Explore Certification
The “B” stands for BENEFIT. We believe that business can and should be a force for good in the world.
This information is specific to the third-party B Corp certification provided by B Lab.
What is a B Corp?
Certified B Corporation™ is a status earned by for-profit companies that pass an independent audit of their real-world impact. The nonprofit B Lab sets the standards and third-party auditors review documentation to verify the company’s policies and practices.
Customers and employees are skeptical about whether companies actually do what they say. Certified B Corps have their claims checked by an outside entity every 3-5 years.
Good to Know:
- Impact > Intention: Good intentions aren’t verifiable. B Corps must demonstrate they meet the standards.
- Scaled Consistency: While some certification requirements vary depending on size and industry, every company goes through the same verification process.
- Ongoing Verification: Certification must be renewed with the same level of documentation each time.
Why Certify?
If you want a verifiable badge of honor for the good your business is doing in the world, the answer is a resounding yes. But let’s be real: it takes serious work. It is a deep-dive audit across every angle of your business that usually goes untracked, and it is an ongoing standard you have to keep earning.
- It turns claims into proof. Most companies that certify were already driven by purpose. This turns that into an independently verified track record.
- The logo carries weight. Customers, talent, procurement teams and investors know the mark. Nobody can buy their way in, which is what makes it worth something.
- It builds a better business. The process works as a blueprint. It finds your blind spots and pushes your operations to a higher standard.
- It puts you in a room. Certification connects you to the other companies in the region doing the same work, which is worth more than most people expect going in.
Certification Requirements
All B Corps have verify that they meet three foundational requirements, seven impact topic standards via an audit by a third-party contracted by B Lab.
Foundational Requirements
- Eligibility. Legally incorporated, operating at least 12 months, complying with the law where you operate.
- Stakeholder governance. You commit formally to considering people other than shareholders in your decisions.
- Risk assessment. B Lab’s risk analysis tool is used to determine criteria for the Impact Topics that follow.
Seven Impact Topics
All B Corps verify they meet the standards for each Impact Topic. The B Impact Assessment scales with company size and industry, so a four person professional service firm completes a slightly different version than a manufacturing facility that employs 2,000.
- Purpose and Stakeholder Governance. What the company is for, and how that shows up in decisions.
- Fair Work. Wages, benefits, security, and how people are treated day to day.
- Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Who you hire, who you buy from, who gets a say.
- Human Rights. Checking your operations and suppliers for risk, and acting on it.
- Climate Action. Measuring emissions and, depending on size, committing to cut them.
- Environmental Stewardship and Circularity. Waste, water, materials, and what happens to what you make.
- Government Affairs and Collective Action. How you seek to make an impact beyond the walls of your own business.
If you looked into this before 2025
B Lab revised the standards substantially in 2025. If you researched certification before then, you’ll need to review B Lab’s current requirements. Our Resources page has been updated for the revised standards.
How we can help
- Curated resources. We’ve not only collected resources from trusted sources but organized them to help you get oriented then make progress. Start with the resources.
- Community support. We are happy to share our experience and cheer you on as you complete the process. Join us at an event.
- Educational events. In 2027, we will resume our B101 workshops. Local B Corps provide an overview of B Corp certification and answer your questions.
- Reimbursement up to $500. We offer a one-time grant to recoup certification expenses, from the annual fee to consultants or courses. Open to companies certifying or recertifying in WNC. See if you qualify.
Where to start
Most people who reach out are just getting started on their B Corp journey and that’s great! Come to an event, send us a note, and/or explore the resources at your own pace.