I've looked around online and on the sub and don't see a straightforward answer. Could a co-op have both people renting and buying homes or rooms in houses? Like if 80% of our people own their home on the cooperative land but 20% rent a house or part of a house? Or would someone in the co-op need to own that house and rent it from there?

I live in a small cooperative apartment building. Over the summer we had a communal pipe burst and it flooded half the building. We each called our insurance and got settlements, and the building manager reached out to the building insurance and got money as well. Then we got tested for mold... positive. But too late for our insurance to cover, so we covered and they left gaping holes that needed drywall and painting.

Once everything was dry, the management agent gave each owner their choice of two painting/plastering crews, to redo the damaged drywall and paint the apartments. I chose the one I liked best and the building manager assured me they had worked together in the past and that he did high quality work. So I got everything ready, moved things around and packed boxes and he and his crew arrived.

Near the end I saw some large mistakes that needed fixing, and they said they would fix them. A few were not fixed to my satisfaction and I asked them to fix them again. It became apparent that nobody on this crew knew how to paint or plaster these particular areas of my home. Once they were gone, I took a pretty big look around and saw dozens of major errors. Places I'd asked them to fix were globbed with raw plaster. Drywall wasn't flush. While I hadn't seen it the first time, they painted AROUND my furniture instead of sliding it aside. Instead of one prime coat and two paint coats, as promised in the contract, half the walls were painted midway with primer then a careless coat on regular paint on top. It's a disaster, and in going through my carefully packed boxes I've found that one is missing--one with six Rxs in them. I told my building manager, and he felt that since they'd done the job he should pay them.

I told my board and the building manager, this was two weeks ago, and I took it upon myself to find a painter to fix the damage. I have estimates and chose one I like.

My homeowner's insurance doesn't cover construction mistakes, so here's the question: who pays for this damage?

As mentioned in the title. I am the worker owner of a tech cooperative and I am thrilled to be making connection with folk in northern virginia especially in the coop atmostphere. I feel like cooperatives are really lacking in NOVA and we could really use some cooperation among cooperatives. Our cooperative Nova Web Development along with others are holding a dinner sometime mid December to foster allyship in the NOVA community. We are a group of immigrant worker owners who strive to build a new system.

Please message me if you are interested, even if you are not part of an organization, interest and commitment is what drives cooperation!

Does anyone have any resources in the Seattle area or know of any co-op groups?

Howdy there. Trans woman living in Texas. I'd like to leave. Looking at moving to Boston with my partner, then Seattle. Currently living in a co-op owned by CHEA/NASCO Properties.

Looking for thoughts, ideas and suggestions on creating an artist co-op in my town. Specifically looking to create a space to share resources, host events and increase member pay at events.

Are there software solutions that are well suited to your needs? Or do you adapt to solutions from other industries?

r/cooperatives Post Update: Building the Future with ICN!

Hey, fellow cooperators! I’m thrilled to update you on the InterCooperative Network (ICN) project, which is all about making life easier for cooperatives. Imagine a world where cooperatives can manage operations, govern, and trade with each other without the need for traditional banks or economic systems. ICN is designed as a one-stop platform for cooperatives, offering tools to automate bylaws, handle memberships, share resources, and interact with other cooperatives—securely, efficiently, and on your terms.

How ICN Will Make Cooperatives’ Lives Easier

1. Seamless Inter-Cooperative Trade Without Traditional Money: ICN’s tokenized marketplace lets cooperatives trade goods, services, or resources directly with each other. Instead of using money, cooperatives can exchange based on need, agreed value, or reputation. This removes reliance on traditional economic systems, enabling cooperatives to thrive in a truly cooperative economy where mutual aid and resource-sharing are front and center.
2. Automated Bylaws and Smart Governance: ICN’s Virtual Machine (VM) supports a cooperative-specific contract language, allowing each cooperative to automate its own governance rules. By encoding bylaws as smart contracts, cooperatives can ensure that decision-making, voting, and proposal handling follow agreed processes. This not only strengthens transparency and consistency but also frees up time by automating routine governance tasks.
3. Effortless Membership Management: With Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) for each member, ICN enables secure, pseudonymous membership tracking. Each member has a unique DID linked to their cooperative, making it easy to verify membership, track participation, and assign permissions without cumbersome paperwork. Membership updates, onboarding, and offboarding are seamless and secure within this framework.
4. Integrated Reputation System for Accountability: ICN’s built-in reputation system keeps cooperatives accountable and incentivizes positive contributions. Members’ and cooperatives’ actions within the network affect their reputation scores, which can impact their ability to participate in governance, trade, or other collaborative activities. This system helps cooperatives easily identify reliable partners and committed members.
5. Flexible Resource Allocation and Management: ICN’s resource management tools allow cooperatives to allocate resources directly through smart contracts, helping them manage shared assets efficiently. Whether it’s distributing pooled resources among members or coordinating with other cooperatives, ICN streamlines these processes, saving valuable time and administrative effort.
6. Real-Time Updates and Notifications: Stay informed with ICN’s WebSocket API, which provides instant updates on key activities like proposals, voting deadlines, resource allocation, and cooperative actions. Automated notifications ensure members are always aware of governance events and operational updates, making it easier to stay engaged and aligned with cooperative goals.
7. Built-In Tools for Mutual Aid and Federation: Cooperatives can federate on ICN, allowing them to collaborate, share resources, and support each other across the network. By forming federations, cooperatives can create mutual aid networks, pool resources for bulk purchasing, or combine skills and services to tackle larger projects, creating a self-sustaining support system outside of capitalist structures.

ICN’s Core Components and How They Work

Here’s a deeper dive into the technology that makes all this possible:

1. Blockchain Architecture: ICN’s blockchain securely manages transactions, recording them in blocks to create a tamper-proof ledger. Transactions can range from standard resource exchanges to governance actions within cooperatives. ICN uses Proof of Cooperation (PoC) for consensus, which is efficient and cooperative-driven, avoiding the need for energy-intensive methods like Proof of Work.
2. Virtual Machine (VM): The VM interprets ICN’s cooperative-specific contract language, allowing cooperatives to define and automate governance, resource allocation, membership handling, and more. This contract-based approach lets cooperatives structure their internal processes directly within ICN, saving time and ensuring consistency in operations.
3. Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs): Every member and cooperative gets a unique DID, enabling secure, pseudonymous interactions within the network. DIDs make it easy to manage membership, track contributions, and control access, all while respecting privacy.
4. Reputation System: ICN’s reputation system tracks cooperative engagement and trustworthiness. Reputation scores help cooperatives assess potential partners and members, promoting a culture of accountability and mutual respect. This helps cooperatives maintain integrity in interactions without relying on external validation or traditional credit systems.
5. WebSocket API: The WebSocket API allows cooperatives to stay connected in real-time, receiving updates on transactions, governance actions, and reputation changes. It enables instant engagement with cooperative activities, keeping members informed without delay.
6. Automated Notifications and Alerts: Automated notifications inform members of governance events, voting deadlines, and cooperative updates. These alerts ensure everyone stays on the same page and can engage in critical actions without missing key events.

Join Us and Be Part of the Future

ICN’s mission is to empower cooperatives with the tools they need to operate autonomously, trade easily, and collaborate meaningfully. It’s a platform designed by and for cooperatives, supporting values of mutual aid, transparency, and resilience.

If this vision resonates with you, join our community and help us shape ICN into the foundation of a cooperative economy. New collaborators are always welcome! Feel free to join our Discord (link valid for 7 days): https://discord.gg/HvdF96dT or reach out if you need another invite after it expires. Our GitHub repo is open for anyone who wants to dive into the code: GitHub Repo.

Together, we’re building a cooperative future—one where collaboration, transparency, and solidarity define our economy.

Hey y'all! Fare.coop is launching! It's a platform cooperative alternative to Lyft and Uber.

Allows drivers to buy-in, share equity and profits, receive 90% of the fare (rather than 30-50% with Uber) and so many more benefits!

It requires input of a referral code to register, feel free to use mine GE29SGGK

Let's replace antiquated platforms that suck wealth from the sources of the value!

Here's the site and press release: https://fare.coop/

Press release: https://fare.coop/news/driver-owned-ride-hailing-platform-fare-co-op-launches-in-california-ahead-of-robotaxi-era/

EDIT: My uncle left me a co-op APARTMENT UNIT

…and I am pushing to get it. It’s taking over a year to obtain everything, but I paid all the back rent. Do they typically need a pay stub or other qualifications? I only have one pay stub and the tech company I used to work for went out of business before they could pay me. I feel like my lifestyle and living locale could put me in extremely hot water networking-wise, ESPECIALLY since I incurred one late fee on maintenance due to hurricane Helene delaying my check. The courts of New York are going to send a qualification check letter to my rural house in the middle of nowhere. What should I expect and how can I bounce back with my impression on them, or did I waste 18k on all this legal? Thanks everyone.

I had a conversation earlier today about the need for a grocery store in a local food desert where I work. Knowing that a grocery chain won’t come into the area due to demographics and moderate/low population, we’re considering a coop as an alternative. I was wondering if there is a food coop franchise model? Something similar to IGA or Do It Best, that would help with product and logistics?

I plan on buying a co-op and live there for 2-3 years. Listing agent had previously said that after living for 2 years, then the sub-letting(renting) option is available. When I received the co-op document, the document says there is a re-occupancy requirement after subletting ever 3 years where it's required to be occupied by owner again for two years to be eligible for renting it again.

My agent says this is written but not enforced at all and there have been people renting the same apartment for 10+ years. Is there risks just for me as a new buyer for me if my intent is to rent it out after first 3 years of occupancy? Down the lane will there be problems for me alone as a new buyer? I do not mind if everyone else in the building face this problem as there would be sufficient people who would be impacted, but I do not want to be the only one against whom the rules are enforced.

Re-occupancy or Vacancy Requirement: After a sublease period of up to 3 years, you will need to either reoccupy the apartment yourself or keep it vacant for a cumulative total of 2 years before being eligible to sublease it again. This means that once your initial lease ends, there would be a two-year waiting period to re-rent it, which might pose challenges for continuous rental income.

This was cool. It's from a Northeast Iowa cooperative that I think has consolidated with some other cooperatives You have the fuel co-op and then you also have the food co-op and it's a featured all on one cup here. I got this at a garage sale for a quarter. It doesn't have a lid 😞

This thread is part of an attempt by the moderators to create a series of monthly repeating posts to help aggregate certain kinds of content into single threads.

If you have any basic questions about Cooperatives, feel free to ask them here. Please also remember to visit this thread even if you consider yourself a cooperative veteran so that you can help others!

Note that this thread will be posted on the first and will run throughout the month.

How do Co-ops handle loans, leases, and other financing that require personal guarantees?

I live in a mobile home park co-op. I'm wondering if there are any tax tricks that possibly allow individual members to claim tax benefits from expenses incurred by the corporation. Any leads would be appreciated.

Hi! I've recently started in the marketing industry and am looking to learn more/grow my skills in marketing small business co ops. Does anyone have any resources? I typically only find resources on marketing co-ops rather than marketing for co-ops. Would love to hear from any professionals as well, like I said I'm new to the industry!

I want to learn more about staring a coop store, any non-fiction book recs? I work in a children’s toy store and have been daydreaming of starting my own :)

all business books I find are very VERY how to grow grow grow. I don’t care about GROWING, I care about SUSTAINING.

My goal is to contribute to a local economy, build a joyful space for childhood memories, and generate business to give myself and my coworkers a good quality of life.

Any book recommendations to explore to idea? Thank you🌲🐞💛✨☀️🌟

I am a university student in India. I want to be an entrepreneur and have decided on co-op to be my startups' business model. I have some experience in event management because I was in a team managing a university event. Recently, I came up with an idea that I should try and start a co-op which makes food for clients at their offices, houses, events, etc. at contractual basis with local chefs and workers. I came up with this idea because my and I am sure pretty much every university in India has food in their dorms/hostels made by people working for a company which has done contract with the university. Here is what I want your help in:

1. Resources to study and learn from about how to build and maintain such co-op.
2. Please redirect if such questions have already been asked.
3. Any insights that you think might be helpful to me.

Especially if you can jump in DMs to explain...

But can someone explain how this works? Esp the tax piece of it. And whether you have to wait the whole year to split dividends or if you could do quarterly or even monthly.

I keep trying to find info about this online and their website's co-op section seems really barren. I know there were a lot of hardships over the last few years. Anyone know anything about this?

Please feel free to create a new discussion topic at anytime. This is a safe space for all members.

I work for a coop that shares the profits with its shareholders/members. Can the company call themselves a coop if the workers do not have a share of the profits (eg fixed rate workers)?

Does anyone happen to know if there is a local social set up in Toronto for the conference in November?

Hey everyone! I’ve been thinking a lot about how broken our food system is, especially when it comes to who can afford good, nutritious food and who can’t. The wealthy get the best, while others are left struggling with cheaper, unhealthy options. But what if we could change this?

I’ve been exploring a model that lowers food prices drastically with zero-profit business model and volunteer-driven operations. The idea is that if food becomes cheap, really cheap enough then there could be distribution problems due to shortages (Just like we saw in Covid times) because now more & more people can afford good food. A zero-profit store would have to resort to rationing (take 2 per person, take 1 per person etc , just like during covid). When food is so cheap, yet people are restricted due to rationing (As rationing is the only way to distribute when profit making is not an option) , it could lead to a rethinking of our whole relationship with money, work, and consumption.

Here’s the core idea:

1. Lower food prices so much that it’s affordable for everyone—this can be done through community-run innovative zero-profit model stores that rely on volunteer work.
2. Demand for good food rises due to lower prices. Its only logical for a zero-profit store to use rationing as a distribution mechanish because earlier for-profit stores used "High Prices" to manage distribution and profited out of it but a zero-profit store doesn't want to make profit and so cannot increase prices.
3. As this model spreads, it would lead people to question their work and consumption habits. If food is so cheap and I have lots of money and yet I am restricted in getting food, what are we working in our jobs for? We can't just throw money to get the most basic need covered ? What is the problem ? Maybe then people begin to volunteer at a farm, supermarket etc to get more food and also fix the problem in the community.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this! How feasible is it? What challenges might we face in making this happen? Let’s brainstorm!

Hello my names Alonzo I'm from California. Like my title says I want to start building cooperative homes as well as build them with a coop of workers. Ideally we would like to go Into residential if contracted for it as well but mainly for housing coops. Looking to see if anyone has had any experience doing this sort of thing and if it would work, in my head it's all worked out and it seems perfectly doable but financing would be trouble, so if anyone had any advice on that end I would be appreciative lol I have a va loan from my work in the military so I was thinking about getting a 4 plex and then turning it into a coop after a year( condition on using va loan is it's up to fourplex and I must live in it for a year), and having the renters pay into the corporation, and possibly pulling equity from after a while but yeah not really sure. I know grants are available but om unsure where to look, any advice is helpful as well as links to sources. If i have my head in the clouds ill take those comments as well as long as theyre constructive. Thank you everybody have a good day:)

Someone messaged me about this but I cant find the thread. Had anyone heard of a music licensing co-op that's similar to musicbed.com?