Doing business with a cooperative, like the FLBA of North Alabama, is different than doing business with an investor-owned company.

At a cooperative, the customers own the business; therefore it operates in their best interests.

Moreover, the customers have a vote and a voice in how the co-op is run, and they share in the earnings when it does well.

1. Voluntary and open membership
   Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.
   
   
2. Democratic member control
   Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who activily participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and coopeatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.
   
   
3. Member economic participation
   Members contribute equally to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. They usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any and all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative and possibly setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
   
4. Autonomy and independence
   Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise captal from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.
   
   
5. Education, training, and information
   Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public - particularly young people and opinion leaders - about the nature and benefits of cooperation.
   
   
6. Cooperation among cooperatives
   Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structure.
   
   
7. Concern for community
   While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their community through policies accepted by their members.