How do you set up a coperative?

[Andy Hamilton]

I need to get my cooperative set up. So what is the first step? What do you have to do, anyone set one up?

[John Headstrong]

are you sure you want a co-op, there are other types of legal entities that might be better for your organisation (such as a Community Interest Company CIC)

really it is just like setting up any type of business, business plan and other core things will be the same, just the legal structure will be different



http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop/live/cme0.htm << good link, just taught me a few things!
http://www.radicalroutes.org.uk/
http://www.cooponline.coop/about_setup.html

[pureportugal]

http://www.catalystcollective.org/

[catalyst]

if you are setting up a workers coop then you can do it yourself, using the rules available on catalyst's website.
i designed these, so if you want any help modifying them just ask. (email)
http://www.catalystcollective.org/index ... &Itemid=89

co. house only charge 20 quid - while coop development orgs might charge you 100s.
but it would definitely be worth seeing if there is a local cda who might be able to help with funding, business plans etc.
and get in touch if i can help, mate.

[daithi]

Hi Andy,

What kind of co-op do you have in mind? I'm new to the forum, so forgive me if that is obvious.

I have made tentative efforts to establish co-operatives before. They were intended to facilitate people helping each other outside a monetary context - tool-sharing, skill-sharing, that sort of thing. They have been something similar to justfortheloveofit.org, but on a smaller scale ( they have only been local to the areas I have lived in ), and with less restrictions. Maybe that is quite far removed from what you have in mind - in which case I guess my words aren't of much use.

The initiatives never got off the ground, so I'm not necessarily well-qualified to write about the subject - but I am willing to share my experience.

I never tried to attain the legal status of a co-operative, so if your inquiring about how to go about attaining such a status (and it seems to me that you quite likely are), feel free to ignore this post.

[catalyst]

ooops, i accidently deleted a database that the catalyst website was using, so have completely rebuilt the site last week.
so that link i posted doesnt work.

http://www.catalystcollective.co.uk works though