Meaningful Benefits and WOSB Certification Lookup

Can a certification for women-owned businesses help you get more leads, land contracts, and generate money? Learn how a WOSB, EDWOSB, or WBE certification can help your business.

Female entrepreneurs continue to make progress across industries, according to the State of Women-Owned Enterprises Report, with the number of women-owned businesses increasing by 21% between 2014 and 2019.

Obtaining certification as a woman-owned firm might lead to commercial and government contracts. However, it also opens up some other possibilities. Learn about the WOSB certification lookup and how to obtain them.

Overview: What is a certification for women-owned businesses?

Working with the federal government and conducting business with municipalities or the private sector are among the certifications available to women-owned businesses. The following are examples of certificate types:

·         Small Businesses Run by Women (WOSB)

·         Women-Owned Small Businesses in Economically Disadvantaged Areas (EDWOSB)

·         Women's Entrepreneurship (WBE)

Although eligibility varies by certification, your company must have at least 50% female ownership in most circumstances. You'll need your WOSB or EDWOSB certification to participate in federal programs as a woman-owned business. The WBE designation is accepted by private businesses.

There are three advantages to obtaining the certification for women-owned businesses.

Although certification does not immediately increase your revenue, it does provide you with credibility because all three credentials are well-known and respected. In addition, accreditation opens doors to new business opportunities. The following are some of the advantages of certification:

1. As a WOSB certification lookup, visibility is required to compete with larger companies.

Contracts with the federal government are very competitive. Federal government agencies are required by law to accomplish contracting goals by awarding a certain number of contracts to EDWOSBs or WOSBs.

You can participate in set-aside contracts for certain industries and sectors in the North American Industry Classification System if you have a women-owned small business certification (NAICS). You can also register with several databases, such as the System for Award Management of the Department of Defense (SAM).

Private firms collaborate with women-owned businesses for a variety of reasons, including tax benefits. With a WBE accreditation, your company is added to a database that large organizations utilize to diversify their supplier base.

You can display your WOSB certification lookup both online and in-person, for example, on your website or social media profiles.

2. Educational and networking possibilities are available to you.

The WOSB program is overseen by the Small Business Association (SBA). By searching the DOD Subcontracting Directory for a mentor and applying, certified organizations can participate in the Mentor-Protégé Program.

The Women's Business Enterprise National Council works to advocate for female entrepreneurs and assist them to network with leaders, therefore having a WBE certification offers you access to a wealth of tools.

Individuals engaging in various sorts of entrepreneurship have potential prospects, including:

• The annual Summit & Salute event is held every year. 
• National Conference & Trade Show 
• Workshops 
• Keynote addresses 
• Webinars 
• Events for networking and marketing

3. Obtaining leads

You can view opportunities and submit bids for competitive set-aside contracts after you have your WOSB. You might also be eligible for sole-source contracts. The Small Business Administration (SBA) assists small businesses and underserved organizations in navigating the complex government contracting procedures.

You can access a database of Fortune 500 organizations if you qualify for the WBE certification. You can look through the list to see if any potential business partners are interested in supplier diversity.

When applying for the Women-Owned Business Certification, there are three best practices to follow.

The greatest thing you can do is choose which certification best meets your needs and focus your efforts on obtaining it first. The WOSB certification lookup can take several months to complete, so start early and plan how you'll use it if your company qualifies.

1. Speak with the small business office in your area.

Each of the organizations listed above provides different kinds of assistance for certification and other small company needs. View available services, and accreditation alternatives, and check if a local small business office is available in your region.

This might give you an indication of what to expect and point you in the direction of other resources, such as women's business grants.

2. Become familiar with government contracts

Discover which industries offer the most prospects for female entrepreneurs. Begin by visiting USASpending.gov. Here you'll find thorough information about the federal government's contracting process and the parties involved.

3. Make a government registration.

Regardless matter whether you are a WOSB or not, you must first register with the government before bidding. This can be done on the SAM website, where you'll receive an MPIN code that you'll need for your WOSB application. Obtain a DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), a unique nine-digit identifying number required for WOSB accreditation.

Increase the trustworthiness of your business.

It's not easy to earn a client's trust. Adding a certification for women-owned businesses is one method to demonstrate your reliability, generate leads, and get the help you need to stand out from the crowd regarding WOSBcertification lookup.