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If you need immediate assistance, please contact our Customer Service Team:
(800) 669-3275 | customercare@frontiercoop.com
Co-op Membership Account
Become a lifetime member/owner of Frontier Co-op for just $10. For this one-time refundable fee, you'll get membership benefits and the most savings with our member prices.
Member Requirements
- One-time $10 activation fee
- Verification of business
Member Benefits
- member wholesale prices (no surcharge)
- an annual share of Frontier Co-op profits
- a vote on Board of Directors and co-op issues
- great product selection (10,000+ items) and value
- next business day nationwide shipping
- single-item purchases
- no minimum order size
- exceptional service
- 24/7 online ordering
Non-Member Account
If you wish to purchase from us without becoming a member, we offer a non-member wholesale account at 10% above member prices.
Non-member Requirements
- State business license
- Other forms of business verification upon request
Non-member account
- wholesale prices (+surcharge)
- great product selection (10,000+ items) and value
- next business day nationwide shipping
- single-item purchases
- no minimum order size
- exceptional service
- 24/7 online ordering
For more information, please reference Frontier Co-op's By-Laws (PDF Download, 302Kb).
START A BUYING CLUB
If you value saving money and purchasing natural and organic products, starting a buying club is a convenient, low cost investment and offers the best savings.
Buying club members get access to 10,000 products at low wholesale costs, plus are part of a like-minded community who care about people and planet.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do the member/owners finance Frontier?
Basically a portion of the annual profits that each member receives remains invested in the co-op as for a period of time, providing the capital necessary to operate and expand the business. Each member's capital investment is kept in their name in two accounts:
- share money — an account built from the member's portion of annual profits that represents the investment, or share in ownership, that the member has in Frontier
- retained patronage (also called deferred patronage) — an account made up of the part of the member's allocation of Frontier's annual net savings, or patronage dividend, that is retained for a time by the co-op for capital purposes
Both accounts are created from the annual allocations of Frontier's annual net savings to individual members, and neither requires any additional investment on the part of the member. After the required level of investment in share money is met, other retained patronage is returned to members on a rotating basis, with oldest investments returned first.
What is the "share requirement"?
This is an assessment determined by the Board of Directors. The share money requirement is assigned to each cooperative member, based on the amount of business done with the co-op, to ensure that the cooperative has the funding it requires to meet capital needs.
The share requirement is determined by multiplying the member's average purchases per month by 2.25 (or 225%).
Example: If your annual purchases were $10,000, your share requirement would be as follows: ($10,000/12) times 2.25 = $1,875
How often is the share requirement calculated?
Once per fiscal year. Note: Frontier operates on a fiscal year of July 1 through June 30 the following calendar year. (For example, July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 is fiscal year 2022.)
What if my share money balance isn't enough to meet my share money requirement?
If there is a deficiency in a member's share money balance when compared to the calculated share money requirement, then the amount of this deficiency is transferred from the member's deferred patronage from the most recent fiscal year allocation.
Example: If the calculated share money requirement is $1,000 and the current share money balance is $700, $300 will be transferred from the deferred portion of your allocated patronage dividends for the current year.
How do you handle a share balance that is higher than the requirement?
Upon request, the excess will be refunded to you at a rate not to exceed $1000 per month until the entire excess has been returned.
How is my patronage dividend calculated?
Frontier returns its net income (total income minus total expenses) to its members each fiscal year in accordance with the amount purchased from the co-op. If Frontier's net income is equal to 3% of annual member sales, then each member is allocated a patronage dividend equal to 3% of their purchases for the fiscal year. Patronage is only allocated to accounts who are members when the patronage allocation is distributed from the Co-op to its members.
What is retained patronage?
Thirty percent of the patronage allocation is paid by check at the time of the distribution patronage (usually March for the previous fiscal year). Seventy percent of the allocation is retained for our continuing capital needs (eg. expansion of physical facilities). This portion (members' retained patronage) is paid at some later time when the Frontier Board of Directors determines it is no longer needed for capital purposes. Retained patronage is distributed by Frontier issuing a check for a given year's retained patronage to each member with patronage in that year. (If a percentage of a year's retained patronage is issued instead of the full amount, that same percentage is every member.)
Do I have to pay taxes on my patronage dividends?
Yes, you are required to include the entire amount of the patronage allocation as income for your taxable year that includes the month in which you receive the allocation unless the exclusions provided for in Title 26 Subsection 1385 apply. (The check enclosed with the original distribution is subject to backup withholding if we don't have a valid taxpayer identification number on file for you.)
Once having paid tax on the full amount in the year the patronage allocation is earned, future returns of the retained portion are tax-free. For example, if your patronage allocation in a given year is $3,000, you will receive a check for $900 and $2,100 will be added to your retained patronage account. You must report the full $3,000 patronage allocation as income for taxation purposes that year, but when you are later returned the retained patronage, you pay no additional taxes on it.
What happens if I don't cash my patronage check?
If you don't cash your patronage check within 365 days (either by choice or by oversight), the check will be made void and the funds will revert back to your member account. A non-contact event will also be registered against your account. After three years of failed contact attempts your equity with be moved to the control of the Co-op’s Reversion fund until such time that you make a valid claim to recover it.
Do I get my patronage and share money back if I end my Frontier membership?
Yes. You maintain ownership of your patronage and share money when you terminate membership in the co-op. Your retained patronage will be returned less a 25% discount for premature withdrawal.
How is the Frontier Board of Directors chosen?
Frontier members elect six of the nine directors. Each year members receive a ballot and information on the candidates for the open Board positions. Two at-large directors are appointed by the elected directors, and Frontier's CEO assumes the automatic position of Management Director.
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
Please contact our customer care department to learn more about benefits:
Phone: 1-800-669-3275