Doing Business for Good: Why We’re Getting Certified (and Why You Might Want To, Too)

At WorkLife, we’ve always believed that business can be a force for good,

that workspaces and the people within them can strengthen communities, build connections, and contribute to something bigger than profit. Over the past couple of years, we’ve taken steps to make that commitment official by applying for B Corp and Social Traders certification, and by becoming a proud member of SECNA – the Social Enterprise Council of NSW and ACT.

It’s been a revealing and sometimes challenging process, but one that’s helped us sharpen our focus on what it really means to do business for good.

Why We Decided to Get Certified

The short answer? Because we already were one.

From day one, WorkLife has been about creating spaces that support people, not just productivity. Our coworking communities bring together remote workers, local businesses, and not for profits in regional towns, helping people find connection, purpose, and a sense of belonging.

When you operate with that kind of mission, it makes sense to align with others who are doing the same. Certifications like B Corp and Social Traders are about proving that your intentions are built into your structure, your decisions, and your impact.

We wanted to hold ourselves to that standard and to join the growing movement of businesses that are redefining success.

What Each Certification Means

B Corp

B Corp certification is the gold standard for measuring a business’s social and environmental impact. It looks at how you operate: your governance, supply chain, employee wellbeing, community contribution, and environmental footprint.

The assessment is rigorous, and that’s the point. To qualify, you need to prove that your values are embedded into your operations… not just stuck on the wall in the staff room. It asks tough questions, demands documentation, and often reveals where your good intentions could use a little more structure.

What makes B Corp particularly inspiring is that it’s part of a global movement. As B Corp describes it, these businesses are “leading a global movement for an inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy.” By joining that community, we’re aligning ourselves with organisations around the world that are actively building a fairer, more sustainable future through the way they do business every day.

Social Traders

Social Traders certification is specific to Australia and formally recognises a business as a social enterprise. To qualify, you need to demonstrate that your purpose is clearly stated in your constitution and that more than half of your profits are directed toward achieving that social or community mission.

Throughout the assessment process we were required to produce a lot of evidence to state our case, topping it off with revisiting our constitution to add a clause that explicitly commits WorkLife to “doing business for good.” It was a simple but powerful change, it locks our values into the DNA of our company and ensures they’ll stay there, no matter who’s in charge.

SECNA (Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT)

While not a certification, a SECNA membership connects us to a statewide network of social enterprises, advocates, and changemakers. It gives us a seat at the table in conversations about policy, funding, and the future of ethical business.

Through SECNA, we get to share what we’ve learned, learn from others, and collectively raise the profile of social enterprise across Australia.

What the Process Actually Took

We won’t sugar coat it, applying did take a fair bit of time. You’re asked to gather evidence, measure impact, and translate your values into policies and processes. Something we found incredibly clarifying.

Here are some of the practical shifts we made along the way:

• Writing it down: We’d always operated with a sense of purpose, but now that purpose is written into our constitution and policies. 
• Measuring what matters: We started tracking how we support local. How our members contribute to their communities, and what social outcomes come from our spaces. 
• Formalising the informal: Many of our “of course we do that” moments – like shopping local, inclusive hiring or environmentally conscious choices – now have clear policies and documentation behind them. 
• Checking our supply chain: We looked at where our money goes, who we buy from, who we bank with, and how those choices align with our values. 

It’s not about perfection; it’s about progress. A rewritten policy here, a new metric there, all adds up to something that feels both authentic and sustainable.

And while the paperwork can be tedious, it’s also a brilliant exercise in reflection. You start to see your business not just as a vehicle for income, but as a living, breathing part of your community’s wellbeing.

Transparency, Accountability, and Alignment

Certification is both a mirror and a megaphone. It forces you to look inward and see how your business measures up to your values, while also sending a clear signal to the outside world about who you are and what you stand for.

This kind of transparency creates accountability. It keeps you honest, but it also attracts others who care about the same things. When you commit to doing business for good, you naturally start to find yourself surrounded by others who are doing the same.

A Global Community of Good Business

One of the unexpected joys of this process has been realising how big this movement really is. Once you join the community you’re instantly connected to thousands of organisations across the world, that are all doing business for good.

It’s a ready made network of partners, suppliers, and collaborators who share your values. You don’t have to compromise your ethics for convenience, and you spend less time second guessing your choices. Whether you’re looking for a new product supplier, an accountant, or even just inspiration, you’re surrounded by people who see the world the same way you do.

Why It’s Worth It

Certification isn’t just a logo you slap on your website. It’s a compass. It helps you make decisions with clarity and consistency, especially when things get busy or complex.

For our team, it’s brought a sense of pride and purpose. For our partners and members, it’s a signal that we’re serious about our commitments. And for councils and collaborators, it’s a form of accountability – proof that we’re walking our talk.

There are also practical benefits. Social Traders certification opens doors to procurement opportunities with government and corporate buyers who prioritise social enterprises. B Corp connects us to a global community of like minded businesses. SECNA connects us locally, helping amplify our voice within the social enterprise sector.

But perhaps the greatest benefit is that you become part of a community that believes in progress over perfection and in collective impact over competition.

Why Other Businesses Should Consider It

If you’re running a small or regional business and thinking “That sounds nice, but it’s not for me,” we’d say: think again.

You don’t need a big sustainability department or an impact officer to start. You just need intent and the willingness to make small, consistent improvements.

Start by asking:

• What positive impact does my business already create? 
• How can I formalise that in my operations? 
• Could I write it into my constitution or company values? 
• Who can I connect with for support? (Hint: SECNA is a great place to start.) 

The process itself is transformative. It turns vague good intentions into measurable action. It gives you language to talk about impact with confidence. And it reminds you that profit and purpose can absolutely coexist.

The Bottom Line

Becoming certified isn’t about chasing labels. It’s about building better habits, clearer systems, and a stronger connection to why your business exists in the first place.

For us, these certifications are simply the next step in living out what we already believe: that when business and community work together, everyone benefits.

So if you’ve ever thought about formalising your “good business” intentions, consider this your nudge. Start where you are. Make one change. Join a network. Write it down.

Because doing business for good builds the kind of world we all want to work in.