Women-Owned Business Certification and the process of achieving certification explained, WBE, Women Business Enterprise Certification, 2014 State of Women-Owned Businesses by American Express OPEN

1. WBE
*Certified*
Women Business Enterprise (WBE)
Certification: What, Why, How?

2. First, some
statistics from
"The 2014 State
of Women-
Owned
Businesses"
report
commissioned by
American Express
OPEN

3. 68% - the increase of women-
owned businesses between 1997
and 2014, in the United States

4. 91% - growth of women-owned
businesses in North Carolina
(1997-2014)

5. $1.4 Trillion in revenue
generated by women-owned
businesses on a national level
(2014)

6. 7,854,200
employees work
for women-owned
businesses
(2014)

7. 7,854,200
employees work
for women-owned
businesses
(2014)
9,087,200
women-owned
firms in the
United States
(2014)
(estimate)

8. What is (Minority, Women ,
Veteran, Small) Business
Enterprise Certification?
Certification of a small business is
a review process that gives formal
acknowledgement that the business
is owned and operated by a
qualifying person, which is under
represented in an industry. Not all
businesses can receive
certification.

9. What is the criteria for the WBE
Certification?
Minimum 51% ownership of business
by a woman or women
Proof of effective management and
control of the business
Documented evidence of contribution
of capital and/or expertise
US Citizenship or Legal Resident
Alien status
NOT based on company size,
profitability or number of employees
NOT affected by owner(s)' Personal
Net Worth

10. What is the Certification process?
Example of possible life cycle of the certification process

11. Why go through the arduous
process of applying for the WBE
Certification?
Achieve a competitive advantage (it's a
National Certification)
WBEs can see a jump in sales
Large corporations and government
agencies allocate portions of their business
dealings specifically for certified women-
owned businesses
WBE Certification can be the final
consideration in closing a deal on new
business
WBEs that meet the certification criteria
cannot afford to pass up this golden
opportunity

12. How does a woman business
owner apply for the WBE
Certification?
An application, copies of required documentation
and fee is sent to a 3rd party certifier for
processing*. Currently, the 3rd party certifiers
that issue National WBE Certification are:
National Women's Business Owners
Corporation (NWBOC)
US Women's Chamber of Commerce
Women's Business Enterprise National
Council (WBENC)
*Each 3rd party certifier has its own application,
criteria and list of required documentation.

13. "More recently, LaPorta's company
became a certified women's business
enterprise (WBE). "It opened doors
and brought results immediately," she
reports. "I'm now doing business with
Office Depot and MGM Properties.
All told, I've brought in $80 million in
business from my certifications."
Mercedes LaPorta, Mercedes
Electric Suppy (WBE
Certified), Miami, Florida:

14. Top Floor Legal, PC:
"women-owned businesses
that endure the application
process will be rewarded
through more business, greater
contacts, and an elevated
image. The message is clear:
certification should be a
priority for women-owned
businesses."

15. CorporateDocuments
Before you apply for any business certification, please
make sure that your corporate documents are in
order, up-to-date and in compliance with the
Secretary of State where the business resides.

16. 2014StateofWomen-Owned
Businesses
CertificationforWomen-Owned
Businesses.TopFloorLegal,PC
RegisteringasWoman-OwnedCan
BoostyourBusiness
WhatisSmallBusiness
Certification?
Resources Referenced

17. Links are provided throughout this
document, where verbage is quoted from
a particular report, article or website.
There is no legal advise offered or
implied, no guarantees are made that a
business will receive a business
certification.

18. Is the Women Business Enterprise
Certification right for you?
It depends on your target market and
your growth strategy.
WBE Certification is not for all
women-owned businesses.

19. Need help with your Women
Business Enterprise
Certification?
How may I assist you?
Contact me at:
vilma@womenwrule.com
@VilmaBetancourt
I am a Certified Site Visitor for
the National Women Business
Owner's Corporation