Types of Cooperatives

The cooperative form of business organization is utilized by a broad cross section of society. They are most often categorized by their purpose.

Some of the most common, along with a web site link to a typical cooperative in each category, include:

• agricultural cooperatives
• food cooperatives
• credit unions
• housing cooperatives
• nursery school cooperatives
• utility cooperatives
• worker cooperatives
• retail cooperatives
• energy cooperatives
• shared services cooperatives
  

In all cases these organizations provide services to members on a "cost of doing business" basis.