A consumer cooperative is a business owned by the people who use its products or services. Common examples of consumer cooperatives are credit unions, food co-ops, housing co-ops, and utility co-ops.

A producer cooperative is owned by people who produce the same type of product or service. Members may be farmers, artists, forest landowners, or other independent producers.

Worker cooperatives are businesses that are owned and governed by the people who work in them. Worker-owners have a voice in how the business is run and share in its success.

Purchasing cooperatives, sometimes called shared services cooperatives, are owned by businesses or organizations that work together to meet common needs.

A multi-stakeholder cooperative is owned and governed by two or more groups of stakeholders who are connected to the co-op.