7.1 After registration

Congratulations! You've registered your co-operative and are about to begin trading. Here are the first things a new co‑operative needs to know.

Top tips for new co-ops

Open a bank account. Access free banking services from our partner The Co-operative Bank .
Know your registrar. Information for companies can be found at Companies House. Information for societies can be found at the Financial Conduct Authority .
Directors and other officers, including the Secretary, have particular responsibilities. Find out more about good governance and download our guides.
Appoint an auditor or independent examiner if required in the governing document of your co‑operative. Know the requirements for your co‑operative company or society.
Ensure that your corporate details are displayed correctly on any marketing materials or stationary
Consider insurance for your co‑operative. Co-operative Insurance is an ethical and co-operative provider.
If you haven't got a website or domain name yet, get a .coop domain name and download the coop marque
Map out the coming year. Know your financial year end, when to hold your AGM and file your annual return and accounts and set reminders.

Support for new co-ops

Join Co-operatives UK to be part of a network of co-operatives, access exclusive member content and specialist support.
Find tips and tools from marketing your co-operative to growing your membership in the support for your co-op area of our website
Sign up for our email newsletters to receive news, details of events and training and regular advice round ups on topical issues
Meet other co-ops and community businesses at our free Co-op Connections networking events.
See if you are eligible and apply for support from one of our co-op support programmes.

Part of
Start a new co-op step by step

1
The first step in starting a co‑op – or any business or enterprise – is to define your business idea and test it. This section will help you understand and complete this process.
1. 1.1. Is your business idea viable?
2. 1.2 Create a feasibility study
2
This section outlines key questions to understand whether a co‑op is the right solution for your start‑up business.
3
We outline the various finance and investment options open to start-up and recently incorporated co-ops.
4
You have tested your ideas – now you need to write a business plan to help you bring them to life!
1. 4.1 What is a business plan
2. 4.2 Create your business plan
5
This section makes up the final stages and decisions before you're ready to register your co‑op – from the type of co‑op and legal form you take, to your co‑op's name.
6
1. 6.1 Start your registration
2. 6.2 Resume a registration
7
We outline the support available to co-ops and the benefits of joining Co-operatives UK – the network for thousands of co-ops across the UK.
1. 7.1 After registration

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Our contact package provides access to the best support from leading advisers on co-op governance, finance, HR and membership.

3 years 5 months

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3 years 6 months

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