What is limited liability, and why is it important?
Photo by Loic Leray on Unsplash When deciding whether to start a co-op, people’s first question is often about risk. How much risk am I…
Read More5 Reasons Co-ops Need Profit
It’s a misconception that co-ops don’t have or need profit. In fact, it’s just as important for co-ops to be profitable as other types…
Read MoreWhat Co-op Membership Really Means
The most important thing to understand about being a member of a co-op is this: as a member, you are an owner of the business. …
Read More4 reasons co-ops do better in a crisis
When the economy takes a downturn, it’s hard on businesses — small to medium business (SMBs), in particular — and not every business survives. Co-operative…
Read MoreOnline AGMs and Social Distancing
It’s Annual General Meeting time again — but this year AGMs will be a bit more complicated than usual. Co-operatives First has a lot of…
Read MoreWhere you live can define what a co-op is for you
To define what a co-op is Co-operative businesses look different in different places. Strangely, where you call home can provide a different answer when you…
Read MoreCo-ops: an often-overlooked economic gem of the prairies
Co-ops and the prairies share a history Much of western Canada was settled with the help of co-ops, but prairie co-ops are often-overlooked (and misunderstood)…
Read MoreCo-op Camp
In this episode we speak to three people about the Saskatchewan Co-operative Association’s annual youth Co-op Camp: an organizer, a participant, and a camp staff member…
Read MoreHow this YXE bike co-op gives back
Co-ops are great at giving back. In our recent Holiday Podcast, Aasa spoke with some amazing co-operatives in western Canada. Each of them gave us insight…
Read MoreHow Co-op is giving back
Co-ops are great at giving back. In our recent Holiday Podcast, Aasa spoke with some amazing co-operatives in western Canada. Each of them gave us insight…
Read MoreHow Affinity Credit Union gives back
Co-ops are great at giving back. In our recent Holiday Podcast, Aasa spoke with some amazing co-operatives in western Canada. Each of them gave us…
Read MoreHow Co-ops Give Back: A Special Holiday Podcast
The holidays are a time of giving, when people often think about donating to charitable causes. As businesses rooted in their communities, co-ops are great…
Read More5 unexpected places you can find a co-op
Most people know grocery stores can be co-operatives. Some may have heard of daycare or housing co-ops. But the reality is the co-op model can…
Read MorePowering rural with infrastructure co-ops
Previously we’ve talked about the important role co-operatives might play in succession planning for rural businesses as baby boomer business owners begin to retire. The…
Read MoreEpisode 10: a conversation with Dr. Brett Fairbairn
A conversation on the history of co-ops. Dr. Brett Fairbairn has been researching co-operatives for over 30 years; as a Fellow at the Centre for…
Read MoreWhat succession planning is and why it matters
Succession planning is how business leaders answer the question of how their business continues without key players, like owners and high performance or essential skill…
Read More6 unique co-ops that may surprise you
Unique co-ops are more common than you think The co-operative business model is versatile and being used successfully in every sector of the economy, leading…
Read More3 Financial Sector Co-operative Options
The Co-operatives First team is regularly asked “what is a co-operative?” and many of our posts display various uses of the co-operative model to explore…
Read MoreHow farmers benefit from ag equipment co-ops
Farmers benefit from ag equipment co-ops Farming is expensive. The cost of the machinery and labour required to run a farm is daunting, and many…
Read MoreAnother 3 co-ops you probably didn’t know were co-ops
As we’ve noted in past blogs, co-operatives operate in all industries, often going unnoticed. Many co-operatives have recognizable brands, but do not necessarily tout their business…
Read MoreCommunity Service Co-ops and Non-Profits – What’s the Difference?
Community service co-ops vs. non-profit corporations Choosing the business model for a venture, even a non-profit one, should be based on practical reasons. But, spotting…
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