The legality rating today represents one of the most strategic tools for Italian companies that want to stand out in the market and access significant competitive and economic advantages. This recognition, introduced in 2012 and managed by the Competition and Market Authority (AGCM), is not simply a certificate of conformity, but a real business accelerator that can radically transform the growth opportunities of a company.
What is legality rating and how it works
The legality rating is a synthetic indicator of the respect of high standards of legality by the companies that have requested it. The evaluation system is based on a score expressed in "stars", with a range ranging from a minimum star to a maximum of three stars .
The mechanism of attribution of the score is progressively structured: the applicant company automatically obtains the basic score of a star if it complies with all the mandatory requirements. This score can be increased through the implementation of voluntary additional requirements , each of which is worth a "+" sign. The achievement of three "+" involves the attribution of an additional star, allowing to reach the maximum score of three stars.
Access and procedure requirements
To access the legality rating, companies must meet three fundamental requirements :
- Operational headquarters in Italy
- Minimum turnover of two million euros in the year closed the year preceding the request
- Registration in the Register of Companies for at least two years
The request procedure takes place electronically through the Webrating platform , and the AGCM deliberates the attribution of the rating within sixty days of receipt of the application. The rating lasts two years and is renewable on request.
The strategic advantages of the legality rating
Privileged access to public funding
Public administrations are required by law to recognize companies with rating of specific reward systems that include:
Preference in the ranking in the tenders
Attribution of additional score in the evaluation of the proposals
Reserve of altitude of financial resources allocated
Increase in the contribution provided for projects
Advantageous bank conditions
The banking sector is obliged to consider the legality rating as a decisive factor for:
- Reduction of times for the granting of funding
- investigation costs
- Improvement of the economic conditions of credit disbursement
- Consideration of the rating between the evaluation variables for access to credit
Advantages in public procurement
The new contract code provides specific benefits for certified companies, including a 30% reduction in the amount of the guarantee to be produced and the possibility of inserting reward criteria in tenders in relation to the level of rating owned.
The importance of maximizing the score
Getting the legality rating is only the first step of a wider strategy. Market research shows that positioning themselves in intermediate bands - as between 1 and 2 stars or between 2 and 3 stars - does not maximize the benefits obtainable. Banks and public administrations tend to organize their premium schemes based on whole evaluations rather than on fractional scores.
This means that a 1 star and 2 "+" company may not obtain significantly different advantages compared to one with a simple star, while the complete 2 -star jump can open completely new scenarios in terms of access to more advantageous conditions and business opportunities .
The strategic role of Mad Management Advisor
In this complex context and full of opportunities, Mad Management Advisor is positioned as a fundamental strategic partner for companies that want not only to obtain the rating of legality, but above all maximize their strategic value .
Specialized advice for obtaining
The Mad consultants team accompanies companies through the entire process of obtaining the rating , providing:
- Preliminary analysis of the business situation to verify the existence of the requirements
- Support in the compilation of the official form, resolving complex interpretative doubts
- Document verification to ensure the completeness and correctness of the demand
- Technical assistance throughout the procedural process until the certification is obtained
Score optimization strategy
What Mad distinguishes is the ability to go beyond the simple obtaining of the basic rating. The company's specialized consultants:
- Identify the most strategic additional requirements for the client company
- Evaluate the cost-benefit ratio of any possible implementation
- Develop customized roadmaps to achieve higher scores
- Monitor the regulatory evolution to seize new opportunities for improvement
Integrated and personalized approach
Mad Management Advisor adopts a holistic approach that considers the legality rating not as an isolated objective, but as a component of a wider company strategy . This means:
- Integration with other certification systems (ISO, gender equality, sustainability)
- the company's business objectives
- Resource optimization to maximize the return on investment
- Continuous support for the maintenance and increase of the rating over time
Future conclusions and prospects
The legality rating is no longer a simple "Nice to have", but represents a competitive factor decisive in the Italian economic panorama. The companies that will be able to seize this opportunity, supported by specialized consultants such as those of Mad Management Advisor, will be able to benefit from concrete and measurable advantages in terms of access to credit, participation in public calls and reputational positioning.
The investment in specialized consultancy for obtaining and optimizing the legality rating translates into a tangible economic return through better financing conditions, more business opportunities and a higher competitive positioning in the reference market.
