About the Torch Awards
The Annual Chicago Better Business Bureau Torch Awards celebration acknowledges local organizations that embody the ethical business practices and tenets of trust.
Our Torch Award recipients are recognized for the effort and importance they place on conducting business with honesty and integrity. The four key criteria that entries will be judged on are: character, culture, customers, and community. Earning these prestigious awards demonstrates that a business embraces the high standards promoted by the BBB and consistently embodies those standards in its daily operations.
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible for the Torch Awards competition, a business must be in operation for at least three years as of November 16, 2023. Three years of continuous operation is required for a business to be eligible for a Torch Award in order to have a sufficient record of business performance for this award.
To be eligible for a Firestarter Award, businesses must be in operation for one to just under three years as of November 16, 2023. At least one year of experience is required to show the business has the capability of effectively serving a customer/client base.
Must have at least an “A-” rating in the BBB database, unless your organization is a business association. The BBB reviews both accredited and non-accredited businesses. BBB ratings range from A+ to F. No less than an “A-” rating is required for acceptance into the Torch Awards and Firestarter Awards.
**BBB Accreditation is not required to receive a Torch or Firestarter Award. However, entrants must have a BBB profile in our database to qualify. If your business does not have a BBB profile, please fill out this form.
**Please view the application for more eligibility requirements.
Categories
The Torch Awards are given in six available categories, based upon the number of employees/company size:
You must first have a BBB profile in our database to qualify. If your business does not have a BBB profile, please fill out this form.
- 1 - 9 employees
- 10 - 49 employees
- 50 - 99 employees
- 100 - 499 employees
- 500 - 1,499 employees
- 1,500+ employees
Two additional categories include:
- Minority-Owned and Operated (ownership must be at least 51%)
- Women-Owned and Operated (ownership must be at least 51%)