Why Charge a Submission Fee?
We currently face growing global interest in the B Corp movement and record submissions for B Corp Certification. Many companies submit without fully appreciating the rigor of the B Impact Assessment, the commitment necessary for the Review Process and/or the basic Certification requirements. This increased volume results in a significant backlog that companies have been experiencing for some time. In addition about 1 in 3 companies who submit will actually go on to achieve B Corp Certification.
We are implementing this fee to ensure companies are committed and prepared to go through the Review Process . We can’t wait for you to join the B Corp community when you’re ready - this journey takes effort and time and we truly believe it is well worth it!
If you plan to apply for an equity discount and this fee creates a significant barrier, please email Certify@bcorporation.net.
Does the submission fee apply to re-certifying B corps?
The submission fee does not apply to re-certification of existing B Corps.
What happens once the submission fee is paid?
Once the fee is paid you will proceed to the Evaluation Queue, which is the stage before Evaluation. In 2020, B Lab experienced a record increase in submissions for Certification globally, where demand for Certification is exceeding the capacity of our global assessment team to review companies. As a result, it can take up to 8 months to move through Evaluation.
How does a company pay the submission fee?
A company pays the submission fee directly via the B Impact Assessment using a credit card or PayPal. (Log in to the BIA, click Review on the left menu and navigate to the Submission Fee task).
What about Canadian Companies?
While annual Certification fees for Canadian companies are charged in Canadian dollars (1:1 conversion), the submission fee is charged in USD only. Canadian companies can pay the converted amount (fx rate calculated at the time of payment) in Canadian dollars.