Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau (BBB), which was established in 1912, is a private, nonprofit organisation whose self-described mission is to concentrate on advancing marketplace trust. The BBB is comprised of 106 independently incorporated local BBB organisations in the United States and Canada, which are coordinated under the International Association of Better Business Bureaus (IABBB) in Arlington, Virginia.

The Better Business Bureau is completely independent of any and all governmental organisations. Businesses who are members of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and abide by its guidelines do so as a kind of self-regulation within their sector. The Better Business Bureau has a policy that states it will not advocate or endorse any particular company, product, or service in order to prevent the appearance of prejudice.

The Better Business Bureau has a letter-grade scale that ranges from A+ to F. When a business receives a high grade from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), it indicates that the BBB has a high level of trust that the company operates in good faith and will address any complaints from customers that are lodged with the BBB. However, the methodology underlying the ranking system is not open to the public. When issuing a rating, BBB staff members consider how a company conducts its operations.

According to the Better Business Bureau, as of July 2020, almost 400,000 local companies in North America have been certified. Businesses who pass the Better Business Bureau's (BBB) accreditation process are encouraged to become "accredited businesses" by the organisation, which requires them to pay an annual fee and affirm that they will abide by the BBB's Code of Business Practices. In exchange, the Better Business Bureau grants certified companies who are in good standing permission to use its trademarked emblem in their marketing materials.