Before a cooperative transition process can get started, the selling owner needs to make some decisions about how to structure the process, specifically she needs to clearly define who has decision-making power in the process: herself, the transition committee, the likely coop members, and the whole group. This chart outlines who decides what.
Gant chart outlining the phases a business goes through during transition to a cooperative.
The absence of supervisors, who are charged with immediately identifying and addressing problem performance, makes the periodic occurrence of worker evaluations critical in a collective. This 1-page document outlines the importance of evaluations and provides tips on performing evaluations effectively.
Tips for effective meetings and consensus decision-making. Thanks to USFWC member, South Mountain Company, for this resource.
Sample employee handbook for a worker cooperative. Provided in a word document for easy modification for your own cooperative.
Handbook for new members to aid in understanding how the cooperative, Casa Nueva, is structured and run, as well as individual member's role within the cooperative.
Prezi given by USFWC / DAWN for the Vermont Employee Ownership Center on the basics of worker cooperative governance and management.
Don't start from scratch. Sample worker cooperative bylaws in word doc form for you to edit for your own cooperative.
A chart to assist with selecting the most appropriate legal entity for your worker cooperative. Compares: Sole Proprietor, C-Corp, S-Corp, Limited Liability Company (LLC), and Cooperative Corporation.
28 essential questions for any start-up to ask - and try to answer - before meeting with a lawyer.
