Posts

What is a Social Business or Social Enterprise?

A typical business sells a product or service for the highest marketable price and seeks to maximize profit. Every decision made in a traditional business model is to increase profit therefore employee, social and global impact is not a main factor of consideration. This type of business model is referred to as a PMB (Profit Maximizing Business) according to Professor Mohammed Yunus, a professor at Harvard Business School and published author.

The opposite extreme of a PMB would be a nonprofit organization. A nonprofit has a singular mission to help others, however, it relies on grants, donors and volunteers for the organization to function. Because a nonprofit’s income is often unpredictable, it runs on skeleton budgets and is many times short staffed which causes an inefficiency in operations.

A social business is somewhere in the middle between a PMB and a nonprofit. A social business exists to help others like the non profit, however, it is a true business in that it is entirely self funded and does not rely on grants or donations. A social business can make a positive impact through existing to employ those who live in an area where there isn’t employment opportunities or by providing jobs which pay livable wages in an area where wages are typically miniscule. Other ways of making an impact can be offering a product or service for a price just high enough to cover overhead costs in low income areas. Alternatively, a social business can operate like a typical business except that all profits would go to charity.

Another category of business is a social enterprise. A social enterprise, like a nonprofit and social business, is to make a positive impact in the world. The difference between a social business and a social enterprise is that a social business is entirely in business for the people it helps and therefore in a sense, if not literally, owned by the people. A social enterprise is still controlled by owners seeking some compensation, however, the social or environmental benefit is the primary principle of the company.

If you are reading this article then you are probably seeking ways to help others. The easiest and most immediate way to help is by supporting social businesses and enterprises whenever you are able to. Consider starting a business or side business with
A social or environmental mission. If you are currently working for a company, try to influence your company to integrate social and environmental practices. you can make a difference!

47 thoughts on “What is a Social Business or Social Enterprise?

  1. Hiya, I’m really glad I’ve found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossip and internet stuff and this is really irritating. A good blog with interesting content, this is what I need. Thank you for making this site, and I will be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?

  2. Having read this I thought it was really enlightening.
    I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this short article together.
    I once again find myself personally spending way too much time both reading and commenting.
    But so what, it was still worthwhile!

  3. Hi great website! Does running a blog like this require a large amount of work?
    I’ve absolutely no understanding of programming but I was hoping to start my own blog soon.
    Anyways, if you have any recommendations or techniques for new blog owners please share.
    I understand this is off subject nevertheless I just had to ask.
    Many thanks!

  4. When I originally commented I seem to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and
    now every time a comment is added I recieve four
    emails with the same comment. Is there a means you
    can remove me from that service? Many thanks!

  5. Howdy! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone 3gs!
    Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look
    forward to all your posts! Keep up the fantastic work!

  6. I’m not sure where you are getting your information, but great topic.

    I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more.
    Thanks for magnificent info I was looking for this information for my
    mission.

  7. Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme of this site.

    It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s hard to get that “perfect balance” between superb
    usability and visual appeal. I must say you’ve done a amazing job with this.
    Also, the blog loads super fast for me on Internet explorer.

    Excellent Blog!

  8. Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to
    say that I’ve truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts.
    After all I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again very
    soon!

  9. I was curious if you ever considered changing the layout of your website?
    Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.

    But maybe you could a little more in the way of
    content so people could connect with it better.
    Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or 2 images.
    Maybe you could space it out better?

  10. Hi, I do believe this is an excellent site. I stumbledupon it 😉
    I will return once again since I book marked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich
    and continue to help others.

  11. Superb blog you have here but I was wanting to know if you knew of any community
    forums that cover the same topics discussed in this article?
    I’d really like to be a part of community where I can get suggestions from other knowledgeable people that share
    the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know.
    Thanks a lot!

  12. I don’t even know the way I stopped up right here, but I thought this submit was
    once great. I do not recognise who you might be but certainly you’re going to
    a famous blogger if you happen to aren’t already.
    Cheers!

  13. You made some nice points there. I looked on the internet for the topic and found most guys will go along with with your site. Bobine Alphonso Samal

  14. Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you penning this write-up and also the rest of the website is very good. Lynnelle Wadsworth Kinson

  15. Do you have a spam issue on this blog; I also am a blogger, and I was wanting to know your situation; many of us have created some nice procedures and we are looking to swap solutions with others, be sure to shoot me an e-mail if interested.| Catlee Hoyt Lach

  16. Hi there. I discovered your website by the use of Google even as looking for a comparable matter, your site came up. It seems to be great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then. Ursuline Lloyd Jarita

  17. Cool blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog shine. Please let me know where you got your theme. Thanks Selle Griswold Coney

  18. As I site possessor I believe the content material here is rattling magnificent , appreciate it for your efforts. You should keep it up forever! Best of luck. Griselda Dennie Savage

  19. Thanks , I have recently been searching for information about this
    subject for a long time and yours is the best I have found out till now.
    However, what about the bottom line? Are you sure
    about the supply?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *