A Community Supported Enterprise or CSE consists of a community of individuals–both local and virtual–who pledge support to a company by pre-buying a package of goods directly from the company. Active and diverse CSEs will enable the business’s founders and consumers to work together to bring an early stage company to financial sustainability.

The CSE model is based upon the concept and design of a CSA or Community Supported Agriculture program. A CSA brings together a community of individuals who pledge support to a farming operation by signing up to receive a weekly delivery of farm products. Consumers may often choose among levels of membership and payment. The farmer successfully raises the capital they need to grow and maintain their crops, while CSA members receive their shares of food throughout the growing season.

A CSE will give individuals the opportunity to establish a similar relationship with a growing business. Consumers may purchase a package of coupons that can be redeemed at stores selling the specific product. By doing so, they provide upfront capital that will help to ensure the long term viability of the company.

Learn more and become a CSE member today!

Our featured company is TrueBody Products, a small soap business based out of Richmond, Vermont. Click here to become a member.

Why should I support a CSE?

Getting a small business up and running is a difficult feat. While early entrepreneurs may succeed in raising startup capital, once their product is on the market and doing well, it can be difficult to find the right kind of capital needed to grow the business without having to lose control of it. By becoming a part of a CSE and choosing to purchase goods directly from a company, you are providing this capital.

What being a CSE member can mean to you as a consumer is:

• By investing in a company in this manner, you are changing the way financing is happening. Your purchase allows these entrepreneurs to become self-funded and responsible to themselves and the consumer, rather than a bank or investors alone
• By supporting companies that are already successful and just need a little capital to “get to that next level,” you are helping create a sustainable economy
• By supporting entrepreneurs committed to making their products in the USA, you are helping increase job growth

Has this been tried before?

While CSAs are gaining traction and popularity across the country, the concept of a CSE is still developing. Community Supported Enterprises are often defined by some level of community ownership or investment. A key characteristic of a successful CSE is strong relationships between the business or company and its consumers.

Please check out our More on CSEs page to find out about how people are starting to think about and use the CSE model.