Author: Noah King

5 Requirements of the Small Business Certification

Being considered a Small Business by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and obtaining your Small Business Certification will greatly increase growth and revenue for your company. Prime federal contractors will be looking up eligible companies via the DSBS and only contacting those who have their profiles complete. Below are the five requirements, Small Business Size Standards, set forth by the SBA.

• Be a for-profit business of any legal structure
• Be independently owned and operated
• Not be nationally dominant in its field
• Be physically located and operate in the U.S. or its territories
• Be registered and active in SAM.gov

Completing your Small Business profiles are essential when wanting to be contacted by prime contractors. Additionally, if you are Small Business Certified, you may be eligible for one or more of the SBA’s Set-Aside Programs (WOSB/EDWOSB, VOSB/SDVOSB, 8(a) Program, and HUBZone Program).

For an easy way to find out if you qualify for a Small Business Certification, click the button below to use the calculator tool.

SBA Certifications: Maximizing your SAM Registration

The SBA has developed certification programs known as “Set-Asides”. Each program has a percentage of federal contracting dollars set-aside for each of them, hence the name “Set-Aside”.

There are four primary SBA Set-Aside Programs;

1. 1. Woman-Owned/Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB/EDWOSB)
      • 5% of all Federal contracting dollars are allocated to WOSB or EDWOSB certified businesses
   2. Veteran-Owned/Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB/SDVOSB)
      • 3% of federal contracts designated for SDVOSB certified contractors.
   3. Historically Underutilized Business Zone Certification (HUBZone)
      • Businesses in historically underutilized business zones are given exclusive access to certain government contracts.
   4. 8(a) Business Development Program Certification (Minority Owned)
      • As an 8(a) certified business, you are visible to contracting officers as a small business and Minority certified, so the pool for set-aside contracts is smaller, which maximizes your ability to receive no bid contract under $25,000.

Click on ay of those certifications above to learn more about each and which one is right for you. Get in contact with a Certifications Specialist by reaching the USBRI Help Desk at 1-888-646-9998. If you’d like to learn more and are interested, fill out the questionnaire at the bottom of this page and/or call the Help Desk to schedule an appointment.

If you are unsure if you qualify as an SBA small business, use the Small Business Calculator Tool by clicking below

Eligible NAICS Codes for Woman-Owned Small Business Certification

Having a NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) Code is essential to your business when seeking out federal contracts and grants. Your SAM Registration will ask you to provide any and all relevant NAICS Codes to your business. The 5-6 digit code is designed to identify what your company does as a business and the service provided.

The WOSB/EDWOSB Small Business Certification program has specific NAICS Codes when considering who can apply for the certification. To be eligible, the primary NAICS code on your SAM Registration must match what is accepted by the WOSB Program.

To view the list of eligible NAICS Codes for the WOSB Certification, click the button below

Benefits of the WOSB/EDWOSB Certification

Becoming a certified Woman-Owned or Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB/EDWOSB) can greatly increase the growth of your business. The federal government sets aside a percentage of federal contracting dollars each year to WOSB and there are even specific contracts that only WOSB Certified businesses can obtain and bid on.

Some Key benefits of the WOSB/EDWOSB Certification include:

• Access to federal contracts set aside specifically for WOSBs
• 5% of federal contracting dollars are allocated to WOSB Certified small businesses.
• Increased subcontracting opportunities
• WOSB Certified businesses also gain direct contracting access with prime contractors and are listed in exclusive government databases, enhancing their visibility for no-bid and direct-award contracts.
• WOSB set-aside contracts have higher profit margins compared to other contracts

USBRI has been in business since 2011 assisting small businesses with SAM and Set-Aside Certifications. If you have questions or would like more information get in contact with a CRS today by calling the Help Desk at 1-888-646-9998. Learn more about the WOSB/EDWOSB Certification by clicking the button below.

HUBZone Certification: Where Do I Find Assistance?

The HUBZone Certification is one of the Set-Aside Certifications from the SBA (Small Business Administration). Gathering all necessary information is crucial before getting started with the HUBZone application. There are three main ways you can find HUBZone Certification assistance:

1. Office of HUBZone Assistance
   • The Office of HUBZone Assistance holds a conference meeting every Tuesday and Thursday from 2pm-3pm EST by calling the phone number 208-391-5817 (must have a conference ID)
2. Your local SBA Office and PTAC Centers
   • Both offer evening and weekend classes on many of these topics.
3. USBRI Certified Registration Specialist (CRS)
   • Call and speak with a CRS who can answer your questions directly, offering professional filing services for Federal and State Small Business Certifications.  1 (888)-646-9998  Mon-Fri  (9a-5p EST)