Setting up a social enterprise

Social enterprises are businesses that sell goods and services in the open market but invest their profits back into the business, the environment or the local community.

By doing this they seek to tackle social problems, improve communities and give people better chances in life. Examples of social enterprises include Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurants; The Big Issue; and the Co-Op. For more information about what social enterprises do and how they work, visit socialenterprise.org.

Social enterprises should:

• Have a clear aim of benefitting society, the environment, or the community;
• Generate most of their income by selling goods and/or services;
• Reinvest the majority of their profits;
• Have a high level of autonomy, not being controlled by public authorities of private companies;
• Facilitate the participation within the social enterprise of those who benefit from its activities; and
• Be accountable and transparent.

Bevan & Buckland act for many different social enterprises, from incorporated trusts through to charities and registered societies. Our years of experience working with social enterprises means we can ensure your organisation can provide benefit to your community whilst keeping your tax bills low so that more money can be reinvested in your social and/or environmental mission.