How to Get Your Black-Owned Business Certified

Despite playing a significant role in driving economic growth, minority-owned businesses still often face challenges accessing capital and resources. If you are a black (or other minority) business owner, getting certified increases your access to the resources you need to make your business a success. These resources can include access to government contracts, grants, coaching, mentorship, and more.

If you’re looking to get your black-owned business certified but don’t know where to start, here are our top tips to help you on your path to certification.

The Small Business Administration

The first organization you should look at is The Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA offers the 8(a) Business Development Program for minority-owned businesses. This program offers one-on-one support, mentorship, advice from regulatory experts, and training. Also, becoming certified with the SBA qualifies your business to compete for federal government contracts.

To qualify for this certification as a minority business, your business must:

• Be a small business

• Not have previously participated in the 8(a) program

• Be at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens who are socially and economically disadvantaged

• Have a personal net worth of $850 thousand or less, adjusted gross income of $400 thousand or less, and assets totaling $6.5 million or less

• Demonstrate good character

• Demonstrate the potential for success such as having been in business for at least two years

Minority Business Enterprise

The Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Certification, issued by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), is one of the largest and most widely recognized diversity certifications in the United States.

To qualify, your business must:

• Be at least 51% minority-owned, managed, and controlled. For the purposes of NMSDC’s program, a minority group member is an individual who is at least 25% Asian-Indian, Asian-Pacific, Black, or Hispanic. Ownership, in the case of a publicly owned business, means that at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more minority group members.

• Be a for-profit enterprise and physically located in the U. S. or its trust territories.

• Management and daily operations must be exercised by the minority ownership member(s).

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state and local programs

In addition to the above organizations, many states and local governments offer comparable programs for minority business certification that come with their own benefits and eligibility requirements. Many MBE certification programs are designed to connect minority-owned businesses with state and local government contracts. Some major cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles also offer programs for MBEs.

The following is a list of state organizations to check out:

Alabama
Department of Economic and Community Affairs
Office of Minority Business Enterprise

California
Department of General Services
Business Development Program

Connecticut
Department of Administrative Services
Supplier Diversity Program

Delaware
Office of Supplier Diversity
Office of Supplier Diversity

Florida
Department of Service Management
Office of Supplier Diversity

Illinois
Department of Transportation
Business Enterprise Program

Indiana
Department of Administration
Minority Business Development Program

Iowa
Department of Inspections and Appeals
Targeted Small Business Certification Program

Kansas
Department of Commerce
Women's and Minority Business Development

Maryland
Department of Transportation
Office of Minority Business Enterprise Program

Massachusetts
Supplier Diversity Office
State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance

Minnesota
Department of Administration
Minnesota Small Business Development

Mississippi
Mississippi Development Authority
Minority and Small Business Development Division

Missouri
Office of Administration
Office of Supplier and Workforce Diversity

New York
Empire State Development
Division of Minority and Women-owned Business Development

North Carolina
Department of Administration
Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses

Ohio
Department of Administrative Services, Equal Opportunity Division
Minority Business Enterprise Unit

Oregon
Oregon Business Services
Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity

Pennsylvania
Department of General Services
Small Diverse Business Program

Rhode Island
Department of Administration
Rhode Island Minority Business Enterprise Compliance Office

South Carolina
Governor’s Office of Small and Minority Business Assistance
Office of Small and Minority Business Assistance

Texas
Texas Economic Development Office
Veteran, Minority, and Women-Owned Business Program

Virginia
Virginia SBSD
Certification Division

Washington
Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise

West Virginia
West Virginia Purchasing Division
Minority Business Center

Wisconsin
Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program