This book recommends seven ways to build a business with a social impact

Building a robust social enterprise from the ground up requires perseverance, adaptability, and a genuine commitment to your mission, and there are different routes to establishing one. Some entrepreneurs already have an idea about what they want to do; others start with a broader, if not always clearly defined, desire to make a difference.

If you do decide to start a purely social impact venture, do note that the principles of starting your own business apply – outlined in this book – because a social impact business needs to be a business. That said, there are some things that those venturing into social enterprises must take note of:

1. Be honest about your social impact objectives. There is a difference between employment and upliftment. Employing vulnerable workers at low wages does not uplift them, so when considering launching a social impact business, design a model that incorporates your mission as holistically as possible. We can take the example of Rangsutra Crafts. Started by Sumita Ghosh, it makes apparel and home furnishings produced by local artisans with a view to creating sustainable livelihoods for them. The organization does not employ these artisans but instead makes them shareholders in return for a small investment. In this way,...

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