I get the jiist but can any company be co-operative or only certain ones/types?

What does it take to set one up exactly and how do they ultimately differ from standard limited companies?

Any info would be good.

Peace
BL

Declare yourself one, Register as one.

Yes any group of people can organise themselves as a Co-operative((Something as a people I believe we really need to get into)

There are various legal rules you can use and there are two types of ownership models; common ownership or Joint ownership.


http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop/live/welcome.asp?id=213

All the info you need should be on this site.

Can any type of business be a Co-op?

Am going back to college, taking up In/Ex again.

Yes I don't think there are any exceptions. It is more about how you set it up ie ownership model and the legal struture used ie Limited by shares or by guarantee.


The business itself could be anything from social, finance, import/export, retail, manufacturing...Anything you could set up as a business could be set up as a co-operative.

What's In/ex?

A noteworthy thread, may I ask addressed to anyone can co-ops involve partnerships with religious institutions and how would the taxes be worked out if that was the case.

I dont see any indications from the site listed.

@Deyfer

Yes they can involve partnerships with Religous organisations, but I am not sure how taxes would be worked out. I assume it would depend on the legal sturcture and ownership model the co-op adopts and the nature of the partnership. Also the charity status of the religous organisation, since all are not excempt.

I do know changes were made to Charitable status and tax exemption last year with the 2006 Charity Act, you would have to look that up.

I am posting this from that site, checkout principle 4.

Co-operative Values and Principles
A co-operative is defined as an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically controlled enterprise.
The co-operative movement is based on a set of values and principles:

Values

Co-operatives are based on the values of:

self-help
self-responsibility
democracy
equality
equity
solidarity
In the tradition of their founders, co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility, and caring for others.

Principles

The co-operative principles are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice:

1. Voluntary and Open Membership
Co-operatives are voluntary organisations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.

2. Democratic Member Control
Co-operatives are democratic organisations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary co-operatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote), and co operatives at other levels are also organised in a democratic manner.

3. Member Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co operative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the co operative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any of the following purposes: developing their co-operative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the co-operative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

4. Autonomy and Independence
Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organisations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organisations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their co-operative autonomy.

5. Education, Training and Information
Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public - particularly young people and opinion leaders - about the nature and benefits of co-operation.

6. Co-operation Among Co-operatives
Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the Co-operative Movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

7. Concern for Community
Co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.

Intresting.

Was thinking distribution... a company shared by retailers, not so much by customers or workers.

Democratic Member Control
Co-operatives are democratic organisations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary co-operatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote), and co operatives at other levels are also organised in a democratic manner.

Education, Training and Information
Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public - particularly young people and opinion leaders - about the nature and benefits of co-operation.

Concern for Community
Co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.

Better than I thought actually. Thought there might be a problem as some people aren't educated or conserned enough to understand how such a business should be run, if they held sway over a vote they might take a company down the wrong road, see sucess and think short term.

Well the mainstay of Co-operativism is definately long term development. I guess it would require you organising with like minded people.

I have been a member of many co-operatives over the years from film/education associations to food co-op's. They have all been successful. Problems have been down to political directions rather than company developement.

You really do need to look into the rules/legal structures in order to see if your plan could work....You really do need to research

Checkout this site.

Radical Routes - Publications

There are various booklets available to read on-line free.
Specifically look at this one....


FREE


How to set up a Workers Co-op. (52pp A5) This booklet tells you exactly what you have to do to set up a co-operative business (which is suprising little so I don't know how it ended up being 52 pages long). It covers registration with companies house, market research, business plans, democratic decision making, and a few bits on running the thing once you've set it up

If you don't want to buy this lovely booklet but want the information then please feel free to download one of the following low resolution (but still 500kb) PDFs of the insides.
Copy one is laid out one page to A4 sheet
Whereas this copy is imposed so you can print them off and staple them together and read it like a book.

http://www.radicalroutes.org.uk/documents/wcimp.pdf

It includes explainations of the legal requirements, including pros and cons of registeration and legal structures.

Hey thanks, with this Charity Act in play I can envision a charity organization boom to replace those industrial labor unions that have left a previous imprint.

I think the biggest organizations to utilize this will be corporate and professional classes. Obviously they are using it and probably abusing it as well.

@Deyfer

You wrote:
Hey thanks, with this Charity Act in play I can envision a charity organization boom to replace those industrial labor unions that have left a previous imprint.

I think the biggest organizations to utilize this will be corporate and professional classes. Obviously they are using it and probably abusing it as well.

Utilize what?

What is your plan or would you have to kill me if you told me!?!?