Administered by Provincial and territorial governments · Last verified: July 2026
Co-operatives First is a non-profit funded by the Co-operative Retailing System that helps people in rural and Indigenous communities across western Canada start a co-operative. It provides free business coaching, online courses, incorporation support, and help drafting bylaws and a memorandum of association. The support is hands-on through the full start-up process, from idea exploration to incorporation and early operations. There is no cash grant; the value is free professional advisory that a new co-op would otherwise pay for.
Review times vary by program, from a few weeks to a few months, so check the official page for its timeline. Grant money is usually paid after you sign a funding agreement, and cost-shared programs often reimburse you once you send proof of what you spent.
Take the 3-minute quiz to find out, and see every other Canadian program you qualify for at the same time.
Check my eligibilityCo-operatives First Start-up Support is generally open to incorporated, partnership businesses, in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia. Confirm the full criteria on the official program page before applying.
The estimated value is Free advisory support (typically worth $5,000+ in professional fees). The actual amount depends on your eligible costs, the program's budget, and approval.
1. Submit a Request for Support form on the Co-operatives First website 2. Take the free Introduction to Co-operatives online course 3. Work with an advisor to explore and validate the idea 4. Use the support to incorporate the co-op and draft bylaws
Continuous intake.