{"id":237397,"date":"2022-07-14T10:19:18","date_gmt":"2022-07-14T14:19:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canada.coop\/starting-a-co-op\/"},"modified":"2023-03-13T10:48:57","modified_gmt":"2023-03-13T14:48:57","slug":"starting-a-co-op","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/canada.coop\/en\/starting-a-co-op\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting a co-op"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16.1″ background_color=”#4B4B4D” background_image=”https:\/\/canada.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/Lettre-oo-cmc.png” background_blend=”multiply” custom_padding=”40px|0px|40px|0px|true|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”1200ms” animation_delay=”100ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” animation_intensity_slide=”3%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16.1″ custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.3″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”|700||on|||||dotted” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_font_size=”40px” header_line_height=”1.3em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding=”9px||1px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” header_font_size_last_edited=”off|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Starting a co-op<\/span><\/h1>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/canada.coop\/wp-content\/uploads\/circle-background-pattern.png” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

If you want to start a business, the co-op model should be a strong option to consider. This business model provides a democratic way to build solid foundations while receiving funding from either employees, members or other stakeholders that want to support your endeavors. The co-operative business model is a great financial model and a way to give back to your community by offering needed goods or services. It also provides members the power to be a democratically active part of your organization.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f8f8f8″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][dsm_text_divider header=”The process for incorporating a co-op” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” header_level=”h2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/dsm_text_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Incorporation gives your organization recognition and rights that are set by law. A co-operative can be incorported at the federal or provincial\/territorial level and its status includes several specificities. We suggest that you contact the provincial or sectorial co-operative association and\/or CoopZone<\/a> to support you in your efforts. If you are located in Quebec, la Coop\u00e9rative du D\u00e9veloppement R\u00e9gional du Qu\u00e9bec<\/a> or le R\u00e9seau Co-op<\/a> can also help you with this process.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Co-op status and its implications” open_toggle_text_color=”#0096D6″ icon_color=”#0096D6″ toggle_icon=”7||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”30px” open_icon_color=”#D8531D” open_toggle_icon=”6||divi||400″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”30px” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#0096D6″ title_level=”h3″ title_font=”|||on|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Incorporation gives your organization recognition and rights that are set by law. <\/span>This legal status allows co-operatives to acquire assets, incur debt and generally facilitate the mobilization of capital. It also limits the liability of your members in case of financial or legal problems.<\/p>\n

Although an organization can informally operate as a co-operative, it cannot add the word co-operative in its name and isn\u2019t recognized as such by the law unless it is incorporated.<\/p>\n

A co-operative is incorporated either provincially or federally and is then governed either by a provincial or territorial Co-operatives Act, or the Canada Co-operatives Act<\/a>. Wondering what the difference is between provincial or federal incorporation? It simply depends on the location of operations: a federally incorporated co-op will operate in at least two provinces or territories and will have fixed offices in more than one province or territory.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Incorporating a co-op on the federal level” open_toggle_text_color=”#0096D6″ icon_color=”#0096D6″ toggle_icon=”7||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”30px” open_icon_color=”#D8531D” open_toggle_icon=”6||divi||400″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”30px” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#0096D6″ title_level=”h3″ title_font=”|||on|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)<\/span><\/a> regulates co-operatives incorporated under the Canada Co-operatives Act<\/a>. Their website provides access to policies, legislation, forms, and fees associated with federal co-operative incorporation.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Incorporating a co-op on a provincial or territorial level” open_toggle_text_color=”#0096D6″ icon_color=”#0096D6″ toggle_icon=”7||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”30px” open_icon_color=”#D8531D” open_toggle_icon=”6||divi||400″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”30px” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#0096D6″ title_level=”h3″ title_font=”|||on|||||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Most Canadian co-ops are regulated under provincial or territorial law. To find out how to incorporate your co-op in your area, please select a province or territory :\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n