SOCIAL BUSINESS

WHAT IS SOCIAL BUSINESS? 

The term Social Business defines a new business model, where the declared and pursued objective is maximising the produced social value, bound by economic self-sufficiency. According to Muhammad Yunus a business with social goals must be lead like an actual company – with products, services, clients, markets, costs and revenues - though the goal of maximising profits must be replaced with obtaining a social advantage.

From a more conceptual point of view, the Social Business is an innovative business model that combines the socio-environmental objectives of the public sector and of service organizations with the efficiency and economic sustainability of a traditional business.

Yunus defines Social Business as "companies that focus on providing a social benefit rather than on maximizing profit for the owners, and that are owned by investors who seek social benefits such as poverty reduction, health care for the poor, social justice, global sustainability, and so on, seeking psychological, emotional, and spiritual satisfaction rather than financial reward”. 

(Yunus, 2007, Creating a World Without Poverty)

7 PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL BUSINESS

  1. Business objective will be to overcome poverty, or one or more problems (such as education, health, technology access, and environment) which threaten people and society; not profit maximization.
  2. Financial and economic sustainability
  3. Investors get back their investment amount only. No dividend is given beyond Investment money.
  4. When investment amount is paid back, company profit stays with the company for expansion and improvement.
  5. Gender-sensitive and environmentally conscious
  6. Workforce gets market wage with better working conditions.
  7. …Do it with joy!