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Pending B

For start-ups and small companies committed to using business as a force for good.

What is a Pending B Corp? 

The Pending B Corp status was designed for early-stage companies who are not yet eligible for certification, as a way to signal to stakeholders their commitment to become a certified B Corp. The B Corp Certification is based on the verified practices and policies of a company over the 12 months, and as early-stage companies do not have such operational data, they are not yet eligible for the B Corporation Certification. 

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Although early-stage companies do not need to become Pending B Corps to pursue the B Corp Certification later on, it provides a valuable framework to identify areas for development before transitioning to a full-fledge B Corp after 12 months. 

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[Update 20 Nov 2025] With B Lab's transition to the new standards, the Pending B programme will phased-out. Please read the FAQ on this important update to the Pending B Corp programme. 

To become a Pending B Corp, companies were required to:

  1. Meet the B Corp legal requirement: amend their company Constitution to legally commit to considering their impact on their company’s key stakeholders.

  2. Complete and submit a prospective B Impact Assessment: this ensured that the company understand the requirements of the B Corp Certification and identify the right policies and practices to put in place as it grows. The prospective B Impact Assessment is not verified by B Lab. 

  3. Sign the Pending B Corp Agreement and pay a one-time fee of US$1000: this allowed a company to use the Pending B status for 12 months, before they are eligible to apply for B Corp certification. 

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