The terms “buying groups,” “purchasing cooperatives,” and “group purchasing organizations” (GPOs) are often used interchangeably.  While definitions vary from industry to industry, generally, GPOs are considered to be more focused on purchasing as their core function and also tend to be larger than the typical buying group.  GPOs are frequently found in the healthcare industry, for example.  Buying groups and purchasing cooperatives, on the other hand, may provide a number of other services to its members, beyond just savings on purchases.  As used in this website, any references to buying groups will also include purchasing cooperatives and similar terms.
At Ray Law Firm, PLLC, our focus is on helping businesses navigate the legal pitfalls that are encountered in the journey toward forming and operating buying groups and GPOs. Whether a business is looking to start, operate, or join a buying group or GPO, we are here to help every step of the way.