Veteran-Owned and Women-Owned Business Certification: Don't Pay for an Expensive Fake
Offers to certify a veteran-owned or women-owned business can run into the thousands. The official SBA certifications are free, and many of the ones for sale carry no weight with a federal contracting officer.
If you own a veteran-owned or women-owned small business, you've probably noticed offers to "certify" your company, often for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Before you pay, here's what you need to know.
What these certifications are for
The Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) certifications exist for primarily one reason: they allow you to compete for federal contracts that are set aside for those businesses. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) operates these programs, and it charges nothing to apply.
What are the "fakes"
Some companies sell certificates, badges, or directory listings that look official but are not connected to the SBA, nor do they have standing with it. A federal contracting officer won't be able to accept them. Others charge high fees to file an application you could have submitted by yourself for free.
You may not need certification at all
If your business isn't planning to bid on federal set-aside contracts, you may not need the certification at all. You are free to state on your website and in your marketing materials that your business is veteran-owned or woman-owned. For many small businesses, that is all the recognition they need.
Bottom line
For federal contracting, start with the SBA. It's free, it's the official source, and it is the certification that holds weight.
The SBA's certification programs: sba.gov/certifications