Is B-corp certification right for my organization?

I’m often asked by business leaders if they should consider being a benefit corp as a way to build purpose into their organization. The short answer is, “Yes, you should consider it.” The longer answer is, “it needs to be part of your overarching organizational strategy.”

Per a recent article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, "The B Corp model addresses this issue of accountability directly by providing the tools, methods, and legal frameworks for companies to align their operations with long-term values that consider all stakeholders. It also helps to build trust and brand value with the general public. Additionally, going through the assessment has been shown to help companies engage in continuous improvement.”

In other words, the B-corp assessment is a quick and easy way to identify what you can and should be doing to operate in the interest of People, Planet & Profit. However, many startups will find that they’re too early to effectively implement these processes, and others will have quite a bit of work to do to be ready for the full certification.

So if you’re wondering if this is the right model for you, you should absolutely take the B-corp assessment to understand what’s expected of you. It’s fast, easy and a great way to think about the steps you’d need to take to consider social impact across your organization.

But before you decide on anything, make sure you’re weighing the cost/ benefits of the certification against your long-term organizational goals. B-corp may not be the only or best option to bring your world-changing mission to life.