Susanne Ward, owner of Rock City Coffee Roasters and Rock City Cafe, transitioned her company's business model to that of an employee-owned cooperative. Kevin Malmstrom, the head coffee roaster, is one of 17 owner-employees.

Co-operative shares are similar, but not the same as share capital in a company. In a co-operative with share capital, members may be required to hold shares as part of their membership, but voting control is linked to membership and not to the number of shares held.