A Cooperative Company in Agriculture: Feasibility Analysis of a Start-up project

Purpose – The research objective is to analyse the economic and financial dynamics of an agricultural cooperative in a start-up phase. Design/methodology/approach – The research starts from an analysis of the alternative forms of product marketing, which is necessary to identify the operational field of the company that is going to be set up, and focuses on raising those financial resources which are necessary to allow the start and the ordinary course of the business. The financing of cooperative companies has always been a remarkably relevant issue in the management of this type of business. Indeed, the technical and legal features of these companies have limited the access to possible financing sources and, in particular, to venture capital acquisitions. Originality/value – Throughout this work, we tried to suggest the financial instruments best suited to meeting the needs of an agriculture company in a start-up phase and, in this respect, in an economic situation like the present one, assisted finance may represent a useful instrument. However, the opportunities that it offers at different levels are often unknown or not perceived for their complexity and for the lack of clear and homogeneous information.