BBB accreditation is a voluntary, paid program with eight published standards and a B rating minimum. BBB says it is separate from the rating, and that dues do not buy a grade or remove a complaint. Fees depend on business size and are set by your local BBB.
BBB states that accreditation is voluntary and separate from the rating. The rating is based on complaint history and interactions with customers, not on whether a business pays dues. To qualify, BBB publishes these requirements: at least a B rating at all company-owned locations and headquarters, at least six months actively selling, an accreditation fee, and ongoing compliance with eight standards for trust.
| Question | What BBB publishes |
|---|---|
| Is it required | No, it is voluntary |
| Does it change the grade | No, dues do not buy a rating |
| Does it remove a complaint | No |
| Who decides | Your local BBB, which may add local requirements |
| What does it cost | Depends on factors including business size. Confirm with your local BBB |
Fee amounts are set locally. Third-party blogs quote about $400 to $1,500 a year, but those are third-party estimates, so confirm with your local BBB.
Fix the rating first, since a B is the minimum, then ask whether your buyers look for the seal. Our neutral framework walks through it in is BBB accreditation worth it. If you are looking at a business that is not accredited, read what not accredited means.
You do not have to be accredited to have a strong BBB profile, and being accredited does not protect you from a low one. Reputation Resolutions, our parent company, is BBB Accredited with an A+ rating, and we still tell owners that accreditation is a business decision, not a rating fix.
Accreditation is easiest to judge when you separate three questions. Do you qualify, meaning a B or better, six months of active selling and a fee you can afford? Do your buyers look for the seal? And would the same money do more elsewhere, such as in a stronger complaint response process? Answer those honestly and the choice is usually clear. Our guides take each question in turn, and none of them is written to sell you membership.
Is BBB accreditation worth it? A neutral framework covering what you get, what you do not, the B rating minimum, fees by business size and a decision table.
Read →What does not BBB accredited mean? It is not a bad sign on its own. Learn how accreditation differs from a rating, what NR means, and how to judge a business.
Read →No. BBB states that accreditation is voluntary and separate from the rating.
At least a B at all company-owned locations and headquarters, plus at least six months actively selling and ongoing compliance.
No. BBB states that accreditation dues do not buy a rating and do not remove a complaint.
The fee depends on factors including business size and is set by your local BBB. Third-party estimates run roughly $400 to $1,500 a year, so confirm with your local BBB.
Build trust, advertise honestly, tell the truth, be transparent, honor promises, be responsive, safeguard privacy and embody integrity.
Your local BBB. Local BBBs are independently incorporated and may add local requirements.
A BBB rating specialist reviews your profile against every rating element the BBB publishes, then calls you with what is costing you points and the order to fix it in.
Prefer to talk now? 855-239-5322
A BBB rating specialist will review your profile and call you. If a complaint response deadline is close, call now:
Call 855-239-5322