WOSB Certification Made Simple: Your Essential Checklist

What Is the WOSB Certification?

The WOSB Certification is a highly regarded asset for women entrepreneurs who aspire to leverage government contracts. This federal certification verifies that a business’s ownership and operations are run by women, and provides numerous benefits. Certified WOSBs are esteemed as credible and resilient, as they are able to carry out contract commitments seamlessly. 

Certified women-owned small businesses are granted a higher level of visibility amongst OSDBUs and federal agencies. A WOSB Certification also represents your small business in a better light. Additionally, government agencies have consistently shown a preference for certified WOSBs while awarding past contracts. Women-owned small businesses that are certified can access a diverse pool of financial resources, ranging from tax deductions to state grants.

Eligibility Criteria revolve mainly around three broad parameters: 

1. Ownership and control requirements: The small business must be owned or controlled by a woman who is a US citizen. 
2. Business size standards: It must meet the small business size standards set by the SBA in terms of employee count and revenue. 
3. Compatibility: It must operate in the industries specifically designated by the SBA as eligible for the WOSB certification.

Additionally, you can answer three questions mentioned on the official WOSB website to check your eligibility before you actually apply.

How to Acquire WOSB Certification?

To be certified as a WOSB requires attention to detail and leaves no scope for mistakes. Follow the steps below to maximize your chances of getting your WOSB application approved:

Register Your Business with SAM

Your small business must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). This means that your firm’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and basic information must match your SAM registration. You need a valid email address and your business’s UEI number to complete your registration at SAM. The approval process of your SAM account can take several days, so plan your WOSB Application timeline accordingly. 

Create Your Certify Account

Once your account has been registered successfully, you can proceed to the certify section of the WOSB site. Click on “Get Started” and select “Create Account.” Once you verify your email address, you must claim your business. Collect your TIN, UEI, and bank account information provided in the SAM registration. Enter these details on the Claim Business page and click on the “Find” button. Once your applicant firm is visible in the search, verify all the details and click the “Claim” button. Your application will be verified by the SBA Eligibility Question that will test your compliance with your NAICS codes.

Fill Out Your Application

To be eligible for the WOSB Certification, you need to start gathering the required documents. Luckily, the official WOSB Certification website has provided a helpful preparation checklist to streamline the whole process. You may need documents like business licenses, tax returns, articles of incorporation, and much more. Moreover, you are required to submit individual contributor cards. Your Certify Account also has sections to attribute delegates and individual contributors from your business.

Review and Submit Your Application

Double check every entry and edit your responses to the application questions. Since each question card has a panel to upload the document directly, you cannot upload all the documents collectively. Each document must be submitted as a PDF file with open access. Complete your application by attesting the Self Certification Summary.

Post-Submission Steps and What to Expect

Confirm that your application has been submitted by navigating to the application dashboard. Keep checking the status of your application regularly on the Certify account. Reach out to SBA agents directly by clicking on the messages tab if you have any questions. 

In case your application is returned, you need to revise your provided information or offer additional details to the SBA. In these circumstances, a letter by the SBA analyst appears in your ‘Documents’ tab describing the additional information required. You can communicate with the SBA agent directly in the Messages tab if you need assistance. 

It is important to note that once you submit your application for the WOSB Certification, you will have eight months.