Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Certification
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WBE Certification
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What is WBE Certification — and Why Does It Matter?
WBE Certification is a formal recognition that your business is at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by one or more women. It’s more than just a badge of ownership—it’s a powerful tool that can open doors to new opportunities, including access to corporate supplier diversity programs and government contracts at the local, state, and federal levels.
For women-owned businesses looking to stand out in a competitive marketplace, certification can provide a strategic advantage. Major corporations and government agencies are actively seeking to do business with certified WBEs, often setting aside portions of their budget specifically for diverse suppliers.
Leverage our two decades of experience to get the support you need and save your valuable time.
The Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Certification through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Counsel (WBENC) for women-owned businesses is one of the most widely recognized and respected certifications in the nation. Accepted by hundreds of corporations and a number of federal, state, and local government agencies, WBE certification is an important marketing tool for expanding a company’s visibility among decision makers in corporate and governmental supply chain diversity and procurement organizations.
ELIGIBILITY
To register and qualify for WBE (Women’s Business Enterprise) status your business must meet all the following criteria:
- Ownership: Be at least 51% owned by one or more women who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.
- Control: Have women owners who demonstrate unrestricted control over the business’s operations and decision-making processes.
- Management: Be managed and operated on a daily basis by the women owner(s), with the woman holding the highest defined title in the company’s legal documents.
- Contribution: Show documented evidence of capital investment and/or industry expertise contributed by the women owner(s).
THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION
For WBE certification to be awarded, your business must be independently verified by an SBA approved third-party certifier to confirm your business is at least 51% woman-owned and operated. This requires an on-site visit (or on-screen interview) at your place of business, which we will help you coordinate and prepare for in advance.
The third-party verification organization charges start at $350 and are based on revenue size.
The verification fees are separate from our services.
We support you each step along the way, including documentation review and filings for submittal through clarifications to award.
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Annual Renewal for WBE Certification
(Third-party certification required annually, including additional fee to certifying organization)
WBENC has a set of regulations for WBE certifications. These programs allow for set-aside and sole source contracting opportunities for Women-Owned Small Businesses. To gain access to these opportunities, organizations first need to undergo a comprehensive registration process, where the difference between certification approvals and denials is frequently offset by the smallest clerical errors. Self-registration and certification may take you approximately 60 – 70 hours, and that doesn’t count for the necessary follow-up work of certification renewals, change-in-business updates, and more. Let FedBiz Access expedite certification and approval.
Fedbiz Access is a leading full-service federal business development firm specializing in B2G and B2B government opportunities, as well as city, state, and local contracting opportunities. We offer our clients a wide range of services to help them navigate the often-complex world of government contracting, from proposal writing and bid consultation to contract administration and management. Our WOSB / WBE certification assistance service helps our clients take advantage of set-aside and sole-source contracting opportunities. Our team of experts can help your organization complete the registration and certification processes quickly and accurately, saving you valuable time and resources. For more information about our WOSB / WBE certification assistance service, contact us today.