Bylaws describe how the co-op's board and members will work together, what the roles are, how decision making will happen, and other governance details.
This is the time to decide:
- The size, composition and authority of the board
- How the membership will be involved
- How members can join the co-op and how members can be removed
- How capital for start up will be raised
While some bylaws will be the same for each co-operative, some will need to be adapted to reflect your co-op’s structure and decisions. You should always work with a professional to craft or amend your bylaws. Additional information and tips are provided in our Guide to Incorporating a Co-operative in Saskatchewan. Co-ops First has also published a sample set of bylaws **but these bylaws should only be used as a guide - you'll need to adapt them to your co-operative.
Some additional resources that may be helpful:
- Co-operatives First has a Guide to Writing Bylaws
- University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives Tools for an Effective Board (USA information)