Co-operative Businesses - What's in it for me?

What is a co-operative?

A co-operative is a business owned and controlled equally by all members.
Co-operatives recognize the importance of people and communities defining their own needs and working together to meet those needs. They are a powerful and democratic way to put decision-making into the hands of those who need and use their services. Co-operatives are directed by the members and invested in by the members.
How do co-ops differ from other businesses?
Co-operatives can provide virtually any product or service, and can be either a non-profit or for-profit enterprise. Unlike the private, public, or voluntary sectors, all co-operatives around the world are guided by the same seven principles:


www.votesilver.com

	Co-operatives explained Just what is a co-operative anyway? Detailed information about co-operatives.
What is a co-operative? A co-operative is a business owned and controlled equally by all members. Co-operatives recognize the importance of people and communities defining their own needs and working together to meet those needs. They are a powerful and democratic way to put decision-making into the hands of those who need and use their services. Co-operatives are directed by the members and invested in by the members. How do co-ops differ from other businesses? Co-operatives can provide virtually any product or service, and can be either a non-profit or for-profit enterprise. Unlike the private, public, or voluntary sectors, all co-operatives around the world are guided by the same seven principles:
	1. Voluntary and open membership 2. Democratic member control 3. Member economic participation 4. Autonomy and independence 5. Education, training, and information 6. Co-operation among co-operatives 7. Concern for community
Co-operatives differ from other businesses in three key ways: A Different Purpose: The primary purpose of co-operatives is to meet the common needs of their members, whereas the primary purpose of most investor-owned businesses is to maximize profit for shareholders. A Different Control Structure: Co-operatives use the one-member-one-vote system, not the one-vote-per-share system used by most businesses. This helps the co-operative serve the common need rather than the individual need, and is a way to ensure that people, not capital, control the organization. A Different Allocation of Profit: Co-operatives share benefits among their members on the basis of how much they use the co-op, not on how many shares they hold.
<Back>