Who can certify?
Is your business eligible to certify as a B Corp? Find out more here.
B Corps range from multinational companies to sole traders
Most for-profit businesses which have been in operation for at least a year may pursue B Corp Certification.
Certain companies, such as start ups, those with related entities, or large multinational and public companies, have additional requirements.
Pending B Corps
If your business is a start up with under 12 months of operations, you’re eligible to become a Pending B Corp. Pending B Corp is a great way to communicate the mission of your company, engage in the B Corp Community and put in place a framework for impact improvement.
Large businesses
If you’re a large and/or complex business you should get in touch with us to confirm the correct certification approach for your company. Large and/or complex businesses tend to have a revenue of £100m+ and:
- Operate in 2 or more industries
- Operate in 5 or more countries
- Have 5 or more subsidiaries
Other business models
- Sole traders are eligible to certify. If working alone in their business, they should select ‘0 workers’ when choosing the company size in the B Impact Assessment. Sole traders are not eligible for Pending B Corp
- Charities and non-profit organisations are not eligible for B Corp Certification
- Partnerships, mutuals and cooperatives are usually eligible to certify
If you are unsure about your eligibility or certification approach, please contact us.
Determining industry eligibility
As an increasing number of companies apply for B Corp Certification, B Lab and its Standards Advisory Council must develop models for how to effectively evaluate the impacts of many different industries, policies, and practices. For high-impact, controversial industries, this is done through an Eligibility Review.
