Frequently Asked Questions

Coop partners with chambers of commerce and similar organizations to deliver tangible value to their members. Here's how:

Value to Members:

• Exclusive savings on essential business supplies and services
• Access to a curated network of vendors (many are local businesses)
• Quantifiable cost reductions that make membership more valuable

Revenue for Your Organization:

• Earn transparent commissions on collective purchases made through the platform
• Strengthen your role as a key driver of local economic resilience
• Position your organization as indispensable to business success

Calculate your potential: Use our Value Calculator to estimate earnings for your organization.

None. Coop is a turnkey solution that's completely free for community organizations.

What we handle:

• Platform setup and maintenance
• Vendor procurement and onboarding
• Commission rate configuration and tracking
• Marketing assets (email templates, promotional materials)
• All day-to-day operations

What you provide:

• A liaison or point of contact for decisions and marketing opportunities
• Distribution of marketing materials to your members
• Support in promoting the program to your business community

Once you sign up, we work with your key decision-maker to get everything configured, then provide you with ready-to-use marketing assets to share with your members.

Supplies:

• Office supplies (paper, equipment, technology)
• Cleaning supplies (janitorial products, equipment)
• Restaurant supplies (ingredients, packaging, kitchen equipment)
• Industry-specific materials

Services:

• Cleaning services
• Legal services
• Marketing and advertising
• Consulting services
• Accounting and bookkeeping
• Professional services tailored to small businesses

Cost Savings:

Small businesses pool their orders with other local businesses (for example, 20 independent cafes ordering coffee beans together), unlocking wholesale pricing typically reserved for large chains.

Expected savings: 5-15% lower prices depending on the product or service

Operational Benefits:

Beyond the direct cost savings, Coop streamlines procurement—a major pain point for small businesses:

• Simplified invoicing and ordering
• Reduced administrative burden
• More time to focus on core business operations
• Less mental energy spent on supply chain management

Calculate your savings: Use our Value Calculator to see potential cost reductions.

If your business offers services or supplies, Coop helps you acquire customers more efficiently:

Lower Acquisition Costs:

• Bypass expensive platforms like Google Ads, Yelp, or delivery apps (which charge 25-35% per transaction)
• Create a single "group invoice" for multiple local businesses
• Leverage the chamber's existing network and trust

Economies of Scale:

• Geographic clustering makes in-person services (like cleaning) more efficient
• Local distribution reduces delivery costs and complexity
• Build a concentrated customer base in your service area

Increased Visibility:

• Access to the entire community organization's member network
• Built-in credibility through chamber endorsement

For Community Organizations: Free
For Small Business Buyers: Free

How Coop makes money: Coop receives a revenue share from vendors when a contract is completed and payment is received. This aligns our incentives—we only succeed when businesses successfully transact.

No. In fact, it often improves both:

Quality Standards:

• Aggregate purchasing power gives businesses leverage to demand high standards
• The local, community-based model ensures accountability and responsiveness
• Vendors must maintain quality to retain access to the network

Curation:

• Vendors are vetted and curated for the local community
• Poor performers can be removed to protect the community
• Transparency in pricing and service quality

The group model creates natural quality controls because vendors are accountable to the entire community, not just individual businesses.

Economic Stability:

When local businesses become more stable and efficient through better pricing and streamlined operations, more revenue stays in the local economy. This supports local jobs and increases overall community purchasing power.

Community Collaboration:

• Residents become active participants in local economic success
• Spending is channeled to strengthen neighbors' businesses in a traceable way
• Stronger sense of belonging and mutual support

Transparency and Trust:

• Clear visibility into transactions, pricing, and commissions
• Everyone can see that the system benefits the network, not just a select few
• Built-in accountability ensures the community comes first

The ripple effect: Stronger businesses → more local jobs → increased local spending → thriving community

Explore our live demo:

Community Portal: https://community.thecoop.app
Login: [email protected] / password123

Business Portal: https://business.thecoop.app
Login: [email protected] / welcome123

We're actively working with chambers of commerce in:

• Cupertino
• Saratoga
• Los Gatos
• And expanding to more communities