Our Services: First Ideas
You and others have an idea for a business, maybe a service, perhaps manufacturing, a distribution or retail outlet, even a social enterprise, something you want to start in your community.
You wonder if this is a good idea, can it work?
For the work you plan, what is the best structure?
Should it be a co-op, a corporation, a society, a charity?As Co-op Developers, we can help you see the differences between these types of organizations and to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each type for the work you wish to undertake.
If you then feel the co-op option may be the most appropriate for you, we can help you answer "How will this work?".
You will see how to get started, including how the planning, concept development, feasibility work and incorporation take place.
You will develop a time-line and an estimate of the investment of finances and time that will be involved.
You will develop skills in working through challenges together.
Because a co-op is a democracy, one person - one vote, you will practice making decisions by consensus. This will be a time of establishing good group dynamics.A co-op must be on a firm financial basis. You will think analytically about your entrepreneurial concept and understand what is involved in doing a feasibility study and why this is essential for the members of the co-op as well as being first step towards preparing a business plan. You will see what is needed in a good business plan and why it is essential for the members of the co-op to have this tool and why it is useful if you plan to borrow in order to establish your co-op.
You will learn about other co-ops, and about the fascinating history of this sector. As part of this, you will become familiar with the 7 international co-op principles and why they will be an important part of your early planning and the daily work of your co-op. You will learn about the support available from the global co-op movement.
Good governance is the key to co-op success so we will help your Board members will fully understand their responsibilities and the boundaries between their work and the work of any paid staff. They will know the limits of their liability.
As you work through your first ideas, we help you keep on track, and constantly check-in to be sure that your business idea is sound and that a co-operative is the appropriate structure within which to operate. You will find that the values-driven philosophy of the co-op sector enables you to operate your business in a manner that is consistent with your personal ethics and reflects the ideals of the group. Work becomes pleasure when principles and practices support each other.
Ask us about developing your co-op
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