopt the proposed bylaws. Elect a board of directors.
- Convene the first meeting of the board and elect officers. Assign responsibilities to implement the business plan.
- Conduct a membership drive.
- Acquire capital and develop a loan application package.
- Hire the manager.
- Acquire facilities.
- Begin operations.
Additional Resources
- Considering Cooperation: A Guide for New Cooperative Development (Cornell University)
- Guide to Starting a Cooperative – USDA
- Romance vs Reality: Hard Lessons Learned in a Grass-fed Beef Marketing Cooperative
- Forming a Board of Directors
- Cooperative Leadership (University of Wisconsin)
Supported By:
Contact Information
Rod Gurganus
N.C. MarketReady
252-943-5832
Email
Blake Brown
N.C. MarketReady
704-250-5404
Email
The Produce Lady
A personal look at locally grown foods, healthy recipes, N.C. farmers markets, produce videos and food safety practices.
Your Business Toolkit
We share basics for your business, from identifying customers, developing a business plan, considering insurance basics to marketing.
