How to certify as a B Corp?

B Lab Global certifies companies. The development of the standards for B Corp Certification are overseen by B Lab's independent Standards Advisory Council. B Corp Certification is administered by B Lab Global.

The length of the certification and verification process — from beginning the B Impact Assessment to fulfilling the legal accountability requirement to finishing with announcing your B Corp Certification to the world — varies based on a company’s size and complexity. Small to medium-sized companies should expect a wait time of 6-8 months. Large multinationals, companies with many related entities, or companies operating in controversial industries should expect a longer verification process.

As more 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. As part of your assessment, you will be asked to complete the Disclosure Questionnaire; the final series of questions your company will answer in the B Impact Assessment. While B Corp Certification is primarily based on assessing a business' positive impact, material negative impacts are also considered through the Disclosure Questionnaire, background checks, and a public complaint process. The Disclosure Questionnaire allows the company to confidentially disclose to B Lab any sensitive practices, fines, and sanctions related to the company or its partners. Responses to the Disclosure Questionnaire do not affect a company’s numerical score on the B Impact Assessment but can ultimately affect its eligibility for certification. Typically, the majority of these responses are minor in nature and therefore no further action is needed. However, if B Lab identifies one or more items in the Disclosure Questionnaire or in a background check of a company and its senior management to be material, it may merit further transparency, and the company will be notified to provide incremental disclosure of relevant information. In certain cases, the company will be required to implement specific remedies to obtain or maintain their B Corp certification. In rare cases the company's certification will be denied or revoked. You can read more on the global controversial issues page. Acceptance into and continued participation in the B Corp community is at the sole discretion of the Standards Advisory Council and B Lab's Board of Directors.

B Corp Certification is available to for-profit businesses of any size, with no minimum or maximum company size requirement. However, nonprofits and government entities are not eligible. To apply, a company must have been in operation for at least one year. Startups looking to demonstrate their commitment early can opt for Pending B Corp status. Additionally, certain businesses—such as those with related entities, or large multinational and publicly traded companies—may need to meet extra requirements and considerations.

Subsidiaries, franchises, and companies with related entities may pursue B Corp Certification, with certain limits. Subsidiaries of publicly traded companies also must meet additional transparency requirements.