The Success of Benefit Corporations in Italy
18.03.2026
In 2025, Benefit Corporations in Italy reach a total of 5,540, marking an increase of over 20% compared to the previous year and confirming the progressive consolidation of this entrepreneurial model. Driving this growth is not only their numerical spread but also their ability to generate economic and social value, with performance surpassing that of traditional companies.
Introduced in Italy with Law No. 208 of 2015, benefit corporations represent a business model that integrates the goal of profit with objectives of common benefit, operating in a responsible, sustainable, and transparent manner towards people, communities, and the environment. This balance between economic results and social impact is increasingly emerging as a competitive factor in the Italian business landscape.
The research, conducted by partners NATIVA, Intesa Sanpaolo, InfoCamere, University of Padua, Chamber of Commerce of Brindisi-Taranto, and Assobenefit, analyzed over 300 benefit corporations and more than 550 non-benefit corporations.
Employment on the rise
According to the National Research on Benefit Corporations 2026, these companies show a revenue growth of 14.6% during the period 2022-2024, almost three times higher than the +5.3% recorded by comparable non-benefit companies. Added value also grows more rapidly (+19.7% against +12.6%), as does the gross operating margin (+16.2% against +10.5%). In 2024, Benefit Corporations generated €69 billion in production value, equivalent to 2.5% of the national total, up from €62 billion the previous year. Employment is also rising: in 2025, there are around 241,000 employees, an increase of over 11% year-on-year. Between 2022 and 2024, 63% of Benefit Corporations expanded their workforce, a rate 15 percentage points higher than traditional companies.
Higher salaries and value redistribution
A distinctive element concerns the redistribution of value. Labour costs increase by 21.6% (compared to 11.2% for non-benefit companies), and the median salary per employee is about €3,000 higher. This is significant in a context marked by inflation and reduced purchasing power, highlighting greater attention to the well-being of workers and their families.
Innovation and sustainabilityBenefit Corporations also stand out for their strategic focus on innovation, internationalisation, and sustainability, with significant investments in renewable energy. This approach is reflected in governance: boards are more inclusive and dynamic, with a greater presence of women and young people. In one in four companies, over half of the board of directors is composed of women, while 29.3% include at least one member under 40.
More inclusive and younger governance
The presence of young people on boards appears correlated with better performance: companies with at least one member under 40 record higher growth in terms of revenue (+17.4%), employment (+15.5%), and added value (+22.5%) compared to those composed exclusively of members over 65.
From a sectoral perspective, the highest concentration of Benefit Corporations is found in professional activities, followed by telecommunications and manufacturing. Administrative activities, on the other hand, stand out for the number of employees involved.
Territorially, Lombardy confirms its leadership in the number of companies (1,721) and economic contribution, with €32 billion in production value. It is followed by Lazio, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna. Among provinces, Milan leads in the incidence of Benefit Corporations, ahead of Trieste and Parma.
An evolving business model
Introduced in Italy by Law No. 208 of 2015, Benefit Corporations represent a business model that integrates the goal of profit with the aim of common benefit, operating responsibly, sustainably, and transparently towards people, communities, and the environment. This balance between economic results and social impact is increasingly emerging as a competitive factor in the Italian entrepreneurial landscape.
The Research can be downloaded at the following link: https://www.societabenefit.net/ricerca-nazionale-sulle-societa-benefit/
