We’ve seen the logo and signs on the doors of brick-and-mortar stores and offices and while surfing the web and visiting ecommerce sites. It’s the flaming torch with the three capital letters “BBB”: standing for the Better Business Bureau. But what does the Better Business Bureau do to help consumers as well as support small businesses? How does a business obtain BBB accreditation, and what, if any, are the benefits for small business owners?
What Is the Better Business Bureau (BBB)?
The Better Business Bureau — more commonly referred to simply by its initials “BBB” — is a nonprofit organization that was created to help people find trustworthy and reliable companies to do business with. The BBB was formed in 1912 with a mission to provide consumer protection as well as put a spotlight on businesses that followed unethical practices. It is not a government organization or agency but uses information and the power of that information to create a well-informed consumer.
According to the BBB’S website, its mission is to create an “ethical marketplace where buyers and sellers trust each other.” In order to achieve this, the BBB promotes marketplace trust by initiating the following practices:
- Providing consumer feedback and reports on products and services covering millions of businesses and charities across the country. These reviews can either support small businesses and vouch for their practices, or highlight flaws and problems, in essence raising a red flag.
- Encouraging added visibility, allowing consumers to make informed decisions and choices when buying a product, hiring a business for its services (plumber, electrician, dentist, real estate agent, etc.) or donating to a charity.
- Establishing a system of support driven by consumers. People that had a bad experience with a business can file a complaint on the Better Business Bureau’s website.
- Creating a process for businesses to respond to consumer complaints. Whether it’s a bad experience or to warn about misleading company messaging or scam, complaints logged with the BBB are reviewed, and if approved, go out to the offending business with a request for a response.
- Posting reviews to help warn the public of inaccurate and misleading messaging or potential risks and hazards with products or services. Company research can be achieved by reviewing more than 6.3 business profiles.
- Acknowledging and promoting businesses and charities that follow ethical and trustworthy practices through BBB accreditation.
For over 100 years, the BBB has worked to protect the public from unethical and harmful practices, as well as to promote businesses that meet high ethical standards and follow good business practices.