Cooperatives.
Explained.
The definitive resource for cooperative businesses worldwide. Learn how cooperatives work, explore every sector, find cooperatives near you, and discover tools to start your own.
A cooperative is a business owned and run by the people who use it — its members — rather than outside shareholders. From credit unions and farm co-ops to housing and worker-owned firms, they share profits with members and give each an equal vote. Whether you want to join one, start one, or simply understand how they work — this is where you begin.
What do you want to do?
Whether you're starting a cooperative, looking for one, or just learning how they work — start here.
Start a cooperative
Find your co-op type, compare it to an LLC, and follow the formation steps.
Find your type →Find or join one
Search a directory of cooperatives and credit unions by sector and country.
Search the directory →Learn & research
Definitions, principles, history, and cited data on the cooperative economy.
Read the wiki →List or manage yours
Add your cooperative to the directory so members and partners can find it.
List your co-op →Start Learning
The cooperative fundamentals, clearly explained.
Explore by Sector
Cooperatives exist across every sector of the economy. Explore in-depth guides for each.
Agricultural
Farm, dairy, fishery, and food production cooperatives worldwide.
Worker
Businesses owned and governed by their employees.
Consumer
Retail and purchasing cooperatives owned by their customers.
Housing
Cooperative housing models including limited-equity and market-rate co-ops.
Electric
Member-owned electric utilities across the US and globally.
Banking & Credit
Credit unions, cooperative banks, and financial cooperatives.
Marketing
Cooperative marketing organisations pooling resources for members.
Food
Community-owned food stores, buying clubs, and food hubs.
Cooperatives by Country
Country-specific laws, statistics, and cooperative directories.
Find a Cooperative Near You
Browse our growing directory of cooperatives across agriculture, housing, food, energy, and more. Filter by sector, country, or location.
Popular credit unions
Member-owned financial cooperatives — real profiles from our directory.
Resources & Tools
How to Start a Cooperative
Step-by-step guide to forming and registering a cooperative.
Cooperative Insurance
Compare insurance options designed for cooperative businesses.
Cooperative Software
Accounting, management, and governance tools for co-ops.
Grants for Cooperatives
Government grants and funding sources for cooperative development.