Disclaimer: Before we jump in, it’s important to know that these are general rules of thumb, as each procurement office has the discretion as to which certificates they will accept. For example, while the WOSB is only intended for contracting with federal agencies, a corporate procurement officer that would typically only accept WBENC may choose to allow you to submit the WOSB if you do not have WBENC. This is always on a case by case basis, so when in doubt, ask the procurement office directly!

If You’re Pursuing Commercial Clients, Private Sector, and/or Sell Retail Products

If You’re Pursuing Federal Government Contracting

If You’re Pursuing State and City Government Contracting

If You’re Pursuing Department of Transportation DOT Contracting (State or Federal)

Clients by Certificate: Where Can I Use Each Certificate?

WBENC WBE (women’s business enterprise)

• • Private sector, commercial services, and retail products. Hundreds of corporations around the country in various industries including utility companies, retail box stores, universities, grocery stores, hospital systems, tech companies, automotive, hotel chains, financial and insurance, etc., plus many, many more companies not included in the linked list above.
• • Some state or city contracting. States like PA, DE and cities like Philadelphia accept the WBENC certificate as a fast track to get registered with their own local contracting certificates.

NMSDC MBE (minority business enterprise)

• • Another national certificate like WBENC. See above.

NaVOBA (veteran-owned)

• • Another national certificate like WBENC. See above.

Disability:In (disability-owned)

• • Another national certificate like WBENC. See above.

NGLCC (LGBTBE-owned)

• • Another national certificate like WBENC. See above.

WOSB (women owned small business)

• • US federal agencies. Useful for the SBA’s federal contracting program. Does not trickle down to state contracting, and will generally not be useful in the private sector. You can add on the WOSB to your WBENC application to save time and get two certificates for one application, or you can apply separately with the SBA.

EDWOSB (economically disadvantaged WOSB)

• • US federal agencies. Useful for the SBA’s federal contracting program. Does not trickle down to state contracting, and will generally not be useful in the private sector. Unlike WOSB, you CANNOT add the EDWOSB onto your WBENC certificate given the more invasive application process into personal financials. You can apply directly with the SBA. Learn more about the difference between WOSB and EDWOSB.

DOT DBE

• • Transportation contracting at both federal and state level with the DOT, airports, port authorities and other agencies in transportation. Generally is not transferrable or useful for non-transportation contracting with states or cities, or commercial services in the private corporate sector.
• • Each state maintains their own DBE application. As of May 2024, states will be mandated to allow reciprocity for the DBE, making it easier for small businesses to work across state lines by applying only with their home state.
• • The PAUCP DBE is Pennsylvania’s application program.
• • Delaware DelDOT DBE
• • New Jersey NJDOT DBE

State and/or City WBE Certificates

• • Each state usually maintains their own WBE, MBE and/or SDB certificate. It is important to note that these certificates are generally for doing business specifically and only with that state or city’s department of general services, as well as agencies/departments that fall under the state/city administration umbrella.
• • This means that these certificates will often not be transferrable across state lines, will not be useful for transportation contracting, and will not be useful in the private sector for working with corporations within that particular state or city.
• • Some states/cities will accept a national certifier like WBENC as a fast track to their own state/city certificates.
• • Below you’ll find more examples of local state and/or city certificates, as well as their usefulness:

Delaware DSB

• • Intended for state contracting with Delaware Department of State (OSD). Useful for state projects, or any agency/department that falls under the umbrella of state administration. Generally not transferrable across state lines or useful in the private sector or transportation sector.
• • Accepts WBENC as a fast track for DSB certification

Pennsylvania SDB

• • Intended for state contracting with Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS), Bureau of Small Business Opportunities (BDISBO). Useful for state projects, or any agency/department that falls under the umbrella of state administration. Generally not transferrable across state lines or useful in the private sector or transportation sector.
• • Accepts WBENC as a fast track for SDB certification

New Jersey SBE (small business enterprise) and MWBE (minority and/or women business enterprise)

• • New Jersey maintains their MWBE registry for informational purposes, and does not have a specific pathway for women or minority owned businesses to access state contracting projects. You may find it useful for some local NJ municipalities, who look at the MWBE registry. Generally will not be useful in the private sector, transportation, or across state lines.
• • New Jersey DOES prioritize small businesses in general for state construction projects through the SBE program. Keep in mind this is only for state contracting, and will generally not be useful in the private sector or across state lines.

Philadelphia M/W/DSBE (minority, woman or disabled-owned business enterprise)

• • Useful for contracting both with the city of Philadelphia Office of Economic Opportunity as well as some agencies and departments in the Philadelphia area. Philadelphia aims to award 35% of contracts to WMDSBEs.
• • Accepts WBENC as a fast track for M/W/DSBE certification.

Other Local WBE or MBE Certificates

• • Many small business centers, non-profits, or procurement offices will offer their own in-house supplier certificates. It’s important to do your research into whether these certificates will be useful to you and your clients in the long run.
• • A local WBE certificate issued by a small business center in your city may be useful if your business’ service area is small, and you are only planning to work with local clients. Ensure you check with your clients to confirm they accept that local certificate.
• • But keep in mind that if you choose to expand your service area, clients outside that city/region may not recognize that local certificate program, and may ask for a national certificate.

Self-Certification WBE or MBE Certificates

• • We get it. Going through the application process of any of the above certifications can be rigorous. You’ll need to submit tax returns, stock certificates, operating agreements, and often go through a site visit or interview. Some business owners are tempted to pursue a seemingly quick and easy self-certification through a third-party private (and usually for-profit) certificate provider.
• • But there’s a reason that these are falling out of favor with procurement departments across the country. That quick and easy process usually lacks the due diligence of checking ownership and actually verifying that the business is run by the woman owner, opening up the door to people who do not meet the eligibility of the certificate programs listed above.
• • It’s for this reason that the federal government actually eliminated self-certification for their WOSB program in 2020, in favor of a more thorough process of vetting and validating their applicants.
• • So while self-certification may seem the fastest route, it may end up costing you clients in the future as more and more corporations, states, and cities seek to validate the small businesses they work with.

The Bottom Line

1. Start by identifying your client base – are you pursuing state, city, federal contracts, private sector, transportation, or a combination?

2. Many business owners maintain more than one certificate if they do work in different public and private sectors.

3. Before applying for any certificate, do your research into which clients typically accept that certificate, and ask your target clients if they accept that specific one.

4. Keep in mind that state and/or city certificates or registrations are only useful for doing business with that state or city’s department of general services and any agencies that fall under that state’s administration umbrella. It’s not a good use of your time to register with a bunch of states that you won’t be pursuing directly for government contracts.

5. When looking at the commercial services or wholesale/retail products in the corporate private sector, a national certifier like WBENC, NMSDC, NGLCC, NaVOBA, or Disability:In is generally the way to go.

6. Applications submitted to any of the certification programs referenced in this article are reviewed separately. They are their own individual programs. Approval or denial from one certificate does not guarantee approval or denial from another.

7. When in doubt, ask! Do an internet search for your target client’s procurement department and/or inquire directly with a procurement officer about which certificate(s) they prefer.

This article was last updated on 4/24/2024.