In 2026, Co-operatives First turned 10! And over the past decade, our team has learned a lot about entrepreneurship, policy, governance, and so much more.  

In that time, we’ve worked with nearly 400 groups and helped create over 160 co-operatives. We’ve helped our clients overcome challenges and learned valuable lessons. We learn from each group we work with and create new tools and resources to help future co-ops learn from their peers.  

Thanks to all the people who have persevered and created co-ops with us, here are 10 things we’ve learned about the process. 

1. Find your people – then make sure they’re the right people 

A co-op, by definition, is a business owned by three or more people – there is no such thing as a one-person co-op. So when an individual approaches us with an idea, the first thing we suggest they do is go find people to join them. 

This doesn’t, however, mean finding just anyone. An individual person might be able to convince two friends to help them out by signing the incorporating documents, but if they aren’t fully invested in the project, the co-op is unlikely to succeed. The right people are those who share the same problem and are equally determined to create a solution. 

2. Get buy-in early 

Once you’ve got a group together, they all need to be on board. Everyone in the group needs to know what they’re signing up for, which means understanding what a co-op is and accepting that everyone will share equally in the decisions and profits. ‘Rubber stamping’ through the start-up process without really understanding how the co-op will work isn’t a recipe for success. Make sure your group is committed and has all the information they need. (Our Introduction to Co-ops course is great for getting everyone up to speed).  

3. Find your champion 

Okay – though we just emphasized the importance of a committed, engaged group when starting a co-op, it’s also true that having one or two people who ‘champion’ the project is an important part of moving it forward. A co-op champion is someone who’s in it for the long haul, who keeps the bigger picture in mind, who always shows up and does the work, and makes sure it doesn’t stagnate. This person inspires their group to keep going, and they are invaluable. 

4. Don’t overcomplicate it 

Co-ops are all about ordinary people coming together to solve a problem they have in common.  

Though that sounds simple, it’s easy for it to become complex. People who create co-ops often want to include as many people as possible – because they believe that strength comes in numbers or because they don’t want to leave anyone out. A multi-stakeholder co-op can seem appealing for this reason – it allows a co-op to have more than one kind of member.  

In most cases, however, keeping a simple structure with one type of member (consumers, producers, or workers, for example) is the best way to go. Different types of members can have competing interests, and because co-ops are created by and for the people who use them it’s okay to restrict membership to just those the co-op serves. 

5. Prepare for it to take longer – and cost more – than you expect 

Part of starting a co-op is waiting – waiting for the government to process forms, for grant applications to be approved, to hit a fundraising target, or to finalize building plans – and unfortunately, these things can take longer than you’d like. And, as we all know, prices on everything are going up, especially if construction is involved.  

Work with a financial planning expert to help you keep costs under control, and prepare to play the waiting game. 

6. Believe in your project 

Every project will have its share of setbacks and naysayers. But if you have an idea that’s going to make something better, a responsible group of people to work with, and you’ve done the legwork of getting support for your project, keep going. Not everyone will see your vision – that just means your co-op is not for them. 

7. Get comfortable with discomfort 

Working as a group has a lot of advantages. There are more people to share the workload, more ideas around the table, and more stability in numbers.  

But working as a group also inevitably comes with disagreements and misunderstandings. For your co-op to succeed, it will be important to have some tough conversations. Remember, conflict doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In fact, it can be a process that strengthens your co-op as you work through challenges together, as long as you do it in a constructive way. 

8. The co-op model is incredibly versatile 

 We’ve always known co-ops are flexible, but over the last 10 years even we have been amazed by what people can create when they get their hands on the co-op model. When we started, we couldn’t have predicted that we would help everyone from video game developers, midwives, and archeologists, to Indigenous Elders, hair stylists, and bookkeepers to start co-operatives that impact their communities, businesses, and lives. So really, you can do anything with a co-op. 

9. Creating a co-op doesn’t always follow a straight-forward process 

We’ve worked with groups whose co-ops come together quickly: they have a clear idea and the incorporation and start-up process is straight-forward. But we’ve also had groups who are unclear of their goals at the beginning, who might go silent for years to take a break or to reassess or to get a solid group together – and then come back and get their co-op started. Your co-op journey is yours – regardless of how long it takes.

10. Taking matters into your own hands is worth it

You can wait for someone else to provide a solution to a problem – the government, a private business, an organization – but you could be waiting forever. By creating a co-op, you solve your own problem, and because you’re shaping it together, that solution is tailored to what your group needs. So, whether it’s housing, child care, high-speed internet, commercial space, renewable energy, groceries, or a million other goals you may have, starting a co-op is the best way to make sure it gets done, in a way that benefits you the most. 

Do you have an idea for a co-op? We have all the knowledge, tools, and support you need. Reach out at info@cooperativesfirst.com.