Social Business
The Concept of Social Business
Social business is a business with a social-cause.
In a social business, the investors are truly committed to the social objective of the business and not driven by personal gains. It is a balance between sustainable financing through which the company covers all costs and makes profits and achieving a multitude of social causes such as basic service provision for the poor, introducing renewable energy and providing safe drinking water.
The success of a social business is measured by its impact and achievement of social objectives instead of the profit it makes. A sustainable and successful social business is able to run by itself and achieve social goals.
The 7 Principles
Professor Muhammad Yunus further defines the concept of social business by outlining 7 main principles:
1. Business objective will be to overcome poverty, or one or more social
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 is to be reinvested for expansion and improvement
5. Gender-sensitive and environmentally conscious
6. Workforce gets market wage with better working conditions
7. …do it with joy
The 7 Principles
Professor Muhammad Yunus further defines the concept of social business by outlining 7 main principles:
1. Business objective will be to overcome poverty, or one or more social
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 is to be reinvested for expansion and improvement
5. Gender-sensitive and environmentally conscious
6. Workforce gets market wage with better working conditions
7. …do it with joy
Who is Professor Muhammad Yunus
Professor Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank jointly received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, making him the first and only Bangladeshi to receive a Nobel Prize. He has been awarded countless global recognitions such as: The US Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009), the US Congressional Gold Medal (2013). In 2021, he was awarded the Olympic
Laurel for his contribution to sports for development becoming the second person in history to receive the award.
A Social Business has a social goal at its heart but works as a traditional business
well-defined ownership rights – pays taxes as a first class citizen in
society.
the company and may not be paid out to investors as a dividend.