At Co-operatives UK, we get phone calls and emails every day asking for advice on starting new businesses, mainly co-operatives. Some of those who contact us are clear about what they want to achieve and how they intend to do it. Others have a dream, but no idea how to do it.
Many of those who call are at an early stage in the process. They begin by saying 'Me and my friends have thought about', 'we are a group of 40 professionals looking to', 'there are some neighbours in my community that' . . . .
Other people are further on – they have their business idea in place, they know the market, and are ready to start thinking about making the business a legal entity. They need advice on what the business structure is and how they go about making it a reality.
Co-operatives UK is today launching a new online support service that aims to help start-up co-operatives get off the ground. It is based on years of work supporting new co-operatives with specialist advice on their business.
It provides an accessible guide through all the basic steps to consider before setting up a co-operative, as detailed in the three step guide on the Guardian Social Enterprise Network over the last few weeks. The support service covers key areas:
• What is the business idea and the market? Is there a need for what your business will sell?
• Who will be the members, the people who own and run the business? Will it be the employees, the consumers or the local community, or a combination?
• How will the members be governed, ie., how will they communicate, work together and plan for the future?
• How will the business be financed? Capital from the members or through loans or grants?
•What legal form will the business take?
The online service brings together a host of useful resources and publications, both specialist resources created by Co-operatives UK, such as the Co-operatives UK Simply Series, and resources produced by other organisations.
It provides links to co-operative business advisers across the country and to services such as the Co-operative Enterprise Hub which makes access to specialist advice free.
And the online support service gives you the opportunity to find out whether a co-operative is the right model for your business through a user-friendly quiz. After all, co-operatives abide by internationally agreed principles about democracy and profits. These principles define their everyday running. Every business can certainly benefit from be more co-operative but not all businesses will want to be a co-operative.
Setting up a business is never easy. Co-operatives, in particular, are businesses that although enjoying a renaissance, are often misunderstood by business advisers and support agencies.
The good news is that there are plenty of resources, support and advice to help you make your dream a reality.
Co-operatives UK's new online support service launches today.
Isabel Benitez is member services support officer at Co-operatives UK
Previous pieces in this 4 part series can be red here (part 3), here (part 2) and here (part 1).
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