Cooperatives can be large or small, can exist in a range of industries or sectors and can take multiple forms, based on who the member-owners of the co-op are. A few examples of cooperative types include:
- Worker co-ops: The people who work for the company own a worker co-op. Workers contribute to the cooperative through their labor and the work they do for the organization. Although worker co-ops can be in any industry or sector, many are in the retail and service industries.
- Farmer and Business Co-ops: Farmer and business cooperatives are corporations in which the people who use their services have control over the company, and the business serves members’ purchasing, processing and marketing needs.
- Purchasing co-ops: Purchasing co-ops are several small businesses that have joined together to improve their purchase power and to get better discounts and offers on products and services.
- Processing co-ops: Processing co-ops add value to the commodities a business produces through the collective ownership of the processing equipment.
- Producer co-ops: The producers of products who have joined together to market their products better or streamline the production process own produce cooperatives.
- Consumer co-ops: Customers who purchase goods and services from the cooperative own a consumer co-op.
- Hybrid co-ops: A hybrid cooperative combines the two models of a consumer-worker cooperative with cooperatives that focus on workers in the freelance economy.
A cooperative business can operate in nearly any industry or sector, but you are more likely to see co-ops in the following areas:
- Agriculture
- Insurance
- Financial Services
- Education
- Healthcare
- Housing
- Utilities
