🤝🏼 O que é e como criar uma cooperativa | com Alécio Mascarenhas

Sebrae Talks

1 Dec 202210:01

Summary

TLDRThis video script introduces the concept of cooperatives, explaining their democratic nature and economic benefits. It outlines the steps to create a cooperative business, emphasizing the importance of shared goals and mutual support among members. The video also highlights the global impact of cooperatives, showcasing their significant contribution to employment and economic growth.

Takeaways

🌐 Cooperativas are a significant part of the global economy, with 3 million cooperatives worldwide and 1 billion people associated with them, representing 12% of the world's population.
🏢 These entities generate 280 million jobs and had a turnover of 2.2 trillion in 2020, with the top 300 cooperatives being equivalent to the eighth largest economy in the world if considered a country.
🇧🇷 In Brazil, there are nearly 5,000 cooperatives across various sectors, highlighting the diversity and reach of this business model.
🏛️ A cooperative is a type of business society, similar to limited liability companies and others, but it is controlled by people rather than capital. Each person has one vote, regardless of their financial investment.
💡 The profits or losses in a cooperative are not called profits or losses but 'surpluses', which are shared among the members based on their activities and contributions.
💼 The main motivation for creating a cooperative is to overcome the challenges of entrepreneurship, such as high costs and isolation, by sharing expenses, risks, and benefits with like-minded individuals.
🔍 To start a cooperative, one must first identify people with similar dreams and needs, then intensify meetings and training to prepare the base of members and future leaders.
📚 The third step involves calling a general assembly for the constitution of the cooperative, where at least 20 initial members are required, and roles such as administration, executive board, and fiscal council are elected.
🏦 After the assembly, the cooperative must be formalized by registering with relevant authorities such as the Chamber of Commerce, Federal Revenue, and state and municipal tax offices.
📈 Once formalized, a cooperative can operate like any other business, issuing invoices, entering into agreements, and participating in tenders.
🌟 The principles of universal cooperative management include voluntary and free membership, democratic management, economic participation, autonomy, education, and information, inter-cooperation, and community interest.

Q & A

What are cooperatives?
-Cooperatives are business entities owned and operated by a group of people for their mutual benefit. Unlike other forms of businesses like corporations, cooperatives are controlled by their members, each having one vote, regardless of the amount of capital they have invested.
How many cooperatives exist worldwide?
-There are 3 million cooperatives worldwide, involving 1 billion people, which accounts for 12% of the global population.
What is the economic impact of cooperatives globally?
-Cooperatives generate 280 million jobs and had a revenue of $2.2 trillion in 2020. The 300 largest cooperatives would rank as the eighth largest economy if they were a country.
How many cooperatives are there in Brazil?
-There are nearly 5,000 cooperatives in Brazil across various sectors.
What are the main principles of cooperatives?
-The main principles include voluntary and open membership, democratic member control, member economic participation, autonomy and independence, education, training, and information, cooperation among cooperatives, and concern for the community.
What are the steps to create a cooperative?
-The steps include: 1) Identifying people with similar needs and goals, 2) Holding regular meetings for training and capacity building, 3) Calling a general assembly for the constitution of the cooperative, 4) Electing administrative councils and approving the social statute, and 5) Formalizing the cooperative by registering with the relevant governmental bodies.
What is the minimum number of participants required to start a cooperative?
-A minimum of 20 individuals is required to start a cooperative.
How are profits distributed in a cooperative?
-Profits in cooperatives, known as 'surpluses', are distributed among the members based on their contribution to the cooperative's activities, not the amount of capital they have invested.
Can cooperatives engage in partnerships?
-Yes, cooperatives can and should form partnerships with other cooperatives and entities, including public and private organizations, to enhance their operations while maintaining their independence.
What is the role of the general assembly in a cooperative?
-The general assembly is the highest decision-making body in a cooperative, where members vote on important issues, elect the board, and approve the social statute. Each member has one vote, ensuring democratic control.
How can cooperatives support community development?
-Cooperatives support community development by addressing local needs, creating jobs, and investing in local projects. They follow the principle of concern for the community, aiming to improve the well-being of their members and the surrounding area.
What are some examples of business areas where cooperatives can be formed?
-Cooperatives can be formed in various business areas, including production, credit, consumer goods, health services, education, and more. For example, a group of physical educators can form a cooperative to open a gym.

Outlines

00:00

🤝 Introduction to Cooperatives

This paragraph introduces the concept of cooperatives and the purpose of the video, which is to explain what cooperatives are, how to create them, and to provide a practical example of starting a business through a cooperative. The speaker, Alécio Mascarenhas, a professor and consultant in cooperative management, highlights the global scale of cooperatives, noting that they employ 280 million people and have a combined turnover of 2.2 trillion in 2020. He emphasizes that cooperatives are democratic societies controlled by people rather than capital, with each member having one vote regardless of their investment. The profits or losses in cooperatives are shared among members based on their activities, not merely their capital contributions. The speaker also outlines the steps to create a cooperative, starting with identifying like-minded individuals, organizing meetings, and eventually forming a general assembly with at least 20 participants.

05:01

🏢 Principles and Formation of Cooperatives

This paragraph delves into the principles that govern cooperatives and provides a practical example of their formation. The speaker discusses the seven universal principles of cooperatives, including voluntary and open membership, democratic member control, member economic participation, autonomy and independence, education, training, and information, and cooperation among cooperatives. He also highlights the importance of community interest, where cooperatives aim to benefit not just their members but also the surrounding community. The example given involves a group of physical educators pooling their resources to start a gym or acquire a franchise. The process involves regular meetings, capacity building, support from organizations like SEBRAE, and the establishment of rules in the cooperative's bylaws. Once formed, the cooperative can operate like any other business, issuing invoices, entering into agreements, and participating in tenders.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cooperatives

Cooperatives are business organizations that are owned and controlled by their members, who are typically individuals rather than corporations. In the video, cooperatives are described as democratic societies where each member has one vote, regardless of the amount of capital they contribute. This contrasts with traditional corporations where control is often proportional to the amount of money invested. The video emphasizes the importance of cooperatives in generating employment and economic activity, with examples given of their global impact and potential for local business creation.

💡Sebrae

Sebrae is a Brazilian non-profit organization that provides support and services to small and medium-sized enterprises. In the video, Sebrae is mentioned as a source of valuable information for business owners and is highlighted for its role in promoting and educating about cooperatives. The speaker, Alécio Mascarenhas, is introduced as a consultant for Sebrae, indicating the organization's involvement in fostering cooperative business models.

💡Capital

In the context of the video, capital refers to the financial resources invested in a business. It is contrasted with the concept of cooperatives where control and decision-making are not based on the amount of capital one invests. Instead, cooperatives are described as being controlled by the people, with each member having an equal say, regardless of their financial contribution. This is a key principle of cooperatives, emphasizing democratic control over financial investment.

💡Voluntary and Free Adhesion

This principle, highlighted in the video, states that no member of a cooperative is forced to join or remain a member. It underscores the voluntary nature of cooperative membership, aligning with the democratic and member-driven ethos of such organizations. The video uses this principle to illustrate the freedom and autonomy that members have in choosing to be part of a cooperative.

💡Democratic Management

Democratic management in cooperatives is a key theme of the video. It refers to the way decisions are made within a cooperative, where each member has an equal vote at the general assembly, irrespective of the amount of capital they have invested. This principle is exemplified in the video by the speaker's explanation that power in a cooperative is not determined by financial investment but by the collective will of the members.

💡Economic Participation

Economic participation in the video is described as the active involvement of members in the financial aspects of the cooperative. This includes contributing to the capital, participating in the profits or losses (referred to as 'surpluses' in the video), and potentially making additional contributions to the capital over time. It is a fundamental aspect of being a member of a cooperative, as it ties the members' financial interests directly to the performance and success of the cooperative.

💡Autonomy

Autonomy in the context of the video refers to the independence of a cooperative from external control. Cooperatives are encouraged to form agreements with partners or public and private organizations, but they should never be subordinate to any single entity. This principle is critical in maintaining the integrity and self-governance of the cooperative, ensuring that decisions are made in the best interest of the members, not external stakeholders.

💡Education and Information

The video emphasizes the importance of providing education, training, and information to the members of a cooperative, as well as to employees and the broader society. This principle is seen as crucial for the development and success of the cooperative, as it ensures that all stakeholders are well-informed and capable of making informed decisions. The video mentions a mandatory fund, the FATS (Fund for Technical, Educational, and Social Assistance), which is dedicated to this purpose.

💡Inter-cooperation

Inter-cooperation, as discussed in the video, involves partnerships and collaborations between different cooperatives. This can be across different sectors or industries, and it is aimed at strengthening the cooperative ecosystem. The video provides an example of a credit cooperative developing a specific credit line for a production cooperative, illustrating how cooperatives can support each other and create synergies.

💡Community Interest

Community interest is a principle that guides cooperatives to focus not only on the benefit of their members but also on the broader community. The video describes this as a beautiful principle, highlighting that cooperatives are not just about economic gains for their members but also about contributing positively to the society and environment around them. This principle is exemplified by the video's discussion on how cooperatives can develop in a way that benefits the local community.

💡Statutory Social

The term 'statutory social' in the video refers to the legal document that outlines the rules, rights, and responsibilities of a cooperative. During the constitution assembly, the members of a cooperative must approve the social statute, which serves as the foundational document governing the cooperative's operations. This document is crucial for establishing the legal framework within which the cooperative operates, ensuring clarity and transparency in its governance.

Highlights

Cooperatives are explained as business societies controlled by people, not capital, with each person having one vote.

There are 3 million cooperatives worldwide, associated with 1 billion people, making up 12% of the global population.

Cooperatives generate 280 million jobs and had a turnover of 2.2 trillion in 2020.

The 300 largest cooperatives in the world could be the eighth-largest economy if they were a country.

In Brazil, there are nearly 5,000 cooperatives across various sectors.

Cooperatives are democratic, with profits or losses called 'surpluses' and shared among members based on their activities.

The main motivation for creating a cooperative is to reduce the cost and loneliness of entrepreneurship by sharing resources and risks.

To create a cooperative, one must first identify people with the same dreams and needs.

The second step involves intensifying meetings and capacity-building processes to prepare future members and leaders.

A minimum of 20 participants is required for the founding assembly, which should elect administrative councils and determine their duties.

After the founding assembly, the cooperative must be formalized by registering with various government and regulatory bodies.

Once formalized, a cooperative can produce goods or services, issue invoices, and participate in tenders like any other business.

Members must contribute capital to the cooperative, which is then governed by universal principles of cooperativism.

The first principle of cooperativism is voluntary and free membership.

Democratic management by members is the second principle, with decisions made in a general assembly where each member has one vote.

Economic participation of members is present from the beginning, with members contributing capital and sharing in surpluses or losses.

Autonomy and independence are key, with cooperatives able to form agreements but not being subordinate to any partner.

Education, training, and information for members and employees is a fundamental principle, supported by a mandatory educational fund.

Inter-cooperation or cooperation between cooperatives is encouraged, allowing for partnerships to develop the ecosystem.

The seventh principle focuses on community interest, with cooperatives aiming to develop not just their members but also their surroundings.

An example is provided of how educators can form a cooperative to establish a gym, pooling resources and sharing profits.

Once established, cooperatives should apply the management principles learned to operate effectively.