Five types of Cooperatives

​There are 5 different types of cooperatives:
  • Consumer: owned by consumers who buy goods or services from their cooperative
  • Producer: owned by producers of commodities or crafts who have joined forces to process and market their products
  • Worker: owned and democratically governed by employees who become co-op members
  • Purchasing: owned by independent businesses or municipalities to improve their purchasing power
  • Hybrid: a combination of co-op types, where people with common interests band together.

Why Coop's?

The intent of any for-profit corporation is to produce a profit for its owners. Cooperatives are Member-owned corporations whose owners are also its customers. Thus, the Members of cooperatives have a built-in incentive to work together and, in turn, with their co-op’s staff to achieve better purchase prices, efficiencies, and value-added services.

Basic Principles of a Cooperative

The basic principles of a cooperative, to which we subscribe, are:
  1. Voluntary Membership
    • Cooperatives are voluntary organizations open to persons willing to accept the responsibilities of membership. The relationship can be voluntarily ended at any time.
  2. Democratic Member Control
    • Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. Members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote).
  3. Member Economic Participation
    • Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative.
  4. Autonomy and Independence
    • Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members.
  5. Education, Training, and Information
    • Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperative.
  6. Cooperation among Cooperatives
    • Cooperatives often work together through local, national, regional, and international entities.
  7. Concern for Community
    • While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their memberships.