Checklist

Are You Eligible?

Woman Owned Small Business

To register and qualify for WOSB status with the federal government, an organization must meet all the following criteria:

Be a small business
Be at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens.
Have women manage day-to-day operations and also make long-term decisions
Women-Owned Small Business Logos

Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Business EDWOSB

Like a Women-Owned Small Business, in order to be considered an EDWOSB, women must control at least 51% of the company, but to be considered EDWOSB, they must also be economically disadvantaged. This economically disadvantaged woman must, like in Women-Owned Small Businesses, make day to day decisions and long term, strategic decisions. To be considered economically disadvantaged, you must meet certain requirements for personal net worth, adjusted gross income, and fair market value of all your assets.

Small Business 8a Certification

Be a small business
Not already have participated in the 8(a) program.
Be at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens who are economically and socially disadvantaged.
Be owned by someone whose personal net worth is $250,000 or less.
Be owned by someone whose average adjusted gross income for three years is $250,000 or less.
Be owned by someone with $4 million or less in assets.
Have the owner manage day-to-day operations and also make long-term decisions
Have all its principals demonstrate good character
Show potential for success and be able to perform successfully on contracts.

Small Business Enterprise SBE

SBE is a company level diversity certification. SBE certifications are usually issued by the local or state government. Eligibility for certification as a Small Business Enterprise varies depending on the issuer; requirements may relate to number of employees, length of time the company has been in business and the net worth of the company’s owner. SBE certification is non-industry specific. Organizations wishing to become SBE certified should contact the appropriate government body for their state. The certification process usually involves completing an application and/or completing a registration with the certifying government body.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise

The minimum requirements to qualify as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise – DBE Certification under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Program are:

Applicants, by a preponderance of evidence, must meets all requirements concerning group membership, including individual social and economic disadvantage, business size, ownership, and control as defined in the 49 CFR 26 Subpart D;
The applicant firm must be fifty-one percent (51%) owned, capitalized, controlled and operated by one or more U.S. Citizens, or a legal resident (green card), who are socially and economically disadvantaged as defined below:
- Social Disadvantage means an individual who is a member of a presumed groupor a woman;
- Economic Disadvantage means, in general terms, excluding the primary residence and ownership in the applicant firm, a socially disadvantage individual who does not have a personal net worth in excess of $1.32 million; (see FAQSbelow for additional information).
Be a for-profit business, located in the United States;
A firm’s three-year, average of annual gross receipts, may not exceed $28.48 million; however, post-certification, other small business size standards may apply;
The acquisition of fifty-one percent (51%) business ownership by the eligible business owner(s) must be real, substantial and instep with the percentage (%) of ownership;
An eligible business owner must holds the highest, executive office, be responsible for managing the firm’s day-to-day business and have a technical experience, in the firm’s primary business activity.

Minority Business Enterprise

The minimum requirements to qualify as MBE Certified Business with the National Minority Supplier Development Council or a local MBE program administered by a city, county, or state are:

United States Citizen.
Be at least 51% owned and controlled by an individual who is a minority is the primary owner of business.

Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business SDVOSB & Veteran Owned Small Businesses

To be considered a Veteran of the United States, you must meet one of the following requirements:

Served on active duty with the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard for any period and didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge
Served as a Reservist or member of the National Guard and were called to federal active duty or disabled from a disease or injury that started or got worse in the line of duty

If you meet these qualifications and veterans run 51 percent of the ownership of your business, you could qualify for a VOSB Certification.

Historically Underutilized Business Zone

While the process isn’t always cut and dry, to be considered eligible for a HUBZone Certification, an organization must be a small business, according to SBA standards. The eligibility requirements are as follows:

Be a small business
Be at least 51 percent owned and controlled by U.S. citizens, a Community Development Corporation, an agricultural cooperative, a Native Hawaiian organization, or a Native American tribe
Have its principal office located within a HUBZone
Have at least 35 percent of its employees live in a HUBZone

Check to see if your business is in a HUBZone here: https://maps.certify.sba.gov/hubzone/map