{"id":281,"date":"2023-06-21T18:45:28","date_gmt":"2023-06-21T18:45:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yourwaytogether.ca\/?page_id=281"},"modified":"2023-09-07T16:43:32","modified_gmt":"2023-09-07T16:43:32","slug":"where-to-start","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/yourwaytogether.ca\/where-to-start\/","title":{"rendered":"Where to Start"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section inner-sec-gap alignfull alignfull\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__inner-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__background-holder\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__background has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f9f8f4\"><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__foreground\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__inner-content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-feasible-is-your-business-idea\">How Feasible is Your Business Idea?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Feasibility studies evaluate your business\u2019s potential to succeed and identify areas that need further consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns numbers-block is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group list-item is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-layout-1 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"01\">01<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Identify the problem your co<span class=\"text-dash\">\u2013<\/span>op will solve<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Perhaps you want to provide a<br> product or service your community<br> doesn\u2019t have.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group list-item is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-layout-2 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"01\">02<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider why customers will choose your co<span class=\"text-dash\">\u2013<\/span>op<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">What value are you<br> providing them?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group list-item is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-layout-3 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"01\">03<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Describe how your co<span class=\"text-dash\">\u2013<\/span>op will operate<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Consider the people, the place,<br> the facilities, and equipment required.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section inner-sec-gap inner-blue-sec alignfull alignfull\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__inner-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__background-holder\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__background\"><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__foreground\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__inner-content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"your-feasibility-study-should-include\">Your feasibility study should include:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"feasibility-list\">\n\t<li>\n    <h5>Technical Feasibility<\/h5>\n    <p>What technical resources and qualifications do you and your team require? Consider electricity, internet, hardware, software, and facilities.<\/p>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n    <h5>Economic Feasibility<\/h5>\n    <p>What are the estimated costs and revenues for the business?<\/p>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n    <h5>Legal Feasibility<\/h5>\n    <p>How might legislation affect your co-op in the areas of land, capital, data protection, and social media?<\/p>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n    <h5>Operational Feasibility<\/h5>\n    <p>How well does your co-op meet the needs of its members?<\/p>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n    <h5>Scheduling Feasibility<\/h5>\n    <p>How long will it take for the co-op to set up, begin operations, and begin to serve its members?<\/p>\n    <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section inner-sec-gap alignfull alignfull\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__inner-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__background-holder\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__background\"><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__foreground\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__inner-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"business-planning\">Business Planning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once your business is determined to be feasible, it\u2019s time to write a business plan. A business plan describes what the business is, how it runs, who will do the work, where the start-up funds come from, and how to mitigate risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re here to help guide you through the business planning process. For more information about how to get started writing a business plan, see page 26 of our <span class=\"text-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/yourwaytogether.ca\/get-my-guide\/\">guidebook<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"financing\">Financing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>All businesses need money to get started. Founding co-op members can either raise funds internally or seek outside financing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"external-financing\">External Financing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Bands, Credit Unions, or Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFIs) may be willing to become an investor in your co-op, providing a loan for start-up capital. Wondering how to approach financers with your business plan? See page 30 of our <span class=\"text-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/yourwaytogether.ca\/get-my-guide\/\">guidebook<\/a><\/span> for best practices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section inner-sec-gap inner-btm-sec-gap alignfull alignfull\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__inner-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__background-holder\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__background has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f9f8f4\"><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__foreground\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__inner-content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"share-capital\">Share Capital<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Co-ops typically issue two types of shares:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-layout-3 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column shares-block membership-shares-block is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"business-planning\">Membership Shares<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>are purchased by those who want to become an owner of the business. Depending on your co-op\u2019s goals, the cost of membership shares will vary. Do you want the co-op to have a lot of members? You\u2019ll probably want to sell the shares for less than $20.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column shares-block investment-shares-block is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"financing\">Investment Shares<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>are purchased by those who wish to make a significant investment in your co-op. Investment shares cost more than membership shares and offer a return on investment based on an agreed-upon rate of return and payment schedule. Investment shares can be issued or repurchased as determined by the co-op\u2019s members.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"content-type":"","ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yourwaytogether.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/281"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yourwaytogether.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yourwaytogether.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yourwaytogether.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yourwaytogether.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=281"}],"version-history":[{"count":156,"href":"https:\/\/yourwaytogether.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/281\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45008,"href":"https:\/\/yourwaytogether.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/281\/revisions\/45008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yourwaytogether.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}