These checklists identify the documents that applicants will be required to submit in the application process. The beta.Certify application process is easier when applicants gather these documents before starting the application. Within the checklists outlined below the required documents have been organized by the “cards” that will be filled out for the certification application.
Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Preparation Checklist
Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) Preparation Checklist
Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Checklist
Qualifying individual(s) include one or more women claiming 51% ownership
- Active registration in the System for Award Management for the firm, available at SAM.gov (Note: The firm’s UEI and EIN, and MPIN must exactly match SAM registration)
Note: SAM.gov registrations should be for the purposes of "All Awards" and not limited to "Loans and Grants"
SBA Basic Eligibility Card
- Legible proof of U.S. citizenship (i.e., state-issued birth certificate, certificate of naturalization, or an unexpired passport) for qualifying individual(s)
- If your name differs from your submitted citizenship document (ex. Marriage), you may have to provide a poof of name change (ex. state filed documents -official name change, marriage license, unexpired passport, unexpired military ID (front and back copy)
Existing Qualified Certification Card
- 8(a) Program Participant
- Most recent annual review letter OR firms in their first program year may submit their initial approval letter
- TPC-Certified
- Certificate from one of the four SBA approved third party certifying organizations
- CVE-Certified
- Certification letter from Department of Veterans Affairs’ Center for Verification and Evaluation
Firms that do not have these certifications will respond NO to questions within this section and will be advanced to the next card
Ownership Card
Firm Ownership
- Trust agreement if a trust currently holds the qualifying individual’s ownership interest
- Letter of explanation for any executory agreements
Business Structure - Corporation
- Articles of Incorporation – Signed, dated, and reflecting state filing seal for the domestically filed state
- Firms operating in another state should submit foreign filing documentation for that state and certificate of good standing from the original domestic state
- Copies of stock certificates - Front and Back, if issued as a two-sided document. State law dependent
- Stock Ledger
The Stock Ledger should be in chart format and must include all actions including the transfer and/or cancellations of the shares and the dates of the transfer. The detailed listing should include: - Name of Business
- Name of stockholder
- Date of issuance
- Number of shares issued
- Stock Certificate Number (if applicable)
- Date of transfer/cancellation
- Who were the shares transferred to?
- How many shares transferred
- Total outstanding shares
- Corporate Bylaws and any amendments
- If the Bylaws are not signed, Meeting minutes adopting and accepting the Bylaws to include all amendments must be provided
- Shareholder agreements may be accepted in lieu of corporate bylaws pursuant to the laws of the state where the firm is registered
- DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable
- Business Documents
- Meeting minutes - Most recent meeting minutes (signed and dated) noting the election of the officers and directors
- Joint Venture agreements, if applicable
- Buy/Sale agreements, if applicable
- Stock ledger should reflect changes executed from this agreement
Business Structure - Limited Liability Company (LLC)
- Fully executed Operating Agreement and any amendments
- Articles of Organization and any amendments, signed, dated, and reflecting state filing seal
- Firms operating in another state should submit foreign filing documentation for that state and certificate of good standing from the original domestic state
- DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable
- Business documents
- Joint Venture agreements, if applicable
- Buy/Sale agreements, if applicable
Business Structure - Partnership
- Partnership Agreement and any amendments
- DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable
Business Structure - Sole Proprietorship
- DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable
Control Card
- Résumé – listing current ownership roles/title and duties, as well as details on prior work experience should include position/title, company name, duties
- Letter of Explanation, if needed
- Technical licenses, if applicable
Individual Contributor Card
- Firm owner questionnaires need to be completed:
- Highest officer owner (financial section is required for EDWOSB applicants)
- Additional firm owners (financial section is required for EDWOSB applicants who comprise 51% ownership interest)
- Spouse, if applicable (only for EDWOSB applicants)
- Current Board Members that are listed in bylaws, operating agreement, and/or meeting minutes
Please Note: Per 13 CFR § 127.304(b), SBA may request additional information or clarification of information contained in an application or document submission at any time.
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Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) Checklist
Qualifying individual(s) include one or more women whose ownership interest(s) equal or exceed 51%
- Active registration in the System for Award Management for the firm, available at SAM.gov (Note: The firm’s UEI and EIN, and MPIN must exactly match SAM registration)
Note: SAM.gov registrations should be for the purposes of "All Awards" and not limited to "Loans and Grants"
SBA Basic Eligibility Card
- Legible proof of U.S. citizenship (i.e., state-issued birth certificate, certificate of naturalization, or an unexpired passport) for qualifying individual(s)
- If your name differs from your submitted citizenship document (ex. Marriage), you may have to provide a poof of name change (ex. state filed documents -official name change, marriage license, unexpired passport, unexpired military ID (front and back copy)
Ownership Card
Firm Ownership
- Trust agreement if a trust currently holds the qualifying individual’s ownership interest
- Letter of explanation for any executory agreements
Business Structure - Corporation
- Articles of Incorporation – Signed, dated, and reflecting state filing seal for the domestically filed state
- Firms operating in another state should submit foreign filing documentation for that state and certificate of good standing from the original domestic state
- Copies of stock certificates - Front and Back, if issued as a two-sided document. State law dependent
- Stock Ledger
The Stock Ledger should be in chart format and must include all actions including the transfer and/or cancellations of the shares and the dates of the transfer. The detailed listing should include: - Name of Business
- Name of stockholder
- Date of issuance
- Number of shares issued
- Stock Certificate Number (if applicable)
- Date of transfer/cancellation
- Who were the shares transferred to?
- How many shares transferred
- Total outstanding shares
- Corporate Bylaws and any amendments
- If the Bylaws are not signed, Meeting minutes adopting and accepting the Bylaws to include all amendments must be provided
- Shareholder agreements may be accepted in lieu of corporate bylaws pursuant to the laws of the state where the firm is registered
- DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable
- Business Documents
- Meeting minutes - Most recent meeting minutes (signed and dated) noting the election of the officers and directors
- Joint Venture agreements, if applicable
- Buy/Sale agreements, if applicable
- Stock ledger should reflect changes executed from this agreement
Business Structure - Limited Liability Company (LLC)
- Fully executed Operating Agreement and any amendments
- Articles of Organization and any amendments, signed, dated, and reflecting state filing seal
- Firms operating in another state should submit foreign filing documentation for that state and certificate of good standing from the original domestic state
- DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable
- Business documents
- Joint Venture agreements, if applicable
- Buy/Sale agreements, if applicable
Business Structure - Partnership
- Partnership Agreement and any amendments
- DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable
Business Structure - Sole Proprietorship
- DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable
Control Card
- Résumé – listing current ownership roles/title and duties, as well as details on prior work experience should include position/title, company name, duties
- Letter of Explanation, if needed
- Technical licenses, if applicable
Economic Disadvantage Card
- EDWOSB applicants are REQUIRED to submit the following:
- Three years of personal tax returns and all schedules
- Three years of business tax returns and all schedules, dependent upon on the number of years in business
- Three years of W-2s, 1099s, or a letter of explanation of the source of income reflected on their personal tax return equal to the total wages for each specific tax year
- Non-filers – An IRS Verification of Nonfiling Letter (VNF) for any year which taxes have not been filed
- IRS Tax transcripts (as requested)
Individual Contributor Card
- Firm owner questionnaires need to be completed:
- Highest officer owner (financial section is required for EDWOSB applicants)
- Additional firm owners (financial section is required for EDWOSB applicants who comprise 51% ownership interest)
- Spouse, if applicable (only for EDWOSB applicants)
- Current Board Members that are listed in bylaws, operating agreement, and/or meeting minutes
Financial Data section
Personal Financial Information – Required for each woman claiming economic disadvantage and for each woman’s spouse. Married individuals should report financial data in accordance with ownership proportions for assets and liabilities.
- EDWOSB applicants are REQUIRED to submit the following:
- Three years of personal tax returns and all schedules, separate filings for married couple require personal tax returns from both individuals
- Three years of business tax returns and all schedules, dependent upon on the number of years in business
- Three years of W-2s, 1099s, or a letter of explanation of the source of impacted reflected on their personal tax return
- Non-filers – An IRS Verification of Nonfiling Letter (VNF) for any year which taxes have not been filed
- IRS Tax transcripts (as requested)
Please Note: Per 13 CFR § 127.304(b), SBA may request additional information or clarification of information contained in an application or document submission at any time.
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FAQs
What does WOSB applicant mean? ›
To help provide a level playing field for women business owners, the government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses that participate in the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contracting program. These contracts are for specific industries where WOSBs are underrepresented.
What is difference between WBE and WOSB? ›The WOSB program limits certified organizations to specific NAICS codes whereas the WBE usually does not. Additionally, some WBE certified companies have no requirements on size whereas WOSB requires that the company meets the size standard as defined by the SBA.
What is a certified WOSB? ›The Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) certificate is an additional certificate specifically for businesses interested in federal government contracting. It qualifies you to work with the Small Business Administration's WOSB program.
What are the benefits of being a WOSB? ›If you're a female business owner, getting your business certified offers several benefits, including increasing your company's visibility, gaining access to opportunities you might not otherwise have, and securing the chance to win corporate or government contracts.
How long does it take to get WOSB certification from SBA? ›After the application is submitted and shows a pending status, SBA will notify you of a complete, sufficient application package within 15 days. SBA will make a determination within 90 calendar days after a receipt of a complete application, when applicable.
How do you classify a woman-owned business? ›- Considered “small” as defined by the relevant NAICS code.
- Be at least 51% directly owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. Citizens.
- To be deemed “Economically Disadvantaged”, owners must demonstrate economic disadvantage in accordance with the rule (see below)
An EDWOSB is a small business concern that is at least 51% owned by one or more women and is considered economically disadvantaged. If you qualify as an EDWOSB, you automatically qualify for the Women-Owned Small Business Program (WOSB).
Why is it important to be a woman-owned or minority owned small business? ›Once certified, a woman-owned business retains the advantage of receiving additional financial support and opportunities to bid on contracts. The SBA states that “the federal government's goal is to award at least five percent of all federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses each year.”
What does WBE stand for? ›| Acronym | Definition |
|---|---|
| WBE | Women's Business Enterprise |
| WBE | Woman-owned Business Enterprise |
| WBE | Women-owned Business Enterprises |
| WBE | Web Based Enterprise |
A Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) is defined as one that is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled on a daily basis by one or more female American citizens.
What is the difference between WBE and Wbenc? ›
The Women's Business Enterprise National Council, commonly referred to as WBENC (pronounced WE-BANK), is the leading authority on and certifying organization for Women's Business Enterprises (WBEs) in the U.S. and U.S. territories.
How do I become a Sdvosb? ›To qualify for the SDVOSB program, your business must: Be a small business according to SBA's size standards. Be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans. Have one or more service-disabled veterans manage day-to-day operations who also make long-term decisions.
What percentage makes a business woman owned? ›Women-owned firms made up only 19.9% of all firms that employed people in the United States in 2018 but their numbers are growing. There were 6,861 more women-owned firms in 2018 than in 2017, up 0.6% to 1.1 million, according to the Census Bureau's Annual Business Survey (ABS).
Do minorities get tax breaks? ›There are no federal tax breaks specifically offered to certified minority-owned businesses, but there are tax incentives for working with other minority-owned businesses and operating in low-income areas, which often have larger minority populations.
At what dollar threshold are requirements reserved exclusively for small businesses? ›When at least two small businesses could perform the work or provide the products being purchased, the government sets aside the contract exclusively for small businesses. With few exceptions, this happens automatically for all government contracts under $150,000.
What does Wbenc stand for? ›The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to helping women-owned businesses thrive.
What approach does the US government take to foster the growth of small business in the country? ›Loans and grant programs offered directly to entrepreneurs are one way to use tax revenue to stimulate business activity. Another way, according to America.gov, is to fund agencies and programs such as the Small Business Administration, which provide assistance to startup entrepreneurs.
What is economically disadvantaged? ›(a) General. Economically disadvantaged individuals are socially disadvantaged individuals whose ability to compete in the free enterprise system has been impaired due to diminished capital and credit opportunities as compared to others in the same or similar line of business who are not socially disadvantaged.
What are the benefits of being MBE certified? ›The benefits of MBE Certification really boil down to one word: access. Certification gives MBEs exclusive access to top corporate purchasing agents, premium networking events, searchable supplier databases, affordable consulting services, technology programs, and vital introductions to nationally known corporations.
What qualifies as a minority? ›A minority person is a citizen of the United States who is African American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian Pacific, or Asian Indian.
What challenges do minority businesses face? ›
- Economic Barriers.
- Limited Access To Business Networks.
- Limited Opportunity For Skill Development.
- Ultimately, Your Goal Is To Grow Your Customer Base.
The state's certification program defines an MBE as “a business that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more minority persons” and defines a WBE as “a business that is at least 51% owned and controlled by a woman.” For both, the owner(s) controlling the business must also 1) “have the requisite expertise,” ...
What is the difference between MBE and DBE? ›Minority-owned businesses (MBE) Veteran-owned businesses (VBE or VOSB) Businesses owned by economically disadvantaged individuals (DBE) Businesses owned by LGBT individuals (LGBTBE)
What does SBE mean in business? ›Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
How do I get Wbenc certified? ›- Determine if you are eligible. WBENC Certification validates that a business is at least 51 percent owned, controlled, operated, and managed by a woman or women. ...
- Compile Required Documentation. ...
- Complete Online Application. ...
- Review & Site Visit. ...
- Certification Determination. ...
- You're in!
It opens doors, builds relationships and drives confidence in the marketplace. Chairwoman, Accel Inc. WBENC Certification gives you access to a national database of corporations and government entities with supplier diversity programs who are seeking to do business with certified women-owned businesses.
Is the Wbenc a government agency? ›WBENC National Corporate & Government Members are corporations and government entities dedicated to supplier diversity and the advancement of women-owned businesses.
What is a SDVOSB contract? ›A sole-source disabled veterans' business program contract can be awarded if the contracting officer doesn't have a reasonable expectation that two or more qualified disabled veterans' small businesses will submit offers, determines that the qualified disabled veterans' small business is responsible, and determines ...
What is the benefit that SDVOSB are to receive under 15 USC 657f? ›Section 36 of that act (15 U.S.C. 657f), gives agency contracting officers the authority to reserve (set aside) certain procurements for service disabled veterans. This option provides a great benefit to the government when the time frame for awarding a contract to meet customer requirements is extremely shortened.
How many years do you have to serve to be a veteran? ›"Anyone who has reached 20 years of service, even if they were never activated on a [federal] order for more than 180 days outside of training, will now be considered a veteran," he said. The change in law, said Krenz, simply recognizes those who serve.
What is considered an MBE? ›
What is a Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE)? An MBE is a business that is at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by one or more minorities.
What does Sdvosb stand for in business? ›The federal government aims to award at least 3% of all federal contracting dollars to Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) each year. Competition is limited for certain federal contract opportunities to businesses that participate in the SDVOSB program.
What are the benefits of being MBE certified? ›The benefits of MBE Certification really boil down to one word: access. Certification gives MBEs exclusive access to top corporate purchasing agents, premium networking events, searchable supplier databases, affordable consulting services, technology programs, and vital introductions to nationally known corporations.
How do you qualify for a MBE? ›WHO CAN GET AN MBE? Anyone can be nominated to receive an MBE so long as they meet the necessary Queen's honour criteria. An MBE award can be given for all types of different achievement, but it is often given in recognition of community achievements or for a local "hands-on" service that has set an example to others.
What qualifies you as a minority? ›A minority person is a citizen of the United States who is African American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian Pacific, or Asian Indian. African American is a US citizen who has origins in any of the African racial groups of Africa, and is regarded as such by the community of which the person claims to be a part.
How do small businesses get government contracts? ›- Register with Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) to search and bid on open opportunities.
- Search the Government Services Administration (GSA) Schedules program. ...
- Check out SUB-Net, where you can find subcontracting opportunities.
"Anyone who has reached 20 years of service, even if they were never activated on a [federal] order for more than 180 days outside of training, will now be considered a veteran," he said. The change in law, said Krenz, simply recognizes those who serve.
What is the benefit that SDVOSB are to receive under 15 USC 657f? ›Section 36 of that act (15 U.S.C. 657f), gives agency contracting officers the authority to reserve (set aside) certain procurements for service disabled veterans. This option provides a great benefit to the government when the time frame for awarding a contract to meet customer requirements is extremely shortened.