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 CorpsÂ
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.Â
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. Â
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.
