Can one person form a cooperative in Minnesota?
One adult can be the organizer who files the articles, and a cooperative needs only one member, but the board must still meet the minimum size in the statute.
In part. A cooperative may be organized by one or more organizers who are adult natural persons, and organizers need not be members P1, § 308B.205, subd. 1. A cooperative must have one or more members P1, § 308B.501, subd. 1.
But the board still needs at least five directors, or three or more if the cooperative has 50 or fewer members and its articles or bylaws prescribe the smaller board P1, § 308B.405. A sole organizer would therefore need others to serve as directors. If the first board is not named in the articles, the organizers may act as directors until directors are elected or a contribution is accepted P1, § 308B.205, subd. 2.
[INFERENCE] We did not find a rule that lets one person fill the whole board. Ask counsel before relying on a one-person structure. See Form a Minnesota cooperative under Chapter 308B.
Statute sections referenced
- § 308B.205 ORGANIZERS.
- § 308B.405 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS.
- § 308B.501 MEMBERS.
Related
Sources
- P1 Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 308B (Cooperative Associations), Office of the Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota. revisor.mn.gov (primary; accessed October 15, 2026)