Zone Cooperative Types
Choose the cooperative structure based on your membership size.
Available Cooperative Categories
ZDFZ supports two categories of Zone Cooperatives based on membership size. Zone Cooperatives can also be composed of other cooperatives (secondary cooperatives or cooperative federations).
Standard Zone Cooperative
For small to medium-sized member organizations with 3 to 100 members.
Best For
- Worker collectives
- Small platform cooperatives
- Freelancer networks
- Community organizations
- DAOs with defined membership
Requirements
- 3-100 members
- All members must be Digital Residents
- Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws required
- Democratic governance (1 member = 1 vote)
Platinum Zone Cooperative
For large-scale organizations with over 100 members.
Best For
- Large platform cooperatives
- Consumer cooperatives
- Producer networks
- Large DAOs
- Cooperative federations
Requirements
- 101+ members
- All members must be Digital Residents
- Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws required
- General Assembly for major decisions
Comparison Table
| Feature | Standard | Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Member Range | 3-100 | 101+ |
| Voting Structure | 1 member = 1 vote | 1 member = 1 vote* |
| Member Classes | Supported | Supported |
| Secondary Cooperatives | Allowed | Allowed |
| Complexity | Standard | Higher |
*Multi-class cooperatives may define voting rights by class in Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.
Key Features of All Zone Cooperatives
- ✓ Separate Legal Personality - The cooperative is a distinct legal entity from its members
- ✓ Limited Liability - Members are responsible only for their unpaid membership interest
- ✓ Democratic Control - One member, one vote (unless otherwise defined by class)
- ✓ Surplus Distribution - Share in cooperative surplus according to Articles and Bylaws
- ✓ General Assembly - Right to participate in decision-making and be elected to positions
Member Classes
Zone Cooperatives may have members of different classes, with characteristics defined in the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. This allows flexibility for multi-stakeholder structures including:
Worker Members
Employees who work for the cooperative
Consumer Members
Users of the cooperative's services
Producer Members
Independent producers sharing resources
Investor Members
Capital contributors (non-voting or limited voting)
DAO-Compatible Structure
Blockchain Integration
Zone Cooperatives are well-suited for DAOs seeking a legal wrapper. Features include:
Member Rights & Duties
Member Rights
- • Vote in the General Assembly
- • Receive information and inspect records
- • Share in cooperative surplus
- • Participate in decision-making
- • Be eligible for elected positions
Member Duties
- • Respect Articles and Bylaws
- • Follow General Assembly decisions
- • Refrain from detrimental actions
- • Participate in governance
- • Support cooperative objectives