When it comes to company structures, I think form should follow function. It all depends on what you really want to do with your company. Sure, it's easier to use a known structure, but actually you can set up your company almost any way you can imagine, and a good lawyer can help you figure out the paperwork. But you need to dig deep and connect with your real purpose and vision to figure out what you want. It is harder than using a well-known template structure - more lawyers, less easy to explain - but your company's structure is its destiny, so you have to get it right.
We became a co-op not for the sake of it, but because it was the structure that best matched the impact we wanted to have on the world and how we worked together best. In fact, it was only recently that I review the Cooperative Principles[0] and was surprised how closely we've tracked to all of them. Many of these things emerged very organically for us because they were just the most effective ways of working in a highly collaborative way. I find it validating that the way we want to work meshes with a much bigger movement. Yes, co-ops are more rare, but actually there's a huge amount of legal and social precedence we could draw on.
We don't have, and have never had managers at Loomio. We all decide together on an equitable basis how to run the company. I would strongly advise you to find co-founders who really match your vision and sense of deeper purpose. We are a very diverse bunch in terms of personalities, thinking styles, and backgrounds, but we all share a commitment to the same core values and vision. If we didn't, it wouldn't work at all. So if you're working with people not interested in your vision, I'd really rethink that.
I'm not looking to be a billionaire but I would like to have a steady, comfortable source of income.
How easy is it to form the legal structure? I don't imagine legalzoom has the forms I need.
How do you get early managers in on this? I've had terrible managers I felt really weren't interested in development.