B Corp Certification is based on the verified practices and policies of a company over the past year—rather than what it aspires to do in the future.
That means that only companies that have been in operation for at least twelve months are eligible for B Corporation Certification.
The Pending B Corp status is designed to give start-ups and smaller companies time to prepare for the rigorous process of full B Corp Certification.
Becoming a Pending B Corp is not the same as becoming a Certified B Corp. Pending B Corp status is finite. After being in operations for at least twelve months, a company must go through the full verification process with B Lab. However, the Pending B Corp status can give companies a head start by taking these initial steps:
Incorporate stakeholder governance into the legal structure of your startup by amending your legal articles. Note: Companies in regions without a legal framework are not eligible for Pending B Corp status.
By completing the B Impact Assessment, you’ll learn about B Corp standards and identify the right policies and practices to put in place as your company grows. Your prospective B Impact Assessment will not be verified by B Lab and you will not receive a verified score while you are a Pending B Corp.
B Lab will provide you with a contractual agreement that outlines more details about Pending B Corp status, including brand guidelines for usage for one year.
Pending B Corps in mature markets* are required to pay a one time fee of €1000. Companies pursuing Pending B Corp status do not have to pay a submission fee. The submission fee will be due if the company submits for full B Corp after getting the status for a year.
*Mature markets include: France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland and Sweden. Companies certifying in other countries where the B Corp Movement is still in early stages will pay a one-time fee of €500.
Becoming a Pending B Corp allows companies to:
