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HomeCorporations CodeCh. 1Art. 2§ 12243 Cooperative Patronage Definitions

§ 12243 Cooperative Patronage Definitions

Corporations Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 12243 Cooperative Patronage Definitions

This law explains who counts as a 'patron' of a special kind of company (like a co-op) and how to measure how much they use or help the company.

Key Takeaways

  • •A 'patron' is someone who buys from, uses, or sells through the company.
  • •How much they buy, use, or sell decides their 'patronage'.
  • •For worker co-ops, 'patronage' can also be measured by work done, like hours worked or wages earned.

Example

A farmer sells milk to a co-op that helps sell it to stores.

The farmer is a 'patron' because the co-op handles their milk. How much milk they sell decides their 'patronage'.

How to Calculate

Patronage = Volume or Value of Purchases + Services Used + Products/Service Provided

  1. Add up how much stuff the patron bought from the company.
  2. Add up how much the patron used the company’s services.
  3. Add up how much stuff the patron gave the company to sell or handle.
  4. Combine these numbers to get the total 'patronage'.

A farmer sells 100 gallons of milk to the co-op and buys $200 worth of feed from them.

Result: Patronage = 100 gallons + $200 = 100 gallons and $200 worth of business.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 12243 Cooperative Patronage Definitions

(a) (1) If the corporation is organized to provide goods or services to its members, the corporation’s “patrons” are those who purchase those types of goods from, or use those types of services of, the corporation. If the corporation is organized to market, process, or otherwise handle its members’ products or services, the corporation’s “patrons” are those persons whose products or services are so marketed, processed, or handled by the corporation. (2) “Patronage” of a patron is measured by the volume or value, or both, of a patron’s purchases of products from, and use of services furnished by, the corporation, and by products and services provided by the patron to the corporation for marketing. (b) (1) If the corporation is organized as a worker cooperative, the corporation’s “patrons” are its worker-members. (2) If the corporation is organized as a worker cooperative, “patronage” may be measured by work performed, including, but not limited to, wages earned, number of hours worked, number of jobs created, or some combination of these measures. (Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 192, Sec. 8. (AB 816) Effective January 1, 2016.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

patronspatronageworker cooperativeworker-members

Related Statutes

  • § 12230.5 Worker Cooperative Board Structure
  • § 12253.5 Worker Cooperative Requirements
  • § 12201 Mutual Benefit Corporation Rules
  • § 12228.3 Worker Cooperative Capital Accounts
  • § 12253 Voting Power In Cooperatives

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 12243.
View Official Source