Co-op types
Consumer co-ops
Members own and influence a business that serves them. Elections, participation, benefits and use of surplus are determined by the organisation’s rules; a dividend or discount is not a universal entitlement.
Start with membership
Who belongs?
Customers or service users. The organisation’s governing documents define who may join, their obligations and their rights.
A useful question to ask
How can members influence priorities, elect representatives and see what has been done with their input?
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 →