Canons had to confess to their superior three times a year. They were to buy nothing but clothing unless ordered to by the abbot, holding property in common. They exercised hospitality (especially to patrons), almsgiving and charitable deeds. (Titchfield could seat 189 at table, 80 in the refectory, 62 in the infirmary hall and 47 in the vault.)

From the late 13th century onwards, they prayed for the soul of the founder and other benefactors. It was the founder's privilege to be buried in the abbey church, usually in the chancel near the high altar. The names of benefactors were kept in a kalendar and read out at chapter on the anniversary of their death each year. Rich laymen could also have a chantry, like William de Grendon’s.

At least 13 brethren were needed to found a new abbey (including the abbot) (six to found a priory) and the approval of two neighbouring abbots was required - at least in theory. They also had to have a cella hospitum, usually a guesthouse on the west side of the cloister, either above the cellarer’s range (as at Bayham) or projecting from it (as at Easby). This accommodated any visitors such as abbots, messengers, gentry or bishops. The porter opened the gate, asked the person’s name, took the guest to pray, then handed him over to ‘brother hospitaller’ who took the guest to the guesthouse, offered refreshment and saw to the guest’s comfort. He had as many assistants as were deemed necessary. The porter dispensed alms at the gate and gave the poor the left-over food. A statute of 1275 said only the founder could have hospitality, but this was unenforceable. Hospitality could be burdensome: a corrody was a grant of food and lodging for life (the reward of long service, or bought for cash or land or as a result of royal favour which the abbey could not refuse).

Most canons had some specific function within the abbey. These jobs included:  a circator, who checked that everyone did his job properly, (as did the provincial in other orders); a cellarer, who cared for the refectory and dormitory and was in charge of bakers, cooks, gardeners, brewers and wine-pressers. This was a smaller job than with the Cistercians, where the cellarer had charge of the lay brethren; a hospitaller, who fed guests (very well. They were entertained by minstrels); a librarian (a function unknown in Cistercian houses); a provisor exteriorum, who supervised lay brethren and the granges where they worked; a vestarius, who was in charge of the wardrobe and lay brethren such as weavers, dyers, and cobblers. A typical promotion pattern was: novice to choir-religious to precentor or sacristan.  Second-in-command to the abbot was the prior (claustral prior, as opposed to conventual prior; the latter was in charge of his own priory), with his deputy the sub-prior. In houses where there was a hospital, such as Cockersand and Dale, there would be an infirmarian.

The abbot might be made visitor of other houses, and sometimes assisted other abbots in supervising elections elsewhere. He had secular obligations: as collector of taxes, auditor of accounts, emissary of war and peace, paymaster of works at a castle. Even canons could be called out by the king for some job or other. The abbot had little to do with bishops, who were required only for ordinations.