Who Owns the Better Business Bureau? BBB Structure, Ownership & CEO (2026)

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is one of North America’s most recognizable consumer trust organisations — providing business accreditation, customer complaint resolution, and business ratings since 1912. Despite its quasi-official sounding name, the BBB is a private non-profit organisation, not a government body. Understanding “who owns” the BBB requires understanding its federated structure.

Who Owns the Better Business Bureau?

The BBB has no single owner. It operates as a federated system of independently incorporated non-profit organisations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The national umbrella body — BBB National Programs (formerly the Council of Better Business Bureaus / CBBB) — sets standards, manages national programs, and provides oversight. Each local BBB (e.g., BBB of Central Ohio, BBB of Greater Houston) is an independent 501(c)(6) non-profit governed by its own board of directors. Businesses that seek BBB Accreditation pay fees, which fund local operations. No corporation, government agency, or individual “owns” the BBB.

BBB Rating System: How It Works

The BBB assigns letter grades (A+ to F) to businesses based on factors including complaint history, time in business, transparent business practices, and failure to honour mediated commitments. BBB Accreditation is separate from the rating — accredited businesses pay a fee and agree to uphold BBB standards, but a business can have an A+ rating without being accredited. This distinction is often misunderstood by consumers. The BBB has faced criticism for alleged pay-to-play dynamics in its accreditation model, though it maintains that accreditation and ratings are evaluated independently.

History of the BBB

The BBB traces its roots to 1912 when advertising clubs and civic groups began fighting fraudulent advertising in local newspapers. The national organisation — originally the National Vigilance Committee — evolved into the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan New York and later expanded into a national federation. Today the BBB operates bbb.org, which hosts over 5.4 million business profiles and millions of customer reviews, making it one of North America’s largest business review databases.