Taxes and Accounting for Food Co-op Start-ups - Video
Presentation on accounting and taxes for start-up food co-ops, led by Bruce Mayer of Wegner CPAs for the Food Co-op Inititative.
Money
Accounting Best Practices for Food Co-ops: A Primer
"Accounting Best Practices for Food Co-ops: A Primer" is an excellent and concise (14-page) summary in four sections: balance sheet, income statement, internal control, and cash management.
The new Primer is composed of a four-part series by Bruce Mayer, Peg Nolan, and Steve Wolfe that appeared in Cooperative Grocer during 2011 and 2012.
Cooperative Housing Toolbox: A Practical Guide for Cooperative Success
This guide is designed for use by housing cooperative boards of directors, resident members and co-op partners. It defines what a co-op is, highlights the history of the cooperative movement, explains how co-ops are managed and governed, explores what co-op members can do to recognize and weed out problems early on, and provides guidelines that allow the best elements of cooperative living to take root and grow.
Cooperation Begins With You
"Cooperation Begins With You: An orientation handbook for student housing cooperative boards of directors."
Written by Karin Evans for the North American Students of Coopration, Copyright 1981.
Rent Payment Policy - Qumbya Co-op
The is the Payment Policy from Qumbya Housing Co-op (Chicago, IL) as of 2013. This policy was created in 2008 out of a response to series of siginificant member debt losses. The policy is relatively strict by co-op standards. It does allow for payment plans, which may be up to 2 months in duration, and must be approved before a debt is accrued, not after. The wisdom gained from the series of losses which we attempted to base this polic on are:
* If a member gets more than 2 months behind on rent, they are very unlikely to ever catch up.
Cooperative Business Planning
This resource includes several templates for cooperative business plans from actual housing cooperatives in North America. Other references provided are a blueprint for the development process, of which the business plan is a part, and a cooperative business plan presentation given at the 2009 NASCO Institute.
NASCO Co-op Organizer's Handbook
The Organizer's Handbook is a comprehensive guide to creating housing cooperatives in local communities. By explaining the cooperative movement, campus organizing, non-profit incorporation, financing, and housing development, this important resource demystifies a challenging project. It is an essential resource for the student or community organizer focusing on housing issues.
File:
Simple Budgets for Smaller Coops
Informal commentary on creating simple, accessible budgets for small coops.
MSU-SHC Non-Payment Calendar
This is a clear, easy to read description of the process MSU-SHC follows in handling non-payment by members. The simple calendar format communicates deadlines and repercussions in a way that our members find accessible.
Guidelines for Expansion
Table of Contents
Strategies for Expansion 2
Obtaining Financing 7
Financing Sources 8
Appendices
A: Property Information 10
B: Pro Forma: 505 West Green Street 12