Profit v Purpose
Can a purpose driven business be profitable?
Being sustainable is too expensive, what about the bills?
Maybe we should focus on profit then consider our purpose?
These are all common questions. If you are wondering if it is possible to do good and make money, you are in the right place.
B Corps show 20% turnover growth compared to 7% for all UK SMEs
B Lab UK, Take 10 Impact Report
Running a business is hard
There are many things to consider - your team, your premises, unpredictable price hikes, supply chain issues, marketing, growth, etc. etc.
These things will not go away, there will ALWAYS be challenges in your business. It is the nature of the beast, and, if you are anything like me, you thrive on a challenge anyway.
So, what happens when you add purpose into the mix?
Purpose = Profit
There is a growing bank of evidence that purpose driven businesses out perform their counterparts. Just take a look at these stats relating to certified B Corp businesses, they are all from B Lab UK’s Take 10 Impact Report:
£38 billion combined turnover across 120 plus industries
14% employee-owned compared to less than 1% of the UK business population
54% led by gender balanced teams compared to 25% of SMEs
11% employee headcount growth compared to 2% for all UK SMEs
20% turnover growth, almost 7 times higher than all UK SMEs (3%)
FEBE 100 was FULL of B Corps
Consider the fact that in the UK approximately 0.03% of businesses are B Corp certified, then that around 15% of the FEBE 100 for 2026 are B Corp certified. I know for a fact that there are still more on that list working on or seriously interested in B Corp.
These are rapidly growing, hugely successful businesses. And they have purpose at their core. Their founders are hungry for meaning. Yes, they need financial stability and success, but they are proof that a business can be successful financially and it can treat it’s people and the planet well.
Where to start
The best place to being is with defining purpose. Working this out is not always easy, so take some time over it. Think deeply about WHY your business exists beyond profit. Think about social and environmental aspects, and ask these questions:
What real world problem am I trying to solve? For example: microplastics, childhood hunger, low employment, no access to clean water. This is not an exhaustive list, think about your business, what matters in your sector and what you can influence.
How can we solve this problem? Go wild, have a big scary goal, one you do not know how you will achieve.
What one step can we make today to shift the needle? This can be asked every single day. When you define your purpose and it becomes embedded in your business, it will occur naturally but be deliberate and conscious in your decision making.
Who do I need to bring on board? This may be an internal team, an external communications expert and so on. Do not try to work in a silo! Get to local B Corp events if you can, you will meet amazing people who will be willing to share their knowledge and ideas.
Never, ever, underestimate the ripples of positive change.
I believe that together we can create a legacy to be proud of - contributing to a world where businesses thrive in harmony with nature, ensuring a prosperous and vibrant planet for generations to come.
If you would like to discuss how Planet & Purpose can guide you on your B Corp or Impact journey please contact me.
Laura
p.s. All images are from Unsplash. What an absolutely beautiful, strange world we live in. Let's keep it that way.
