“The difference between rich and poor is not wealth but opportunity. The poor are the world’s greatest entrepreneurs. Each day they must innovate in order to survive”
Professor Muhammad Yunus
Social Business
The concept of Social Business
Social business is a business with a social-cause.
The investors are truly committed to the social objective of the business and not driven by personal gains. It is a balance between sustainable finance through which the company covers all costs and makes profits and achieving 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 achivement of social objectives instead of the profit it made. A sustainable and successful social business is able to run by itself and achieve social goals.
The 7 Principles
Prof. Muhammad Yunus defines the concept of Social Business by seven principles:
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
Who is Professor Muhammad Yunus
Prof. 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
- Clear vision and mission statement
- Actionable strategy with measurable goals
- Sustainable business model with well-defined customer segments, distribution channels, revenue streams and value proposition
- Striving for effective and efficient management and operations to achieve managerial and operational excellence
- Typically incorporated as a limited company or another legal form with well-defined ownership rights – pays taxes as a first class citizen in society.
- But remember: Any profit from the company’s activities is to remain in the company and may not be paid out to investors as a dividend.
