Here's the low-down on what you need to become BBB Accredited
Are you a business owner?
So, you own a business. You’ve juggled finances, carved out your corner of the market, found customers, and lived to tell the tale. From everyone here at BBB®, congratulations!
As a small business owner, you now have a unique opportunity to set a course for success by becoming BBB Accredited. After all, you’ve poured your heart into your dream. Your products have been released into the wild, and your community is richer for it. And, assuming your priority is to be the best at what you do for your customers and your community, the time is ripe to start thinking about BBB Accreditation.
What is BBB Accreditation?
The quick definition: BBB Accreditation is a process of reviewing how a business operates ethically, and with integrity. When a business applies for Accreditation, they are vetted to see how well they meet BBB’s Accreditation Standards. If you’re running a business and can answer the following questions with a resounding “yes!” – you’d make a great candidate for Accreditation:
Does the business operate ethically?
Does it conduct business with integrity?
Does the business advertise honestly?
Is this a business consumers can trust?
There are, of course, other qualifying factors, but these questions represent the core values of BBB’s mission and vision. When an application is approved, a business is deemed “BBB Accredited” and invited to display the BBB AB Seal on its website, in its store, and in its advertising. Additionally, these businesses are listed as “Accredited” on the BBB Directory and granted access to BBB’s exclusive business tools and resources for as long as they maintain their Accreditation.
Okay, so how should I prepare for the application process?
The first qualifying factor is that a company needs to have been in business for at least six months to apply for BBB Accreditation.
This requirement is in place primarily so that a business can establish a track record, or to put it another way: gain its sea legs. When a new brand has reached the six-month mark, it’s had a chance to see its business plan in action, manage customer experiences, and generally rise to the challenge of staying open. These measurables are all considered in the verification process after applying.
If you’re a new business owner approaching or already past the six-month mark, you can further prepare by checking how you stack up against the BBB Accreditation Standards and eligibility requirements and gathering the following documentation before applying:
Additionally, you’ll want to ensure your business is registered and listed on BBB’s website. To be approved for Accreditation, businesses must maintain a B rating or better. Read more about BBB’s rating system.
Be assured that privacy is a top priority for BBB. Any business information provided to BBB is safeguarded and protected.
What do I need to do to keep my BBB Accreditation?
If approved for Accreditation, that means you’re already knocking it out of the park when it comes to running a business – keep it up! Your accreditation status will remain active as long as you’re staying current with your dues and upholding the BBB Standards for Trust.
Here are some examples of upholding the standards:
Advertise honestly. Be sure to be honest and follow BBB’s Code of Advertising. If you’re running an ad, are you overpromising on your product? Does your price match the market? Can you back up the marketing language you’re using? These little things are highly impactful to consumers and should be issued with the appropriate care and consideration.
Be responsive to customers. When customers have a question, request, or even a complaint, don’t put it off. Respond quickly and treat it as an opportunity to connect – not only with this one customer, but to any future customers. For example, if you receive a complaint, see if there is a way to resolve the issue. Your actions speak volumes to your community.
Address customer complaints. Along the same lines as your general responsiveness, monitor your reviews and respond to them all – positive and negative. Your ability to connect and respond to customers’ needs, concerns and accolades is a chance to build your reputation and improve your brand.
Honor your promises. If you’re putting a contract together, make sure you can hold up your end. This is what honest business is all about, and when someone buys from you, they’re placing their trust in you – that’s what relationships are built upon.
Get ready to be BBB Accredited
Let’s talk sports to close things out. Say you’re passionate about a particular sport. It could be basketball, baseball, curling, take your pick. Now, let’s say you’ve been drafted to play in the big leagues for that sport. Well, to make the team, your mechanics need to be on point; your fundamentals need to be locked in.
Now, take that frame of mind and flip it over to the business world. In this case, your fundamentals are to be running a business that’s honest, ethical and trustworthy. If you’re doing that, you’re in good company among BBB’s community of Accredited Businesses (and we want you on Team BBB!).
In other words, if your business is dedicated to giving a hall-of-fame performance, we want you by our side as we continue our mission of advancing marketplace Trust.
Are you ready? Get Accredited.