Often a cooperative and its members are non-for-profit organizations from a specific industry in a close proximity to each other. Also, competitors can be members of a cooperative and utilize the same administrative services and staff. Cooperatives also actively advertise and collect dues from members as well as suppliers.

A consortium is a formal business corporation whose members are for-profit business firms from various industries and geographic regions. Suppliers do not pay fees to participate, and there is no interaction between competitors.