Social entrepreneurship means a sustainable economic commitment through the sale of products or services that can cover business costs, including employee wages. Profit in the social economy is not only used to increase the wealth of individuals (owners of businesses), but is invested in whole or in part for purposes such as employment of people who have difficulty finding work, development of social and health services, education, environmental protection, cultural activities in the community, etc. Which are consistent with the mission of the organization and the needs of the community.
While in our country there are no defined criteria to define and describe this type of business, the European Commission, in the document ’’Social Business Initiative’’ from 2011, has defined several criteria that a legal entity should meet in order to be considered a business that acts according to the principles of the social economy:
– to pursue an explicit and primary social objective;
– that there are restrictions on the distribution of profits and/or assets;
– they must be independent;
– have a comprehensive management