WBE Certification
Is Certification Right for You?
WBENC places strict requirements on verifying that a business is woman-owned and managed before granting certification. The primary criteria for a business applying for WBENC certification is whether the business has a majority female ownership (at least 51% by one or more women) and is managed by women. Further, women must have unrestricted control of the business, and the highest defined title in the company’s legal documents must be held by a woman.
Certification Criteria
WBEC ORV maintains a strict screening process under the guidelines of WBENC’s Standards & Procedures, which ensures that all firms are legitimately owned, managed and controlled by women.
WBE certification is open to all businesses that are at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women; however, there are other things to consider when determining if it’s a good fit for your business. Though there are many benefits to being certified, not all businesses are candidates for certification. Take this short self-assessment to determine if your business would benefit from WBE certification:
- Is your product/service targeted at corporations, retail and/or government agencies? Typically, only corporations, retail, and government entities request certification, however, some government entities may mandate that you have their “in house” certification.
- Does your business have the capacity to deliver quality service/products on large contracts? Corporate and government contracts tend to be larger than contracts many small businesses are accustomed to fulfilling. Your business must be prepared to demonstrate the ability to deliver on these larger contracts. Thousands of WBENC-Certified WBEs compete for business and do business with each other to build their capacity to pursue these opportunities.
- Are you willing to share the details of your business including capital investment, tax returns, and compensation records? A key step in the certification process is an analysis of proprietary documents to determine the eligibility of your business. All company proprietary documents and information are treated with the utmost confidentiality.
- Are you clear that WBE certification is a marketing tool and DOES NOT guarantee or entitle your company will receive contracts?
If your business is certified, you will need to invest time and energy into developing marketing strategy that targets corporations and government agencies that may need your product or service.
If you answer yes to the questions above, then applying for your WBE certification may be an invaluable strategy to take your business to the next level. The WBEC ORV team and WBENC encourages you to take full advantage of getting certified, engaged, and connected.
Wait, I have more questions. Contact our Certification Team.