Co-op types
Agricultural co-ops
Producers can organise shared purchasing, marketing, processing, equipment or services. Trading commitments, member contributions and the distribution or retention of surplus depend on the organisation.
Start with membership
Who belongs?
Farmers or other producers. The organisation’s governing documents define who may join, their obligations and their rights.
A useful question to ask
What must members supply or buy, how are service costs shared, and how are competing interests resolved?
Model and legal form are different
Co-operative societies, community benefit societies and companies have different legal characteristics. A community benefit society is not simply another name for a co-operative society. A company can be structured co-operatively; a CIC designation alone does not create democratic member ownership.
Credit unions have their own specific regulation. If you are forming or changing an organisation, take its purpose, control, capital requirements and proposed use of assets to a qualified adviser.
Prepare for choosing a structure →