The Shared Ownership Center @ Nexus hosted a Business Planning Webinar Series breaking down the key components in running a successful cooperative business. From concept to plan, we went over structure, finances, and fundraising, with a focus on creating and transitioning to a worker-owner cooperative business.
All sessions were recorded and are available on Nexus’ YouTube channel. For each session, you will find links to the presentation and any resources in their respective video descriptions. You can also browse the links below!
Webinar 1: Concept to Business Plan
- Recording
- Presentation
- MN nonprofit that helps entrepreneurs, business owners, inventors, and small nonprofits navigate the legal system
- City of Minneapolis Business Technical Assistance Program (BTAP)
- City of Minneapolis Cooperative Technical Assistance Program (CTAP)
- Example of artist cooperative, City Art Cooperative Gallery in San Francisco, CA
Webinar 2: Creating Your Cooperative
- Recording
- Presentation
- Davis Law Office
- Office of MN Secretary of State, How to order copies of filings & certificates
- Real estate investment co-ops
- Taproot Investment Cooperative
- Housing cooperative resources
- Greater MN Housing Finance: Financing resources for housing development
- North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO): Offers resources and support with starting a housing co-op in the United States and Canada
- CoNorth, formerly Northcountry Cooperative Foundation: Supports affordable housing co-ops, especially manufactured home communities
- Do It Green! Minnesota: This page is a good starting point for understanding the Twin Cities metro housing co-op landscape. Some of the links are outdated, but check out Riverton Housing, the artist co-ops, and UW Madison for more information.
Webinar 3: Finance 101
- Recording
- Presentation
- Sample Cash Flow Projections for a Coffee Shop
- Neighborhood Development Center’s Entrepreneur Training Program
Webinar 4: Conversion Basics
Webinar 5: Projections, Sources & Uses
Webinar 6: Access to Capital
- Recording
- Presentation
- Neighborhood Development Center Contact Form
- Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers Inquiry Form
- Shared Capital Cooperative Inquiry Form
- International Cooperative Alliance Co-op Definitions and Principles
Webinar 7: How to Apply to the LOCAL Fund
This series is sponsored by the LOCAL Fund, a City of Saint Paul grant opportunity for worker-owner cooperatives and community-ownership entities. Each session of the series relates to a different section of the LOCAL Fund application. If the LOCAL Fund is a good fit for you and your business, the Shared Ownership Center is excited to support you with your application!