Back

Large Companies

With big business increasingly aiming to become B Corps, B Lab has created a Large Enterprise Approach to ensure the pathway for such companies is clear, credible and comprehensive.

A rigorous, holistic certification

B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency. 

  • Holistic evaluation

    B Corp Certification is holistic, not exclusively focused on a single social or environmental issue.

  • Different pathways to Certification

    The certification process varies and increases in rigour depending on a company’s size and complexity.

  • Risk Assessment

    At the beginning of the B Corp Certification process, companies must undergo an assessment of risk factors based on their industry and other practices.

  • Documentation Provided

    B Impact Assessment answers are validated through documentation of your company’s business model and information about your operations, structure, and various work processes

  • Reviews and Site Visits

    Taking company size and profile into account, verification may also involve a review of potential public complaints and possible site visits.

  • Recertification every three years

    B Corps are required to undergo the verification process every three years in order to recertify, ensuring standards continue to be met and promoting long-term resiliency.

Pathways for Certification for Large Enterprises

Whether a private or public company should embark on this specific certification pathway is dependent on its annual revenue as well as the complexity of its structure and operations.

There are two pathways to certification for Large Enterprise businesses:

  • Certifying the Parent Company as a B Corp

    The parent company may certify by fulfilling the performance and legal requirements and maintaining full transparency; in this case, the parent company must meet requirements for more than 95% of operations. Through this approach, the business can quickly identify gaps and risks, while publicly sharing their intent to certify. This approach is more resource-intensive for the company and requires less visibility from other parts of the organization; it also reflects higher upfront costs.

  • Certifying each subsidiary as a B Corp

    The second approach requires each subsidiary to meet the B Corp Certification requirements independently. This is relatively resource-light for the parent company, organically builds buy-in and momentum, and makes the process of meeting the legal requirement easier for the subsidiaries. However, this approach may be more expensive over time and may not be possible for centralized businesses.

Large Company steps towards certification

Fees apply for each step from Application onwards, these fees are based on the company’s revenue and are invoiced before each step begins.

Large B Corps in Europe

Pricing for Large Company Certification

Given their added complexity, Large Enterprises and Multinational businesses are required to pay an application and precertification costs on top of their annual fees.

Application Cost:

The application cost is a non-refundable fee. Review of the application will result in a report detailing your business’ eligibility to proceed, a customized engagement pathway, and associated costs and timeline.

 

Pre-certification costs:

Costs for mandatory and optional pre-certification services such as Scoping, Risk Screen, and the BIA Performance Consultation are determined according to your company’s revenue and complexity, and are confirmed in the application report.

Annual revenue
Application Form Cost
€ 100M - € 500M € 2,000
€ 500M - € 1B € 4,000
€ 1B+ € 8,000

Annual Certification Fees based on Company Revenues

Annual revenue
Annual Certification Fee
€ 100 - € 174,9 million € 30,000
€ 175 - € 249,9 million € 35,000
€ 250 - € 499,9 million € 40,000
€ 500- € 749,9 million € 45,000
€ 750 - € 999,9 million € 50,000
€ 1 - € 1,49 billion € 60,000
€ 1,5 - € 1.99 billion € 70,000
€ 2 - € 2,49 billion € 90,000
€ 2,5 - € 2.99 billion € 110,000
€ 3 - € 3,49 billion € 130,000
€ 3,5 - € 3,99 billion € 150,000
€ 4 - € 4,49 billion € 170,000
€ 4,5 - € 4,99 billion € 190,000
€ 5 - € 5,99 billion € 220,000
€ 6 - € 6,99 billion € 260,000
€ 7 - € 7,99 billion € 300,000
€ 8 - € 8,99 billion € 340,000
€ 9 - € 9,99 billion € 380,000
€ 10 - € 14,99 billion € 500,000
€ 15 - € 19,99 billion € 700,000
€ 20 - € 29,99 billion € 900,000
> € 30 billion € 1,000,000
hands typing

Standard Development Cycle

hands typing

Companies that undergo the Risk Screen process may be required to await a pre-certification standard development cycle for the industry they work in. Standard development cycles are scheduled at the sole discretion of B Lab. Given the interest in the B Corp Movement, finite capacity for the creation and implementation of new standards for controversial issues, and in light of the Evolution of our Standards, if a company requires a standard development cycle, their certification journey may go on hold indefinitely.
Development of new standards is important to effectively provide a meaningful certification and balance risks to the B Corp movement. In the case that the company is determined to be eligible for the certification following this review and can meet any additional requirements, the company may be required to include further public disclosures on its B Corp Profile specific to the nature of these issues and how the company has both managed and remediated them.

Need help?

If you work for a larger organisation that is beginning its journey, you may be looking for support in developing a comprehensive plan and timeframe across the whole organisation for securing B Corp certification. Through B Corp Way, you can find consultants to assist you with impact assessment and navigating throughout the journey towards B Corp Certification.

B Corp Way Consultants help during b corp certification
Back to all How to become a B Corp?