I'm confused by the idea that this is bad in some way. The point of business is to make money. For startups in particular, the entire commercial goal can roughly be broken down into one of three things:

1. Build a lasting private business (Mailchimp) 2. Go public (Facebook) 3. Get acquired (Instagram)

Obviously, I'm ball-parking here, but 99% of startups with "successful" outcomes happen via acquisition. For the vast majority of most startups, acquisition is the only viable outcome other than failure.

Point is, don't go around promising that you are in it for the long haul when you can't/won't made good on it.

The problem is with startups which are, from day one, meant as #3, but they advertise themselves as #1.

Care to expand? Are there companies doing business while being a non-profit? I’m interested in starting a business but as a way to help a charity or foundation of some aspects close to my heart.

Edit: thought about St. Jude’s hospital but it depends on donations.

You can have a social good corporation or a not-for-profit business and still make tremendous amounts of money. It just means it's not your goal as a business.

I recommend listening to this podcast episode.

https://citationsneeded.libsyn.com/episode-45-the-not-so-ben...

You would be surprised how this works.

>> only trust a not for profit organization

Not a very good heuristic, people always find ways to profit from so-called 'non-profits'.