WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CERTIFICATION
Become eligible for exclusive Federal Contracts with WOSB (Women-Owned Small Business) or EDWOSB (Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business) certification status
LET’S MAKE SURE YOU’RE GETTING YOUR SHARE – EMPOWER YOUR BUSINESS WITH A FEDERAL CERTIFICATION
Simplify your Women-Owned Small Business certification by working with our experienced team of specialists, who are standing by and ready to help you through the processes. We’ll ensure your business is eligible for the Federal Contracts it deserves.
WOSB Qualifications Checklist
To register and qualify for WOSB status with the federal government, an organization must meet all the following criteria:
- Qualifies for Small Business Status and is not currently part of the WOSB program
- At least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens
- A full-time female employee must hold the highest official position
- Executive women manage day-to-day and long-term operations
If you believe your business qualifies for WOSB certification, begin registration today and join the rest of the WOSB organizations that succeed in the federal marketplace.
Furthermore, if you’re interested in also pursuing EDWOSB (Economically Disadvantaged WOSBs) status, an organization must also meet the following eligibility requirements, in addition to those for WOSB status. The full-time female(s) who holds the highest official position must have:
- A net worth less than $850,000
- $400,000 or less adjusted gross income averaged over the last three years
- $6.5 million or less in personal assets
Ready to get started? Speak with our Certification Specialists to confirm your eligibility:
WOSB Certification Benefits
The federal government reserves 5% (roughly $25 billion) of the annual contracts that they allocate to businesses each year for WOSBs. That translates to billions of dollars in exclusive work opportunities that other registered businesses in the federal marketplace can’t compete for.
For Reference: In 2021, the federal government allocated $637 billion into annual contract spending. Over $26 billion of that fund was enacted for the sole purpose of supporting WOSB organizations with awards and contracting opportunities available only to them. Including these exclusive funding opportunities, there are many advantages to getting your WOSB certification:
- Sole Source Awards – Sole Source Law says that a portion of all federal contracts must be awarded directly to qualified WOSB organizations.
- Set-Aside Awards – Set-aside contracts and grants provide competitive opportunities that only WOSB-registered businesses can bid on.
- Special Preference –Women-owned small businesses also receive preferential review when bidding on open-bid contracts that the rest of the federal marketplace can also compete for.
- Subcontracting Options – WOSB organizations are able to subcontract on the job opportunities they earn. That way the size of a women-owned small business doesn’t determine whether or not it can access lucrative federal jobs.
- Private Sector Opportunities – WOSB certification goes beyond eligibility for federal benefits. It also grants access to exclusive contracting avenues from the private sector as well.
FAMR helps hundreds of female-owned business gain WOSB certification status every year
How Do I Register as a Women-Owned Small Business?
To gain access to these WOSB contracts and opportunities, organizations first need to undergo a comprehensive registration process with the federal government. As with many federal processes, the difference between certification approvals and denials can frequently come down to the smallest clerical errors. The entire registration and certification processes roughly takes between 60 and 70 hours, and that doesn’t include the necessary follow-up work of certification renewals, change-in-business updates, and more. So here are your options:
FAMR – We Make it Easy to Become WOSB-Certified
When you work with us, all you need to do is provide some basic information to get started. We’ll also explain what to expect from your business’ registration and certification process.
We’ll Handle the Rest from There
Our Certification Specialists are dedicated to your organization’s success, and experts at the exhausting art of complex form-filling. We’ll keep you in the loop and work with you at every step of the way during the long federal registration process. We’ll ensure that your business is easily found by awarding and procurement officers to offer the opportunities that benefit you the most.
Once your WOSB-certified business successfully enters the federal marketplace, we’ll stay with you to help with registration renewals. Beyond that, we’ll also review your federal account to make sure everything is accurate, compliant, and optimized for the government contracts and awards you apply for in the future!
Benefits of Partnering with FAMR vs. DIY
- Effortless registration – Faster, easier, and more reliable than manual registration. You provide your business info and we’ll take care of everything else.
- Teammates you can trust – FAMR’s certification specialists are a passionate team
that specializes in registering qualified businesses to work alongside the federal government. We’ve helped businesses of all kinds achieve certification status and are more than happy to walk you through every step of your WOSB certification process to assure your confidence.
DIY – WOSB Self Certification
Right now, qualifying small business owners who are willing to research the lengthy federal certification process may file for WOSB status themselves through the SBA, or through a third-party certifier for Federal Contracts only.
But keep in mind: The federal government requires a lot of information to certify your business, and all of it needs to be submitted flawlessly — otherwise you risk immediate disqualification from the application process.
If a WOSB submits their certification application with errors, those business owners might need to restart the entire registration process again under even harsher guidelines. Not to mention, with the limited time left for WOSB self-registration in mind, that kind of delay can be detrimental to a business’ final certification status.
On top of that, if the WOSB does receive approval despite some clerical errors when filing, that faulty information can go on to create payment delays and negatively impact an organization’s ability to win future contracts.
Challenges of WOSB Self Certification
- Dozens of Registration Hours – Registering WOSB status with the federal government is a time consuming process that takes dedicated effort, patience, and close attention to detail.
- You’re on Your Own– Until the SBA’s new reformations pass, this self-registration process can be completed by business owners who take the time to study and learn how to accurately file their WOSB information with an SBA-approved third-party certifier.
If you still want to self-certify, we have a guide to minimizing complications and hurdles for WOSB certification that will be a helpful starting place.
WOSB & EDWOSB Frequently Asked Questions
Is WOSB certification right for my business?
How does WOSB certification actually help women-owned businesses?
How often does WOSB certification need to be renewed?
As with other certifications, participants in the program must attest to meeting requirements and renew their membership annually (must be submitted within 30 days of the certification anniversary).
What is the difference between WOSB and WBE?
WBEs (Women-Owned Business Enterprises) are companies that are at least 51% owned, managed, and operated by women. However, there aren’t the same criteria around the size of the business that WOSBs and EDWOSBs have.
What industries does WOSB certification apply to?
A wide variety of industries can apply for WOSB certification, and 364 NAICS codes are eligible for WOSB (80 NAICS codes for EDWOSB). Find a full list here.