When it comes to entrepreneurship, an inevitable question arises: should you go for the individual path or the collective one? At Creasse we believe in the social economy as a solid way to create fairer, more sustainable projects with real impact. But what exactly does this approach entail, and why are more people choosing collaborative models?
What is the Social Economy?
The Social Economy brings together a set of business initiatives in which people and the common good take precedence over capital. Its fundamental principles are:
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Primacy of people and the social purpose over capital.
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Equitable distribution of results, linked to work and service rendered.
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Solidarity and commitment to the community: social cohesion, stable employment, equal opportunities and gender balance.
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Capacity for self-management independent of the public authorities.
This model is especially concretized in the forms of collective enterprise, where at least two people are partners and, at the same time, workers of the project itself.
Main formulas for collective entrepreneurship
Within the social economy, two relevant figures stand out:
1. Cooperatives
Democratically managed companies, where all members participate in decision-making and are involved both professionally and economically.
2. Worker-owned companies
Companies whose capital is mostly owned by workers, which guarantees them control of the project and shared governance.
Both formulas combine economic activity with participation, stability and commitment to the territory.
Why choose to undertake collectively?
Choosing a collective entrepreneurship formula is not only a legal issue: it is a commitment to a more democratic, resilient and sustainable model. Its advantages include:
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Shared responsibility: the burdens and risks do not fall on a single person.
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Greater resilience: cooperatives and worker-owned companies show greater resilience in times of crisis, prioritizing employment and sustainability over immediate profit.
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Democratic decision-making: capital is in the hands of those who work, which facilitates real and horizontal participation.
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Fair distribution of profits: surpluses are distributed taking into account both the economic contribution and the work contributed.
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Greater commitment and sense of belonging: being part of the project ownership generates motivation and involvement.
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Recommended video: how to create a cooperative. The story of Xesta Brava
Individual vs. collective entrepreneurship: which one is right for you?
Both modalities are valid, but they imply different ways of managing, deciding and growing:
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Entrepreneurship individually provides control and simplifies procedures, ideal for people who start a very personal project or in early stages.
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Entrepreneurship collectively opens the door to stable, shared structures with a social impact, especially if you opt for cooperatives or worker-owned companies.
When choosing the legal form, it is advisable to analyse:
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who will actually work on the project,
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how you want to grow (foreign investment or organic growth),
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what is prioritized (benefit or impact),
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how contracts will be managed,
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what aid and subsidies can be requested.
Concrete benefits of cooperatives and worker-owned companies
Choosing a social economy structure brings tangible advantages:
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Access to specific subsidies, bonuses, single unemployment payment and lines of support for collective employment.
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Possibility of capitalizing the unemployment benefit to start the project or make it compatible during the beginning.
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Reduction of personal risks, since the responsibility does not fall on the individual assets.
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Favorable position in public procurement, where projects with social impact are prioritized.
Why at Creasse we are committed to the social economy
At Creasse we believe in a way of entrepreneurship that puts people at the centre. Collective entrepreneurship is not only viable, but profoundly transformative:
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It favors cooperation over competition.
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It promotes decent, stable employment with real participation.
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It generates social impact and sustainable development in the territories.
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It creates fairer, more transparent and democratic business structures.
At Creasse we accompany entrepreneurial teams so that they can find the legal form that best suits their project, especially within the social economy ecosystem.
