Benefit Corporations for Good

What Benefit Corporations for Good does

Benefit Corporations for Good (BCFG) is an Oregon-based, privately-held LLC founded April 1, 2018 by Tom Hering and Mary Anne Harmer. The company provides third-party certification for small, purpose-driven businesses seeking to formalize their commitment to the Triple Bottom Line (People, Planet, Profit) as an accessible alternative to B Corp certification. Its core product is a proprietary 60-question assessment tool structured around 8 standards (Conscientious Leadership, DEI, Green/Environmental Practices, Values of Benefit Corporations, Strategic Business Practices, Community Engagement, Customer-Driven, and Life Balance & Sustainability), scored by a Board of Advisors on a 5-point scale with a minimum 70% threshold required for certification. Successful applicants also complete a follow-up interview and receive a digital badge and hard copy certificate.

BCFG is one of only four third-party standards recognized by the Oregon Secretary of State for Oregon Benefit Companies, and the only one based in Oregon, providing a regulatory anchor for compliance-driven demand. Revenue is generated primarily through tiered certification fees ($299–$2,999 for new certification) and annual recertification fees ($199–$1,500), structured by employee count, supplemented by consulting, training, and marketing services. The business is sole-owned by Tom Hering (Co-Founder & Managing Partner; Mary Anne Harmer serves as Co-Founder Emeritus), self-funded with no institutional investment, and relies on a community-led go-to-market motion combining content marketing, referral networks, quarterly 'Happy Hour for Good' events, and a Marketing Advisory Council. As of December 2023, BCFG had certified 85+ businesses across 13 U.S. states and one Canadian province.

The company's distribution combines self-serve website purchase with consultative sales through free 15-minute discovery calls and group webinars. Customer logos span solar energy, video production, architecture, legal services, healthcare, food/beverage, marketing, and consulting — predominantly SMBs with under 100 employees. BCFG co-founder Tom Hering led advocacy for Oregon HB 3572 (signed July 31, 2023), which grants benefit companies a preferential advantage in state procurement, creating potential regulatory tailwind for certification demand.

Name

Benefit Corporations for Good

Legal name

Benefit Corporations for Good

Website

https://benefitcorporationsforgood.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Benefit Corporations for Good is an Oregon-based certification body that certifies small purpose-driven businesses against eight Triple Bottom Line standards as an affordable alternative to B Corp, with tiered pricing starting at $299.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Sustainability Certification

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Assessment, Certification & Qualifications Frameworks (BPADAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation (BPADANAD), Psychometric Standards, Test Development & Validation Authorities (EDADAFAG)

Keywords

• Benefit corporation certification
• Triple bottom line assessment
• Sustainability certification services
• Corporate social responsibility
• Small business certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Recertification Fees: Annual recertification fees from certified businesses. Recertification prices range from $199 (0-5 employees) to $1,500 (301+ employees). Businesses must submit annual benefit reports and undergo yearly reviews to maintain certification.
2. New Certification Fees:
3. Consulting and Training Services: Consulting, training, education workshops, and marketing services provided to businesses seeking to improve their benefit corporation practices and social/environmental impact.
4. Self-funding: Self-funding and certification fees constitute sources of financial support for the company.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Benefit Corporations for Good certifies small purpose-driven businesses as Benefit Corporations through a 60-question assessment built on 8 standards aligned with the Triple Bottom Line (People, Planet, Profit). Certified businesses must achieve a minimum 70% score on the 5-point scale assessment, complete a follow-up interview, and submit annual benefit reports for recertification. The service includes a digital badge, hard copy certificate, and access to a community of 85+ certified businesses across 13 U.S. states and one Canadian province.

Product overview

Benefit Corporations for Good (BCFG) offers a certification platform with a tiered assessment and certification product designed specifically for small, purpose-driven businesses. The core offering includes the 60-Question Assessment Questionnaire based on 8 standards (Conscientious Leadership, DEI, Green/Environmental Practices, Values of Benefit Corporations, Strategic Business Practices, Community Engagement, Customer-Driven, and Life Balance & Sustainability), supplemented by Annual Benefit Report requirements for ongoing compliance. Certified businesses receive a Digital Badge and Hard Copy Certificate, and gain access to ongoing Community Forums, Quarterly Happy Hour for Good events, and Educational resources. The company also provides a free Values Alignment Quiz as a lead-generation tool. Pricing is structured by employee count (from $299 for 0-5 employee businesses to $2,999 for 301+ employees) with lower recertification fees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Benefit Corporation Certification Third-party certification service for small businesses (typically under 100 employees) seeking to demonstrate commitment to the Triple Bottom Line (People, Planet, Profit). The process includes a 60-question assessment across 8 standards, a follow-up interview with BCFG principals, and awards a digital badge and hard copy certificate. Pricing is tiered by employee count from $299 (0-5 employees) to $2,999 (301+ employees).
• Annual Recertification Services Annual recurring service for certified businesses to maintain Benefit Corporation certification, including reminders, mandatory benefit report submission, and one-on-one reviews with BCFG principals to assess progress and provide recommendations. Recertification fees range from $199 (0-5 employees) to $1,500 (301+ employees).
• Consulting, Training, and Workshops Professional consulting, training, education workshops, and marketing services provided to businesses seeking to improve their benefit corporation practices and social/environmental impact. Includes no-cost workshops for groups of 3 or more businesses, educational forums, and trainings for certified members.

Quantifiable outcome

• BCFG certification provides a credible alternative to B Corp at a fraction of the cost, starting at $299 vs $2,000+ annual fees for B Lab certification.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oregon Secretary of State - Small Business OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCFG developed its certification questionnaire in conjunction with the Oregon Secretary of State's Small Business Office. BCFG is one of only four third-party standards for Oregon Benefit Companies officially listed on the SOS website. This partnership established BCFG as a recognized certifier for businesses required to use third-party standards for annual benefit reports under Oregon benefit company law.
• Allen Hall PR (University of Oregon)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAllen Hall PR team at the University of Oregon has worked with BCFG for 4+ years providing PR strategy and social media support. This partnership helps BCFG reach more purpose-driven businesses through earned media and social media amplification.
• Solve (Oregon environmental organization)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCFG partners with Solve for quarterly community clean-up events. These 'Clean-Up for Good' events allow BCFG members to volunteer together and demonstrate their commitment to environmental impact beyond their own businesses.
• BCFG Marketing Advisory CouncilcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Marketing Advisory Council is composed of 5 BCFG certified business owners who are also respected leaders in digital marketing: Kim Allchurch Flick (Mighty Measure), Erik Croswell (Bridge City Media), Michelle Lagos (Get Lagos Now), Norm Rice and Jean-Yves Verdu (Chocolat-e). They provide strategic guidance on marketing BCFG to reach more purpose-driven businesses.
• BCFG Advisory CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory council provides BCFG with new insights, guidance and support. Members include Kasia Bilhartz (Larkspur Portland), Trever Cartwright (Coraggio Group), Michael Jonas (Narwhal Law & Business Strategy), and Cinthia Manuel (Autentica Consulting). These advisors are respected leaders who help BCFG grow and carry out its mission.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SCS Global Services: SCS Global Services is a long-established, broad-based third-party certification body operating across sustainability, food, agriculture, and many other verticals. It represents the scaled, multi-vertical certification authority archetype that BCFG could evolve toward if it expands beyond benefit corporations.
• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas is a global leader in testing, inspection, and certification (TIC), serving multiple industries and geographies. While operating at vastly larger scale and breadth than BCFG, it is conceptually adjacent as a conformity assessment and certification services provider.
• Fair Trade USA: Fair Trade USA is a well-established third-party certification body operating across multiple product categories and supply chains. While focused on product-level certification rather than whole-business certification, it represents a similar 'values-based certification authority' category with broader scale and recognition than BCFG.
• Green Seal: Green Seal is a long-established nonprofit certification body for environmental performance, primarily of products and services. It operates at much greater scale and brand recognition than BCFG and represents the type of incumbent certification authority BCFG could grow into, albeit in a different domain.

Others

• Global Reporting Initiative (GRI): GRI is the most widely used sustainability reporting standards body, providing frameworks rather than certifications. It is thematically adjacent to BCFG — both help businesses demonstrate values-aligned performance — and represents a complementary rather than competitive ecosystem participant.

Direct peers

• 1% for the Planet: 1% for the Planet certifies businesses that commit at least 1% of sales to environmental causes, providing a brand and network around member businesses. The model — values-based business certification with a recognizable badge and community — closely parallels BCFG's approach.
• Green America: Green America runs a Green America Approved business certification for mission-driven companies, with a focus on small and sustainable businesses. It overlaps directly with BCFG's target segment (small purpose-driven SMBs) and the broader certification business model.
• Just Capital: Just Capital ranks America's most just companies on stakeholder performance (workers, customers, community, environment, shareholders) and offers related certification tools. It overlaps with BCFG's mission of evaluating businesses on stakeholder/values criteria using structured assessments.
• B Lab (B Corp Certification): B Lab operates the B Corp certification, the dominant global certification for businesses meeting social and environmental performance standards. B Corp is BCFG's primary direct competitor — BCFG explicitly positions itself as a faster, more affordable alternative to B Lab, with multiple customer testimonials citing cost as the reason for switching.
• Climate Neutral Certified: Climate Neutral Certified provides a third-party certification for companies measuring, reducing, and offsetting their carbon emissions. Like BCFG, it is a values-based third-party certification targeting SMBs and brands seeking credible sustainability credentials.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/bencorpsforgood
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/benefit-corporations-for-good

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Benefit Corporations for Good