Social enterprises are business ventures operated by non-profits, 
with the dual purpose of selling a product or service in the marketplace and creating a social value. They strive for a blended return on investment, both financial and social. Their profits are returned to the business or to a social purpose, rather than maximizing profits to shareholders.
Social enterprises produce a broad range of products and services including catering, courier services, landscaping, janitorial services, fulfillment, printing, hauling and moving, e-recycling, manufacturing, property management, painting, and construction.
In addition to providing a business product or service, social enterprises create a social value in one or more of the following ways:
Social enterprises can fill a need the market will never meet on its own, such as employment for marginalized community members. Examples of this type of social enterprise include:
- Potluck Catering creating employment in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside
- The Right Stuff providing employment for youth at risk in a rural community
- The Cleaning Solution, a commercial janitorial service employing people with mental health issues
Social enterprises can provide an opportunity to advance a non-profit's mission, particularly in areas of cultural and environmental activities. Examples of this type of social enterprise include:
- Strathcona Community Dental Clinic which delivers dental care to low income youth and seniors in Vancouver's inner city
Social enterprises can enhance a non-profit's financial sustainability through the generation of profits that flow to a social purpose. Examples of this type of social enterprise include:
- Summerland's Penny Lane Bargain Outlet, a thrift store whose profits support youth services
- Atira Property Management, a for-profit property management service owned by Atira Women's Resources Society