Share and Share Alike: Understanding the Intricacies of Co-op Shares

Summary

They’re the smallest pieces of the co-op puzzle. The one item without which the whole endeavor could not function. Just like in a Fortune 500 corporation, the shares in a co-op reflect value, and can be highly sought-after prizes—depending, of course, on the exclusivity of the address. But for all the talk of shareholders and shares, what do these items really represent, and how do they function? Even co-op owners themselves are sometimes unsure about exactly what it means to own shares, and how those shares are allocated.