Small Business Certified

Building Stronger Businesses, Employees, Investor and Community Relations

Small Business Certified is a certification, research, marketing, and data analysis company that examines companies' ethical behaviors, their impact on clients and customer relations, and offers practical solutions. Our practical solutions include: reputation building, innovative recruitment of talented candidates, and building investors and community relations. We are dedicated to promoting and recognizing businesses that demonstrate high standards of character and integrity. Our mission is to empower businesses to thrive in today's competitive market by providing them with the tools and resources they need to build trust and credibility. With our certification and ongoing support, we help businesses stand out from the crowd and gain a competitive edge.

With several years of invaluable experience, we deliver actionable insights that drive your business forward. Gain a deeper understanding of your target audience by delving into their preferences, pain points, and desires.

Join us on this journey to create a business community built on trust and ethical practices.

Why Get Certified?

Your clients, customers, investors, and employees expect you to lead on ethical business practices.

Your REPUTATION Matters!

In today’s competitive job market, professionals are not just seeking positions with attractive salaries and benefits; they're prioritizing companies with strong ethical values and sustainable practices. Set your business apart with ethical certification through Small Business Certified. This certification serves as a beacon to job seekers who are looking for employers that align with their values and commitment to ethical operations.

According to a study by LinkedIn, 64% of Millennials will not take a job if they don’t believe in the company’s mission. Organizations with strong ethical practices attract top talent and retain employees longer.

Research from the Harvard Business Review indicates that companies with strong ethical cultures experience higher employee satisfaction and engagement. A study showed that 70% of employees said they would work harder for a company with a good reputation.

Being an ethical company focused on sustainability and community contribution not only signifies responsibility and morality but also translates into tangible business benefits, including enhanced reputation, customer loyalty, reduced costs, and increased profitability. Emphasizing sustainability can create a competitive advantage in the modern market, where consumers and investors increasingly prioritize ethical behavior.

According to a report by the World Economic Forum, companies that prioritize ethical practices and sustainable business models are more resilient against economic downturns. Businesses perceived as ethical are likely to outperform their competitors in the long run.

Ethical companies often engage in community development initiatives. Reporting by Cone Communications found that 63% of Americans want businesses to take a stand on social and political issues they care about.

The 2021 Global Corporate Sustainability Report indicated that 78% of people believe it’s important for companies to be socially responsible, and those that engage in community support often see improved trust and public perception.

Trust is a critical component in the modern market. Customers are more likely to engage with businesses that hold themselves to high ethical standards, as reflected by a reputable certification.

A study by Nielsen found that 66% of global consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable brands. This trend is even stronger among Millennials and Gen Z, with 73% of these consumers willing to spend more on sustainable offerings.

According to a survey by Cone Communications, 87% of consumers will purchase a product because a company advocated for an issue they care about. Additionally, 76% of consumers will refuse to buy from a company if they learn it supports an issue contrary to their beliefs.

A survey by Edelman revealed that 81% of consumers need to trust a brand to buy from them. Ethical companies tend to build stronger trust with their customers, which can lead to increased loyalty and market share.

Many investors are now looking at the ethical profile of businesses before making decisions. Your certification can drive investor confidence by demonstrating your dedication to ethical practices and corporate social responsibility. Improve your chances of landing investments & funding with a Small Business Certified certification (investors are looking for companies that prove to be ethically & socially-conscious).

A report from Morgan Stanley found that 75% of individual investors are interested in sustainable investing. Companies that are recognized for their ethical standards often attract socially responsible investors.

A report by the Ethics & Compliance Initiative highlighted that organizations with strong ethical cultures report 25% fewer instances of misconduct, reducing legal and regulatory risks which can be costly.

A meta-analysis published in "The American Economic Review" suggests that firms with strong ethical practices and corporate social responsibility initiatives tend to have better financial performance, particularly in the long term. Ethical companies often see a positive correlation between CSR practices and stock performance.

Business Character Knowledge

The essential component of business character involves the ability to be honest, sincere, and trustworthy in your dealings with others. More than merely telling the truth or keeping your word, business character refers to the ability to do what you say you are going to do in a timely manner. Business character also requires that you maintain high ethical standards while executing your duties as a leader in your organization, industry, or community.

In order to have a successful business, it’s important to understand your own personal character and how it might affect your business dealings. There are three main traits that define your business character: legitimacy, responsiveness and ethics. Legitimacy refers to the trust of your customers in you; if they don’t believe you are telling them the truth, or if they think that you might be pulling one over on them, then they won’t buy from you or will choose to go somewhere else next time.

Business character must be developed on many levels, but one key to developing your business character is to always follow through with your commitments, whatever they may be. By doing so, you will not only develop the trust of others that you work with, but you’ll also gain respect and the trust of potential future partners or clients who are evaluating whether to work with you. Without these two things - trust and respect - your business may never get off the ground or grow as far as it could.

The development of business character and ethical values within a firm is directly linked to it's continued legitimacy and performance. Good business character is important because it creates an environment where employees feel comfortable taking risks, which in turn boosts productivity. A company with good business ethics also has less employee turnover, which helps keep valuable knowledge and skills within a firm. It's also important to note that different employees have different perceptions of what constitutes good or bad behavior in a company. Where one person may view taking advantage of interns as acceptable, another may not consider such activities to be legal at all. By building up your staff through training programs that develop their understanding of corporate standards, you can create an organizational culture that encourages ethical behavior from its members.

It's important to remember that there are many ways for companies to instill good business practices in their employees, but there are some basic tenets that should always be upheld. For example, any successful business will value honesty and transparency above all else. There are many reasons why these traits are considered so crucial: they encourage people to work together towards common goals; they help build trust between individuals; they allow people to see each other as human beings rather than simply coworkers or bosses; they encourage people to take responsibility for their actions; and finally, honesty allows for open communication between individuals. Transparency on a larger scale serves similar purposes by providing information about how a company operates and how resources are allocated.

Developing a distinct persona for your company will help you differentiate yourself from other competitors. If you have good character as a businessperson, it will be easier for potential customers, employees, and investors to view you as credible and legitimate. Because your reputation will be at risk, it is critical to establish a company that adheres to standard procedures for conducting business. Leadership, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, and integrity are among the most important aspects of a person of good character. Building a successful brand requires active participation not only within your organization but also within your community. When possible, supporting local initiatives can help generate goodwill for your brand and improve the public's perception of your business as a whole (this is one reason why companies choose to engage in corporate social responsibility initiatives).

By having focus groups or conducting surveys, you should make it a point to monitor how the actions of your company are perceived by customers. This will allow you to make any necessary adjustments when they are required. Being open to criticism and feedback, even if they're negative comments, shows that you have strong ethics. You should respond quickly to customer complaints and resolve issues professionally. Asking for honest opinions about your products or services is another way to show good business character. You might learn something valuable about what people like or dislike about your company's offerings.

A company’s business character is often defined as its reputation, its leadership, and whether it consistently delivers on what it promises. Business character has three primary characteristics: legitimacy, responsiveness, and ethics. A legitimate business is one that delivers its goods or services to customers effectively and reliably; a responsive business takes care of customer complaints promptly and thoroughly; an ethical business follows applicable laws and regulations to prevent unethical practices. In short: A company’s business character is how that company conducts itself with respect to competitors, customers, partners and investors alike. A strong reputation for ethics will not only earn your trust but also give you credibility among potential clients. Now that you know what business character means, you can develop it in your own organization.

The first step toward building your business’ character is to figure out where it currently stands. The second step is determining what kind of reputation you want—and then getting there by being honest, open and proactive about meeting needs, solving problems and addressing concerns. Developing your company’s character will take time, energy and commitment—but it's worth it if you want to stand out from competitors and win over new customers. When done well, building your business' character helps build a better future for both you and those who work with you every day.

As a business person, you’re bound to encounter challenges along your path to success. These issues may cause internal and external conflict as you try to reconcile your professional responsibilities with personal beliefs. In order to create a successful business character, it is crucial that you act in accordance with what you know is right and not allow outside influences or peer pressure compromise your integrity. A business character based on ethics and values will help lead your business to success. Your core values should be able to keep your character true regardless of how others may respond, keeping them on track towards their end goal.

Your clients, customers, investors, and employees expect you to lead on ethical business practices.

Your REPUTATION Matters!​​

Your REPUTATION Matters!