1. B Impact Assessment (BIA)

A business must first undertake an assessment: a self-answered, online questionnaire that covers the entirety of an organisation.

From an operational perspective, it covers governance, workers, community, customers and the environment. From a strategic perspective, it looks at the type of business model being used to create positive social and/or environmental impact. The BIA calls these your company's "Impact Business Model".

At this point, a business must also complete a standards verification and disclosure questionnaire.

2. Legal Change

The company must amend its Articles of Association to shift the focus from shareholder to stakeholder and a commitment to the triple bottom line.

It uses Companies Act Article 172 as the legal basis to ensure a B Corp enshrines the commitment to creating a material positive impact on society and the environment and not putting shareholder interests above other stakeholder interests.

If the business is owned by a sole-trader then no formal legal change is required.

See: "What is involved in the legal change?"

3. Formalising B Corp Status

A term sheet and B Corp Declaration of Interdependence is supplied to the business for signature as a symbolic commitment to the intentions and communal aspirations of the B Corp community.

4. Certification Fee

Submission Fee

As of April 15th 2021, there is a £250 fee for submission of a B Impact Assessment to help fund the cost of review.

Subscription Fee

A fee is payable that contributes towards running the B Corp community.   If you think of it as a marketing cost, it is very good value for money.

You can see the costs here: B Lab UK Fee Table

5. Ready to Go!

At this point, you’re a fully-fledged B Corp ready to tell the world. It’s recommended to make a splash and there a plenty of examples to follow and learn from in terms of how other companies, large and small, have gone about telling their stakeholders and the wider world of their B Corp status.

Download the Complete Guide to B Corp Certification for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises.