Cooperatives

A cooperative is a legal entity that is jointly owned and democratically controlled by its members.

You can form a cooperative with a group of 5 or more people.

You may want to do any of the following:

  • save money on goods or services
  • use distribution and marketing influence of the group
  • share investments, resources and information.

Cooperatives can't trade their shares on the open market and are structured to mutually benefit all members, rather than individuals.

Each cooperative member has equal status and voting rights, and can own no more than 20% of shares.

Like other business structures, a cooperative must keep records of its meetings, finances and members.

As cooperatives operate under uniform national legislation, you can read more about cooperatives on the Consumer Affairs Victoria website and the NSW Government's Fair Trading website.

Distribute surplus funds

Cooperatives that make a profit can do either of the following:

  • distribute surplus funds to its members - called a distributing cooperative
  • use surplus funds to support its activities - for example, a community organisation - called a non-distributing cooperative.

To find out how to start or grow a cooperative, go to the:

They offer support services.

To register a cooperative in the Northern Territory (NT), most of its activities need to be conducted in the NT.

To register or for more information, email associations.compliance@nt.gov.au.

Your cooperatives may merge with another or others.

The new cooperative will be made up of all the members, assets, liabilities and undertakings of the cooperatives that want to merge.

It will also have a new name and new rules.

How to apply

To apply or for more information, email associations.compliance@nt.gov.au.

Your cooperative may take over all or part of another cooperative, or other cooperatives, by giving it all of the following:

  • members, assets, liabilities and undertakings of all the cooperatives involved in the takeover
  • the existing name and rules of the cooperative taking over the other/s.

A takeover is known as a 'transfer of engagements' under Cooperatives National Law.

How to apply

To apply or for more information, email associations.compliance@nt.gov.au.

Cooperatives are administered by Licensing NT under the Cooperatives National Law.

For help winding up your cooperative, email associations.compliance@nt.gov.au.

See below list of co-operative fees.
More fees will be added soon.

DescriptionFee
Application to register a co-operative - where draft formation disclosure statement is not required $129
Application to register a co-operative - where draft formation disclosure statement is required $449
Application to register an existing corporation as a co-operative - where draft formation disclosure statement is not required $129
Application to register an existing corporation as a co-operative - where draft formation disclosure statement is required $449
Application for registrar's prior approval of certain rule amendments $89
Application to register rule amendments or special resolutions (other than where pre-approved under section 60 of the Law) – lodged within due date $39 (per rule
 to a maximum
 of $192 per lodgement)
Application to register rule amendments or special resolutions (other than where pre-approved under section 60 of the Law) – lodged more than 28 days after due date $39 (per rule
 to a maximum
 of $192 per lodgement)
Plus $129
Application to register rule amendments or special resolutions (other than where pre-approved under section 60 of the Law) – lodged more than 28 days after due date $39 (per rule
to a maximum
 of $192 per lodgement)
Plus $256
Notification of change to co-operative officers Nil
Notification of change to co-operative registered address – lodged within due date Nil
Notification of change to co-operative registered address – lodged within 28 days after due date $129
Notification of change to co-operative registered address – lodged more than 28 days after due date $256
Annual return by small co-operative – lodged within due date $89
Annual return by small co-operative – lodged within 28 days after due date $218
Annual return by small co-operative – lodged more than 28 days after due date $345
Annual return by large co-operative – lodged within due date $320
Annual return by large co-operative – lodged within 28 days after due date $449

You can pay cooperative fees to the Territory Business Centre by phone, email, mail, fax or in person.

Cash, cheque or credit card are accepted.

Fees are exempt from GST.

More information

For more information about fees:

Email: associations.compliance@nt.gov.au

Phone: 1800 193 111

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