Accreditation: A trusted ally for small business success
How accredited services help SMEs build trust, open markets and grow with confidence
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—including micro and emerging businesses—form the foundation of Canada’s economy. They make up more than 98 percent of employer businesses, create most private sector jobs and power local communities according to Key Small Business Statistics from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
But running a small or medium-sized business comes with real challenges. Limited resources, evolving rules and the pressure to meet technical standards can make it tough to grow. That’s where accreditation makes a difference. It helps businesses show their products, services or systems meet recognized requirements through testing, inspection or certification carried out by an independent and competent organization.
On World Accreditation Day, we’re highlighting how this often-invisible layer of quality infrastructure helps small businesses punch above their weight.
Backed by trust you can prove
When a product or system is evaluated by an accredited lab or certification body, there’s real assurance behind it. That lab or body has been independently reviewed by an organization like us at the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), which ensures they’re qualified, consistent and impartial.
“Accreditation is about more than technical compliance. It’s about trust,” says Elias Rafoul, vice-president of Accreditation Services at SCC. “It gives businesses confidence in the services they rely on, and it gives their customers, partners and regulators confidence in them.”
Accreditation adds credibility. It shows that your results, certifications or reports weren’t just checked. They were verified by someone who knows what they’re doing and operates according to internationally recognized standards.
For businesses, that means confidence. And for customers, buyers or regulators, it means peace of mind. In fact, more than 100 Canadian regulations across various sectors, either at the federal or provincial level, have required testing or certification accredited by SCC.
Even if they don't realize it, SMEs are probably relying on accreditation
Many small and medium-sized businesses don’t actively seek out accreditation. But chances are, they’ve already benefited from it.
Maybe they’ve worked with a lab to test water or soil, certified a facility to a safety standard or needed inspection results for a grant or export application. In many cases, those services were delivered by accredited organizations.
And many of those accredited bodies? They’re small businesses too. According to SCC’s 2018 report Conformity Assessment in Canada: Understanding the Value and Implications for Internal Trade, 95.7 percent of accredited Canadian organizations were testing laboratories, many of them independently owned and working in sectors like health, mining, manufacturing and food processing.
Startups are also using accreditation to gain ground in fast-moving sectors. Take Complade, a Canadian cybersecurity company supporting organizations of all sizes.
“We’re a small company working with organizations of all sizes to strengthen their security and meet compliance requirements,” says founder Yehia Ahmed. “Accreditation shows we meet international standards, which builds confidence and gives us credibility, especially with bigger clients. It’s one of the reasons we’re able to grow and make an impact in a complex space.”
According to the latest GMI report, the testing, inspection and certification services market size was valued at 241.6 billion (USD) in 2023 and is estimated to reach 422.2 billion (USD) in 2032.
If you’re in the business of testing, inspection or certification, accreditation is one of the most powerful investments you can make. It signals competence, builds customer confidence and connects you to a global recognition system. Learn how to get accredited or request a quote.
A business tool that opens doors
Accreditation isn’t just about compliance. It’s a tool for growth.
Working with accredited bodies can help your business qualify for funding, meet regulatory requirements or win new contracts, especially when large customers or public buyers are involved. It can also help you avoid costly do-overs by getting things right the first time.
There’s another benefit too. Accredited bodies keep pace with evolving standards. That helps small businesses stay ahead rather than struggling to catch up.
One test, accepted almost everywhere
Planning to enter new markets or join a global supply chain? Accreditation can help you get there faster and with fewer hurdles.
Thanks to international partnerships—like the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement and the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement—test results, certifications and inspection reports from SCC-accredited bodies are recognized in more than 100 countries. That means a product tested or certified in Canada doesn’t need to be retested abroad, saving time and money.
This global network is built on a powerful idea: one standard, one test, accepted almost everywhere. Reaffirmed in the 2025 World Accreditation Day joint statement from ILAC and IAF (PDF), this principle helps small businesses reduce duplication, unlock international opportunities and compete on a level playing field.
Whether you're exporting for the first time or expanding into new markets, working with accredited providers gives your business a passport to global trade. And when small businesses succeed abroad, communities benefit at home.
What you can do next
If you’re a small or medium-sized business owner, here’s how to make accreditation work for you:
- Ask if your lab, certifier or inspection body is accredited.
- Look for accreditation marks on test results or certificates.
- Search for accredited providers through official sources.
All internationally recognized accreditation bodies, including SCC, publish directories of the organizations they accredit. You can view the list of organizations accredited by the Standards Council of Canada in our accredited organizations directory.
Behind every accredited result is a network of people and organizations working to make things safer, more efficient and more trusted. And they’re here to help you succeed.
Because building trust isn’t just good business. For SMEs, it’s how you scale, compete and thrive.
We’re here to support you through the process—whether you're looking to work with accredited providers or become one yourself.