David RuffnerMay 11, 2024
Working in a startup (now early stage company) has given me the opportunity to learn about companies. They are for sure a powerful way to make a business, but I am interested a different way. It doesn't really make sense to me that a company is "owned". I think it would be better for the workers and customers if the company owned itself and could do what it thought was right. Is there a way to make a company that owns itself, that's free?
#freedom
#corporation
#ownership
Show threadDavid Ruffner
I think a non-profit is essentially owns itself, but I think they sometimes have requirements on what they can do. I guess there are non-profits that run a business too, but I think they need to have a social benefit (I'm not knowledgable on this). I would be more interested in having a self-owning company that engages in business and pays taxes but then can do what it wants with the money. Of course ultimately I would hope that it would bring social benefit.
#freeCompany
#selfOwningCompany
May 11, 2024 at 3:02amWeb
Show threadDavid RuffnerMay 11, 2024
Here is an article about non-profit businesses that helped me form some of these thoughts about self-owning companies.
https://theconversation.com/how-non-profits-can-use-business-as-a-force-for-good-121674
How non-profits can use business as a force for good

New research suggests that non-profits tempted by the social enterprise model do not necessarily lose sight of their social mission in favour of profits. In fact, the opposite is true.

The Conversation
Show threadsoaprootMay 11, 2024
@davidruffner You seem to be well on your way in terms of research. I guess the other model worth looking at is a cooperative (which mostly can be divided into consumer cooperatives and worker cooperatives). Some of the details will vary by country but this is largely a global movement. See for example https://ncbaclusa.coop/resources/7-cooperative-principles/
7 Cooperative Principles - Values of a Co-op | NCBA CLUSA

Cooperatives around the world operate according to the same core principles and values adopted in 1995. Learn more about the 7 cooperative principles today!

NCBA CLUSA
Show threadDavid RuffnerMay 11, 2024
@soaproot thanks! Yeah now that you mention it I think cooperatives could be close to what I am looking for. I will look into it more.