Business Development

Business Plans

the FCI Timeline Template

The Startup Leadership Transition Handbook

Get With the Program

What’s a program? Where and when does your co-op need one? The answers might be more critical than you know.

A Food Co-op Business Plan

A formal business plan helps to bring structure to your plans and provides the necessary information for banks and owners to review before committing capital.

Capital Raising

Capital Campaign—DPO, part 2

Capital Campaigns—DPO, part 1

Urban Greens Co-op shares their experience using a Direct Public Offering for their capital campaign.

Raising your first $10,000

Co-ops raise funds for many startup costs through member equity. But what about co-ops that have not yet been incorporated?

Capital Campaign Workbook

This guide will help food co-op organizers plan an effective campaign to raise the money they need to open their co-op.

GTG Capital Campaign Case Study

In 2016, Green Top Grocery (GTG), a startup in Illinois, ran a record-setting capital campaign.

The SBA Loan Guarantee

Now for the first time, consumer-owned co-ops can apply for SBA loans. What is the SBA loan guarantee and what could it mean to your startup food co-op?

Raising Capital In Rocky Times

Is your startup planning an owner capital campaign to launch in the next 12 months?

Finances & Budgets

the FCI Timeline Template

Store Audit Guide

Users’ Guide to the Sources & Uses Budget

A Sources and Uses budget (S&U) is one of the most important business planning tools that a startup co-op will use.

Sources & Uses Budget Template

The Sources and Uses budget is essential planning too. This template provides a structure and benchmarks for you to create yours.

Pro Forma Nuts and Bolts

What questions should be answered in the pro forma and what questions to ask your consultant?

Developing a Budget For a Food Cooperative

Budget planning begins early in the startup process and continues through every stage. Get a good start.

Legal

Owner Meeting Legalities

These experts in cooperative law walk us through understanding how to meet our legal obligations to hold owner meetings at a time when everyone is sheltering-in-place during a pandemic.

Bylaws Basics I & II

Bylaws establish guidelines for how your organization will run. Learn the best practices for startup co-ops when writing their bylaws.

Legal Issues in Stage 2

What you need to know about labor law, capital & securities, lease, and purchase agreements, etc.

Legal Issues in Stage 1

What you need to know about incorporation, equity, and liability during food co-op organizing.

Legal Primer

Your must-read guide to incorporation, articles and bylaws, membership, equity, liability, patronage, and more.

Taxes and Accounting for Startups

An easy-to-understand introduction to taxes and accounting requirements for new food co-ops.

Market Studies

Green Top Grocery Capital Campaign Case Study

In 2016 Green Top Grocery (GTG), a startup in Illinois ran the highest startup capital campaign to date.

Real Estate Resource Guide

This guide seeks to clarify the tools and resources available for food co-ops to efficiently secure and develop the physical space needed for their store.

You’ve Got Your Market Study, Now What

You have had your market study done and the results are in! Now what?

Site Selection

Real Estate Resource Guide

This guide seeks to clarify the tools and resources available for food co-ops to efficiently secure and develop the physical space needed for their store.

Site Evaluation Checklist

Store Operations

Store Audit Guide

Understanding Project Management

We’ll dive into understanding the work of managing your project for success.

Taxes and Accounting for Co-ops

Bruce Meyer, CPA, explains the special accounting and tax regulations for consumer-owned food co-ops.

Sample Chart of Accounts

This chart of accounts example is aligned with the financial reporting used by CoMetrics for tracking and reporting food co-op performance.

Work Plans & Timelines

the FCI Timeline Template

The Startup Leadership Transition Handbook

Startup Development Checklist

What to work on first? Who’s in charge? When should you pay someone to manage your project?

Legal Issues in Stage 2

Features volunteer labor, capital & equity, hiring staff, more. With Thane Joyal & Ben Sandel of CDS Consulting Co-op.

Understanding Project Management

We’ll dive into understanding the work of managing your project for success.

Get Started with Food Co-op Initiative

Food Co-op Initiative provides exceptional resources for people in the U.S. working to start a retail food co-op that meets the needs of their community. New startups can use our materials at no charge and are able to reach out to our staff for phone consultations and additional technical help.

Popular Resources

Let’s Start a Food Co-op! What do we do first?

What can FCI Do for me?

Guide to Starting a Food Co-op

Annual Impact Reports

QuickStart from FCI Classroom

Connect with Us

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Food Co-op Initiative is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by the law. Food Co-op Initiative is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate with regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or disability.