Another way to apply is to contact your local BBB office directly. As a small business owner, your dealings will be with your local BBB office anyway. Go to BBB. Then call, email or use the application form on the local chapter website. Along with your application, provide the information requested. The BBB chapter will conduct a public records check and review other sources of information to determine the trustworthiness of your business. The BBB may want to meet with you in person or conduct a telephone interview.
Your application has to be reviewed by the local BBB board of directors and that could take several weeks. Board members are people from the business community who only meet periodically. Count on the process taking at least 3 weeks. You must pay the fee also called Accreditation Dues. Remember, when you pay the fee you are not paying for a rating. As an entrepreneur, you know that nothing operates for free.
Once your application is approved, you will receive a thick welcome packet in the mail. The packet includes a Membership Certificate, marketing materials and other information. You also receive an email with login details for your online profile.
For most small businesses, the accreditation fee will be in the hundreds of dollars. A few local chapters put their fees online. For instance, the St. Louis office publishes the following fees:. Check with your local chapter for the actual fees you would be charged. Payment plans are available to let you spread out the cost monthly or quarterly. The same fee is charged annually for renewal.
BBB fees are a business expense that qualifies as a small business tax deduction. Little known fact: some local business bureaus occasionally offer discounts. For example, at the time of this writing, the South East Florida BBB is offering a limited-time discount along with 90 days of free online advertising.
Organizations of any size are eligible. Small businesses tend to predominate. However, you also see local branches of large companies, such as bank branches. Businesses can be in any industry. The only limitations are industries that 1 are illegal such as online casinos, or 2 the BBB specifically has designated as inherently problematic, such as payday lenders. This list will vary regionally, but it gives an idea of the types of businesses where BBB accreditation matters to consumers.
Such businesses may especially benefit from accreditation. Co-authored by Michael R. Lewis Last Updated: May 25, Part 1. Follow governmental and BBB laws and codes regulating advertising. Some business owners may not be aware that some advertising statements or practices are considered unethical. The BBB requires that businesses seeking accreditation do the following: Represent products or services honestly.
Remember that some misrepresentations are made by the omission of facts as well as by making false or misleading statements. Be open and honest with customers about the nature of your business, where you conduct business and who the owners are. Disclose information about guarantees and other matters that may influence a customer.
Fulfill contracts and promises made in the course of business. BBB accredited business have a record of keeping up their end of the deal in all business interactions with other businesses and customers. Make a point of paying your bills to suppliers on time and in full and always provide services or products as originally agreed with customers. Avoid using confusing contract language to take advantage of customers.
In addition, make sure any advertised offers are really available to customers. Any misrepresented or misunderstood contract terms should be corrected quickly. Represent your offerings fairly. Be absolutely honest in representing any products or services offered by your business.
Avoid misleading customers through the unscrupulous use of testimonials, endorsements, sponsorship, logos or pictures or giving false representations of trustworthiness, popularity, product quality, or business size. Make sure that all written and verbal descriptions of your products or services are clear and do not omit any key facts.
Demonstrate responsiveness to customers. Respond quickly professionally to any complaints against the business, either through the BBB or otherwise. Try to either resolve these disputes or prove the base as being the lesser of the dispute by providing information to support your side of the argument. If the complaint results in a judgment against your business, follow through with any settlement arrived at through the BBB dispute resolution process.
If complaints turn into a pattern, work to correct these problems. Show that you carry out secure financial transactions.
Have in place standards that assure customers of their privacy and protect against mishandling of customers' personal information. Accredited BBB businesses must disclose on their websites what information the business collects, how the information is secured, who the business will share the information with and how to address customers' concerns if data are mishandled.
Post information on your site that assures customers' transactions are secure. The BBB requires businesses to follow certain Internet commerce guidelines. Part 2. Identify your local BBB chapter. Search online for the nearest BBB chapter in your area. BBB chapters are parts of the overall BBB organization that are run by business leaders in a given area.
You will have to contact this organization to apply for accreditation. Apply for accreditation. You can apply for accreditation to a local BBB chapter after you've been in business for 12 months. Reliability that comes from being accredited by the BBB also includes obtaining a good rating for consumers to see. Check out our excellent reviews on the BBB website! Latest Posts Categories. Previous Post. Next Post.
0コメント