The hardest part is converting an existing corporation into a coop.
The vast majority of coops are, like credit unions, relatively small and local. Instead of expanding to new areas, they often "split" into new areas, so you'd expect them to remain just below the noise threshold of the large multinationals.
(which happens to be featured somewhat prominently in Kim Stanley Robinson novel 'The Ministry For The Future', which I am currently working my way through, and recommend for anyone who (a) likes coops and (b) is feeling overwhelmed by humanity's current situation)
Cool. What do financials/shares look like? How does the company grow from just 6-8 people? I'm curious because this is what I've always wanted to start. I know that worker-owner/member orgs can exist at scale as well (Mondragon is one example) but the internals and growth is fascinating to me.
Credit unions are probably a pretty good place to start, as they're cooperative by nature but also operate similar to a normal banking corporation (expansion, etc).
What are some success stories of coops? I’m thinking United , REI , Winco.
I’m curious why aren’t there more and why they generally have mediocre success if not failure
Coops are basically geared toward mediocre success - because there's really no pressure to risk aiming for amazing/startup-style success.
Ownership structure doesn't change many of the business risks, but coops can avoid the "expand or die" that sometimes normal companies experience.
The largest coops are mutuals (think: insurance) and banks (think: credit union).
Others exist in farmer's coops (Land o' Lakes, Dairy Farmers of America, etc).
https://ncbaclusa.coop/blog/2022-world-cooperative-monitor-r...
The hardest part is converting an existing corporation into a coop.
The vast majority of coops are, like credit unions, relatively small and local. Instead of expanding to new areas, they often "split" into new areas, so you'd expect them to remain just below the noise threshold of the large multinationals.
REI is not a worker coop they just cosplay as one.
Don't forget https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondragon_Corporation!
(which happens to be featured somewhat prominently in Kim Stanley Robinson novel 'The Ministry For The Future', which I am currently working my way through, and recommend for anyone who (a) likes coops and (b) is feeling overwhelmed by humanity's current situation)
Cool. What do financials/shares look like? How does the company grow from just 6-8 people? I'm curious because this is what I've always wanted to start. I know that worker-owner/member orgs can exist at scale as well (Mondragon is one example) but the internals and growth is fascinating to me.
Credit unions are probably a pretty good place to start, as they're cooperative by nature but also operate similar to a normal banking corporation (expansion, etc).
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