Back to Library
Legal and financeIntermediate

Think Outside the Boss: How to Create a Worker-Owned Business

A legal and practical manual from SELC, EBCLC, and the Green Collar Communities Clinic on starting and operating a worker-owned business.

Source: Sustainable Economies Law CenterAdded June 12, 2026Published 2016
Open original resource

Why it matters

Governance design is tied to legal structure. This manual helps founders see how ownership, employment, entity choice, governance documents, and financing fit together.

Best for

Worker co-op founders and advisors who need a practical legal roadmap.

This is a foundational legal-practice resource for worker cooperative startups. It is especially helpful for groups that need to understand the legal implications of democratic ownership before choosing an entity or drafting documents. Because it is legal guidance and was revised in 2016, users should verify current law in their jurisdiction.

Continue with the original source

Heirloom Library entries are summaries and wayfinding notes. The original source is the best place to read the full resource.

Open original resource

Related

Keep exploring

Guide·Intro

Starting a Worker Co-op

A Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation starting point with links to a handbook and sections on incorporation, decision-making, business planning, and co-op principles.

Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation
Worker cooperativesDemocratic governance+2 categoriesWorker co-opCooperative+1 model
Legal and finance·Advanced

Equal Exchange Bylaws

A real-world example of articles of incorporation and bylaws from Equal Exchange, one of the better-known U.S. worker cooperatives.

Equal Exchange
Worker cooperativesLegal and finance+3 categoriesWorker co-opCooperative+1 model