The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1912 with the mission to advance trust in the marketplace by promoting honest and ethical business practices. It operates as a network of 92 independently incorporated local bureaus across the United States and Canada, coordinated under the International Association of Better Business Bureaus (IABBB)
. The BBB provides several key services:
- It maintains a publicly searchable business directory with profiles, customer reviews, complaint histories, and BBB ratings for millions of businesses
- It offers a rating system from A+ to F that assesses a business’s trustworthiness and how well it resolves customer complaints
- It facilitates dispute resolution between consumers and businesses to help resolve complaints
- It evaluates charities for transparency and accountability
- It issues scam alerts and offers guidance on ethical business practices
Businesses can become BBB accredited by adhering to the BBB’s Code of Business Practices, operating transparently, and paying membership dues. Accredited businesses earn the right to display the BBB Seal, which signals a commitment to ethical standards and customer service
. While the BBB is not a government agency and does not regulate or enforce laws, it serves as a trusted resource for consumers to make informed decisions and for businesses to demonstrate reliability. However, some critics question its neutrality since it is funded largely by dues from accredited businesses
. In summary, the Better Business Bureau is a longstanding nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering trust between consumers and businesses through ratings, dispute resolution, and ethical standards promotion
