#b labs

Her canon art has a blue tongue due to stylization but I like to imagine it is because she drink blue slushie :3

oval chainrings and more from Suisse

http://www.b-labs.org/

What’s The Buzz?

What’s A B Corporation?

Not THAT Kind Of Bee!

There’s a handwritten list on my refrigerator. It’s hanging there from a magnet right next to the monthly family calendar and the report cards. My wife keeps a roster of corporations like Costco and Starbucks that follow ethical practices.  These are the places we’re supposed to patronize. There’s also another list, over on the side, headlined by…

If you’re a social entrepreneur that wants to change the world with your org, you almost certainly want to go with either a B corp or a non-profit. 

Non-Profit or B Corp?

Is your venture scalable, i.e. probably *not* a “lifestyle business”?

Will you likely need investors that will require an exit or liquidity event?

If your answer to either of those is no, a non-profit is probably best.

If your answer to either is yes, your business is scalable or you will likely need investors; a B corp may be the best option.

B Labs' B Corp vs. State B Corps

When people talk about B corps there are actually two different definitions that can lead to some confusion. B corps (Benefit Corporations) are legally defined corporate entities that are required to provide some sort of public benefit, as recognized in five states at the time of this writing: Vermont, Maryland, Hawaii, Virginia, and New Jersey.

Those legally defined B corps require some form of 3rd party independent social benefit audit, a service B Labs (http://www.bcorporation.net/) provides, but using B Labs isn’t required to be a B corp. 

When some people use the phrase B corp they are referring to a B Labs certified B Corp, which from a legal perspective may still actually be an S or C corp! In that sense a B Labs B Corp is a sort of brand or certification. The B Labs' version of B Corps came first, and some people may not be aware of the new legal structure offered by states, which leads to the confusion.

Your B corp doesn’t necessarily have to work with B Labs, but they do seem to be the biggest provider of the auditing service that I’m aware of.