FAQ

Investor - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sunshine Coast Investment Co-operative?
Community Investment Co-ops are a new and innovative support system for rural economic and business development that effectively bridge the gap between local investors and local ventures in need of financing. An Investment Co-op is a cost effective, community owned and controlled impact fund. They enable residents to become partners in locally driven economic development, which leads to stronger and more sustainable economies. Investment Co-ops raise money from their members, and establish a financing pool for local ventures to apply to.
Why invest locally?
The demand and necessity to invest for impact, globally and locally, is on the rise. However, current investment options and regulations in Canada significantly restrict Canadians from investing into local opportunities. The result is that nearly all investment capital leaves local communities and is placed into far-off stock markets and corporations. This disconnects investors from the positive or negative impacts of their investments. An unintended consequence is that while our investments create significant jobs and wealth elsewhere, the places we live, work and play are overlooked and under financed. Rural British Columbia business development studies and economic development organizations have identified that ‘access to capital’ is a top barrier to business start-ups, expansions and successions.
Community Investment Co-ops across Canada have been around for decades and have successfully financed ventures that generate significant local impacts including: affordable housing; renewable energy; sustainable agriculture and food production; locally-owned small business development; technology; and community economic development projects. The longer a dollar can circulate within a community, the greater its economic and social impacts.
Who is eligible to invest?
Individuals must be 19 years or older and be a Canadian resident.
How do I invest?
To become a member, please contact coastinvestmentcoop@gmail.com and ask for an application package. To become a member you must complete a Membership Application form and purchase a minimum of $2,500 in share capital.
How much can I invest?
Each member must purchase a minimum of $2,500. You can purchase as much as $10,000 in shares. There is no limit to the amount of membership shares an accredited investor can purchase. To determine if you are an accredited investor, please click here to visit the BC Securities Commission website and scroll to the section on ‘Accredited Investor Exemption’.
How long must I invest?
We are seeking patient investors with a minimum of a 5-year investment horizon, to ensure we can finance local businesses with a stable group of member-investors.

What return on investment should I expect?
If lending to businesses at 6-8% APR, our goal is to provide investors with a modest financial return, around 1-2%. The Investment Co-op will also strive to report on the full return on your investment such as: jobs created, other financing leveraged, social impacts, environmental sustainability efforts, and community and cultural impacts. It is important to note that an Investment Co-op is not a guaranteed investment such as a term deposit or bond. Members share in the risks and rewards of the local investment portfolio. When a surplus is realized, monies are distributed as dividends on membership shares. If a loan default occurs, the share price is revalued to reflect the current assets versus liabilities.
Is the investment RRSP eligible?
No. We decided not to issue registered shares as they limit the amount of investors we can accommodate and the fees to hold monies in an RRSP cancel out any anticipated returns on investment.
How is the Investment Co-op governed?
We are member-owned, locally controlled and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Each member of the Investment Co-op is entitled to one vote at General Meetings of the Association, regardless of how many membership shares they purchase. The Loan and Investment Committee at Community Futures Sunshine Coast screens local investment applications to the Co-op.
How are investment decisions made?
Local ventures apply to the Investment Co-op for financing through Community Futures in Sechelt. Applicants who demonstrate an economic, social, environmental or community/cultural impact in the region will be requested to submit their business plan and cash flow projections. The Investment Co-op works with a regional Community Futures Development Corporation to complete a third party analysis and either join in the investment or make a recommendation.
What if I want to sell my membership shares?
As the Investment Co-op is not registered on a stock exchange, membership shares cannot be sold or traded to other persons. Membership shares must be redeemed directly from the Co-op by submitting a withdrawal form to the Board.
As a member of the Investment Co-op, do I get a vote on how the businesses are run?
No. The Board and its Investment Committees decide which businesses receive financing and how much support to give the owners. Members have the right to:

Receive updates through the Co-op’s newsletters on businesses that receive financing and may support those businesses as customers and ambassadors
Elect the Board of Directors
Run for the Board of Directors
Receive a copy of the Investment Co-op’s Articles and Bylaws
Review reports on financial performance at General Meetings
Vote for changes in the Articles and Bylaws as proposed by the Board of Directors
Participate in occasional member surveys

Thank you to our member Robert Schutte, for helping to draft these questions!