These certifications, in addition to all the resources and
guidance they offer, enable a woman owned business to take advantage of the US
Government's mandate to set aside 5% of its contracts for women owned
businesses. These certificates also allow for female owned businesses to pursue
public sector work. In addition these certificates serve as a calling card to
those companies and people who wish to promote and decisively choose to work
with a women owned business
Before you dive in:
- Get curious - find out all you can about becoming a
certified WOSB
- Be proactive - take the first steps toward becoming a
certified WOSB
- Have courage - don’t be put off if the WOSB program appears
daunting
- Take advantage - make the most of your WOSB certification
What is A Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Certification?
There are two different certifications available to small businesses owned by women. The first is the WOSB, or Woman-Owned Small Business certification. Another option, which falls under the umbrella of the WOSB, is the EDWOSB, or Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business certification.
The WOSB and EDWOSB is a certification program created by
the Small Business Administration (SBA). It is designed to level the playing
field for female-business owners and provide opportunities to bid for federal
contracts.
The criteria for the WOSB and EDWOSB certifications are
slightly different, but both are valuable and beneficial.
Requirements for Certification
Before you head down the certification path, you should be
aware of the criteria for obtaining the certification as either a WOSB or
EDWOSB.
Requirements for WOSB certification
The first part of the certification confirms you qualify as
a "small business" with the SBA.
The SBA considers a business a small business when it is:
- For-profit
- Operates primarily in the U.S. or contributes to the U.S.
economy, such as employing U.S. workers or paying U.S. taxes.
- The size of the business is a relative term and is based on
the industry-specific classification used by the SBA. "Small" does
not necessarily mean a business only operates with a few employees. It may also
be based on the business's annual revenue (receipts received).
To be eligible for the WOSB, in addition to meeting the
above criteria, the business must also ensure:
- Women own at least 51%
- Controlled by women who are U.S. citizens
- Women must manage the day-to-day operations and be in charge
of making long-term decisions
Requirements for EDWOSB
In addition to the requirements above, some factors make a
business considered an economically disadvantaged women-owned small business.
Here are these additional factors:
- Meet all the requirements of the WOSB Federal Contracting
program
- Each female owner must have a personal net worth no more
than $750,000
- Be owned and controlled by one or more women, each with
$350,000 or less in adjusted gross income averaged over the previous three
years
- Be owned and controlled by one or more women, each $6
million or less in personal assets
Additionally, suppose you are a firm already certified by
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Verification and Evaluations
or the 8(a) Business Development Certification. In that case, you are eligible
to apply for either program.
The SBA has put together a questionnaire to help determine if you would qualify for either program. You can access the tool here. The WOSB and EDWOSB require the business to be registered with sam.gov, the official U.S. government site for reviewing contract opportunities and is officially referred to as the System for Award Management.
How to Get Certified as a Woman-owned Business
The path to certification does require you to follow certain
steps, and there are two primary ways to become certified. Following these
steps will ensure your business can compete for federal contracts.
Primary Ways to Become Certified
Self certification
The first option for WOSB or EDWOSB certification is to self
certify through the SBA website. It is free to apply through the SBA. The steps
include:
- Begin application through the SBA website.
- Be prepared to show numerous documents to support the
application. These documents include:
a. Proof of U.S. Citizenship, such as a
passport or birth certificate.
b. Articles of incorporation or the
organizational structure of the business agreement.
c. Financial statements.
d. Any issued stock certificates and
stock ledger.
e. Most recent tax returns, which
includes W-2s for the owners and spouses (if applying for the EDWOSB).
f. IRS Form 4506-T, if requested.
g. For a complete list of documentation
needed before getting started, check out the SBA list of required documents.
If applying for the EDWOSB certification, you will also need
to upload the 8(a) certificate and annual review letter, in place of the
financial statements.
Third-party certification
If the thought of pulling all the necessary documents and
following the process seems a bit overwhelming or time-consuming, there are
third-party companies available to assist. The SBA approves these third-party
options.
- El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- National Women Business Owners Corporation
- U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce
- Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
It does cost money to use a third-party provider. The amount
of fees for the certification process varies, so be sure to confirm the cost
before you get started. You should also note there will be no difference in the
paperwork you are required to submit. Still, it could be helpful to work with
an organization with experience in submitting all the required documents in the
correct format.
What happens when you become WOSB or EDWOSB certified?
Once you are confirmed as a WOSB or EDWOSB certified
business, the certification lasts three years. You are required to submit
supporting documentation each year, though, to maintain eligibility. You must
typically complete this documentation within 30 days of the company
anniversary.
Benefits of Women-Owned Business Certification
The U.S. government has a goal of awarding 5% of all
government contracts to women-owned businesses, and to do so, it has set aside
government contracts only WOSBs, and EDWOSBs can bid on.
Essentially, the government will limit the amount of
competition for certain contracts and open up more opportunities for
women-owned businesses to compete. In particular, the government focuses on
industries where women are typically underrepresented. By becoming certified as
WOSB or EDWOSB, your business will be able to bid on federal contracts and
access the same opportunities as larger companies or federal agencies.
These programs do not give your business special treatment.
However, it does increase your business's visibility to ensure you have the
same opportunity as everyone else to bid on contracts or secure funding.
- Winning a government contract has many benefits, including:
- A larger contract can fuel company growth
- Dependable payments
- Contracts can last for years
- Adds value to your company’s reputation
The U.S. government relies on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) to organize the various businesses by industry type. This classification is important because the SBA uses this list to earmark specific NAICS industries that are underrepresented by women. The SBA has put together a complete list of the qualifying NAICS for the WOSB and EDWOSB programs.
Other Benefits to WOSB and EDWOSB Certification
In addition to higher visibility to federal contracts,
becoming certified opens up other networking opportunities for your business.
You will also have access to additional training and education materials
exclusive to the WOSB program.
With a federal contract in place, a business may find it
easier to secure funding through the SBA or other lenders.
Final Thoughts on How to Become a Certified Woman-owned Business
Imagine your business, the one you’ve poured your heart into
becoming a major consideration for a federal contract. What if your business
could compete with the likes of companies such as Boeing or Microsoft? As a
WOSB or EDWOSB, these may no longer be pipe dreams but a reality.
You may think you do not have the funding to support what it
would take to manage a government contract successfully. Fortunately, there are
funding solutions available to small businesses owned by women. One example of
this is lending from Biz2credit.
Biz2credit offers several low-interest loan options for small businesses. Not only are there flexible loan terms for up to 36 months,
but you can get access to your funds within 72 hours once approved. The loan
amounts range from $25,000 to $250,000 and might be exactly what your business
needs to support a federal contract.
If your dream is to get your company to the next level of
growth, becoming a certified WOSB or EDWOSB, plus getting the funding in place,
might be the only tools you need to change the trajectory of your business.