1. You’re creating a new class of corporation.

The Benefit Corporation benefits society as well as shareholders. Unlike traditional corporations, Benefit Corporations must create a material positive impact on society and the environment; consider how decisions affect workers, community and the environment; and publicly report their social and environmental performance using established third party standards. In Spring 2010, Maryland and Vermont became the first states to enact Benefit Corporation legislation. The community of B Corps is working in seven additional states to pass Benefit Corporation legislation in 2011.

2. You’re advancing tax incentives and procurement preferenences for sustainable business.

The community of B Corps is catalyzing policy efforts at the local and federal level to provide incentives for certified sustainable business. The first tax break for B Corporations was signed into law in Philadelphia in late 2009. B Lab has been approached about this work by several other cities as well as agencies in the federal government including Commerce and the General Services Administration.

3. You’re accelerating the growth of impact investing.

The community of B Corps is driving mission-aligned capital to businesses addressing the world’s most challenging problems. B Lab’s Global Impact Investing Rating System (“GIIRS”) is a ratings agency that provides comparable and transparent ratings about the social and environmental performance of enterprises seeking investment capital, as well as the private equity and venture capital funds that invest in these businesses. The Obama Administration, Investors’ Circle, and twenty private equity and venture capital funds representing approximately $2 billion in assets, recently announced their support for GIIRS as a means of catalyzing the flow of investment capital to high impact enterprises in the developed and emerging markets.

4. You’re enhancing brand equity.

You can now differentiate your company, not just its products, through third party validation that your company has met higher performance and legal standards. Certification helps generate press and add value in a potential capital raise or sale by mitigating brand risk of trust erosion.

5. Your connecting your executive team with peers from mission-aligned companies.

B Lab facilitates collaboration among B Corps to help raise money, share best practices in sustainability, marketing, finance, IT, HR, and reach target customers.

6.  You’re maintaining mission in up and down markets, now and post-succession.

As a B Corporation, founders and other mission- driven minority shareholders can hold directors accountable to consider the impact of operating and liquidity decisions not only on shareholders, but on all stakeholders.

7. You’re saving money.

Take advantage of the growing number of partnerships which deliver immediate financial value. B Lab has saved B Corps $1MM in annually recurring savings through more than 40 service partnerships (see 75% discount on Salesforce.com and NetSuite and the rest at bcorporation.net/ services). More than 50 B Corps are more profitable as a direct result of their certification – a couple of B Corps have >10:1 ROI on their certification fees.

8.You’re building infrastructure and recruiting talent cost-effectively.

Scores of B Corps take advantage of the big B Corp discounts available through our more than 40 service partnerships to obtain or upgrade their CRM, ERP, or credit card processing systems. Yale business school offers loan forgiveness to alums that go to work for B Corps, giving B Corps a big edge recruiting talent.

9. You’re in the news.

B Corporations, Benefit Corporations and B Lab have been featured in numerous articles and even on the radio. The world is listening.

10. You’re contributing to a better community and educating the public.

Make sure to read through our archives to see great best practices pieces and other business leaders’ thoughts.

image via elegantchic.wordpress.com/…/

Be Sociable, Share!