Pending B-Corp Status For Start-Up Brands – Part 1

B Corp Certification is based on the verified practices and policies of a company over the past year, which means that only companies that have been in operation for at least twelve months are eligible for B Corporation Certification. However, B Lab heard from the market that early stage companies needed a way to signal to stakeholders like investors, board advisers, employees, and prospective clients that they were on track to certifying as a B Corp. B Lab created Pending B Corp status to help those early stage companies make that commitment count.

To become Pending B Corps, companies go through the B Impact Assessment with best estimate answers and meet the legal requirement for certification. With a £250 fee, B Lab grants the company use of the Certified B Corp: Pending intellectual property to help them publicly communicate their commitment.

Companies have sought out Pending B Corp status in order to:

• Signal to current and future investors that their company is already beginning to measure and manage its social and environmental performance with the best tools available

• Demonstrate strong governance by adopting the legal framework early to protect mission and brand equity from the beginning

Early stage companies do not need to become Pending B Corps in order to pursue full B Corp Certification later on. Above all, start-ups hoping to become Certified B Corporations should focus on building a great business! Remember, the first rule of mission-driven business is "no margin, no mission."

This program is available in select markets of B Lab’s global network.

For further details visit https://bcorporation.uk