It feels like you just got certified… and now it’s time for your annual recertification. Don’t fret.
This annual touchpoint ensures that all certified businesses continue to meet the WBENC criteria. We see enough changes every year, that annual recertification continues to be necessary.
But we want to make it as smooth as possible for you. If you ever have additional questions please reach out to our certification team today, we’d be happy to assist in any way possible.
When to Recertify
You can renew your WBENC certification up to 4 months early, and your annual renewal date never changes.
So if you expire in December and you know the holidays are extra busy, send it in around late August or September. Vice versa, if you forget and recertify in January, you’ll still need to renew again come December.
If you have had no ownership/management changes, and you get all documents in correctly, you can likely expect it to go through in about 2-3 weeks.
If you have had ownership/management changes, the certification committee meets generally twice monthly to approve changes, so keep that in mind.
Filling Out Your Recertification
Log in to WBENCLink using the same route that you used to apply the first time around. Then follow the prompts to start your recertification.
Pro tip: Look for the “auto-populate” option to pull in all of the information that you typed last year, and save yourself a ton of time.
Make sure you proofread everything, and make any updates to contact information, website URLs, etc.
Take a look at your business description- does it still give a strong impression of your capabilities?
Look at your ownership- does it exactly match up to the ownership reported on your latest tax return?
Documents to Have Ready
Sworn Affidavit: Must be signed by majority woman owner every year (or all women owners making up 51%) and notarized
WBENCLink User Agreement: Must be signed by majority woman owner every year (or all women owners making up 51%). No notary required.
For corporations: most recent board of directors and/or shareholders minutes.
If you are the only owner/director you can upload a statement that you elect not to hold meetings.
Annual financials:
- Most recent tax return**
- Most recent year-end balance sheet and profit loss statement
- Most recent W2s for all owners/directors
- Any new signed loans, leases, or lines of credit
**It if is early in the year and your taxes aren’t done yet, send in the most recent prior year. However if it is past the tax filing deadline for the current year and your taxes aren’t done, you must send a current IRS extension approval.
As for the rest of the list of documents…
You do not need to reupload them unless something has changed. Sold some stocks? Upload the new ledger, stock certificates, and sale agreement. Changed headquarters? Upload the new lease. Etc.
Do You Need a Site Visit?
Site visits are conducted every 3 years to check in with the owners.
The vast majority of site visits will be done virtually. A site visitor may request to come in person if you have a manufacturing facility or heavy equipment to tour.
Overall the visit will take less than 30 minutes of your time, and you’ll be able to select an appointment time that works for your schedule.
Oh No, I Sent It In Late!
You can recertify up to 6 months after you expire, just keep in mind that your expiration date never changes, so you will still have to recertify again within the next year
HOWEVER- if you do not renew within 6 months of expiring, your certification will be permanently closed.
No one wants you to have to start over as a new applicant, so mark your calendar and send it in early.
Log in to get started on your recertification
Have any questions? Always feel free to reach out to our certification team. We’re here to help.