Cooperatives are owned and democratically controlled by their members-the people who use the co-op’s services or buy its goods-not by outside investors. Co-op members elect their board of directors from within the membership. The Co-op returns surplus revenues (income over expenses and investment) to members proportionate to their use of the cooperative, not proportionate to their “investment” or ownership share. In addition, they are motivated not by profit, but by service-to meet their members’ needs or affordable and high quality goods or services; they exist solely to serve their members. Co-ops pay taxes on income kept within the co-op for investment and reserves. Surplus revenues from the co-op are returned to individual members who pay taxes on that income.