In an investor-owned corporation the people who have the most money and shares have the most control over the way the business is run. In a cooperative each member has an equal share and one vote when decisions are made. This is known as economic democracy. In acooperative, those with similar needs act together and pool their resources for mutual gain. As a democratic entity, a cooperative changes with the changing needs of its members.
Cooperatives are non-profit.
In a cooperative no one person reaps the benefits if the business has been profitable. After bills are paid and money is set aside for operations and improvements, all profits are returned to co-op members. In a co-op, the purpose is not to make money, but to save it. Benefits such as these have served to empower and to enrich the lives of co-op members and the society at large. An Introduction to Campus Cooperatives Campus cooperatives bring the principles of member ownership and member control to the campus setting.