What is a Minority Owned Small Business Certification? 

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To help provide a level playing field for minority business owners, local, state and federal governments limit competition for certain grants and contracts to businesses that are certified as Minority Owned Small Business Enterprises.

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Certified Minority Business Owners (MBEs) have access to numerous benefits and services (see below), including educational programs plus a wide range of networking opportunities. This section briefly outlines some of those benefits. 

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The National Minority Supplier Development Council’s (NMSDC) Certification Policy and Procedures are firmly adhered to by its 23 regional affiliate councils (or RMSDCs) for the certification of minority–owned, managed and controlled businesses. Standardized Procedures assure consistent certification of MBEs throughout the NMSDC Network. The NMSDC is the only national organization providing certification throughout the U.S. for ethnic diverse suppliers ready to do business.

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Benefits of Minority Owned Small Business Certification 

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• Access — Means MBEs doing business with MBEs and forming joint venture for success.

• Business Opportunity Fairs — Allow minority entrepreneurs to present themselves to hundreds of prospective buyers in a single setting.

• Customized executive education — Concentrates training and technical assistance into leadership tools for CEOs of minority-owned firms.

• Networking opportunities — Provide expansion of relationship-building opportunities with corporate buyers.

• And a variety of other formal and informal activities to foster the development of long-term, mutually beneficial business relations – bringing corporate purchasing people together with representatives of minority businesses.

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Requirements for Minority Owned Small Business Certification 

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​Eligibility Requirements for MBE

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• Minorities must own and control at least 51% of the business

• Minority owner(s) must serve as President or CEO (if both positions exist)

• Minority owner(s) must be active in daily management

• Minority owner(s) must be a U.S. citizen

• Minority owner(s) must have the ownership and officer position for at least 6 months

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Eligibility Classifications Minority Owned Small Business Certification 

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Minority Definitions: 

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African-American | Black

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A U.S. citizen having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Sub-Sahara Africa.  These countries include Angola; Benin; Botswana; Burkina-Faso; Burundi; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Central African Republic; Chad; Comoros; Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); Cote d’Ivoire; Djibouti;  Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Kenya; Lesotho; Liberia; Madagascar; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Mauritius; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Nigeria; Rwanda; Sao Tome &Principe; Senegal; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa; Swaziland; Tanzania; Togo; Uganda; Western Sahara; Zambia; and Zimbabwe.

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Caribbean natives of African descent are also eligible. These islands include Aruba; Barbados; Bonaire; the Cayman Islands; Saint Croix; The Bahamas or Antigua; Cuba; Hispaniola; Puerto Rico; Jamaica; Dominica; Montserrat; Saba; Saint Kitts; Saint Lucia; Saint Thomas; Saint John; Tortola; Grenada; Saint Vincent; Guadeloupe; Martinique; and Trinidad & Tobago.

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Asian-Indian

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A U.S. citizen whose origins are from the Asian Indian region. These countries include Bangladesh; India; Indonesia; Nepal; Pakistan; Sri Lanka.

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Asian-Pacific

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A U.S. citizen whose origins are from the Asian Pacific region.  These countries include the following: Cambodia; China; Guam; Japan; Korea; Laos; Malaysia; the Philippines; Samoa; Thailand; Tibet; Taiwan; the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific or the Northern Marianas; and, Vietnam.

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Hispanic | Latin American

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A U.S. citizen of true-born Hispanic heritage, from any of the Spanish-speaking areas of the following regions:

Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South America, Uruguay, Venezuela.

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The Caribbean Basin only, Brazilians (Afro-Brazilian, indigenous/Indian only) shall be listed under Hispanic designation for review and certification purposes.

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Native American 

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A person who is an American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut or Native Hawaiian, and regarded as such by the community of which the person claims to be a part.

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Native Americans must be documented members of a North American tribe, band or otherwise organized group of native people who are indigenous to the continental United States and proof can be provided through a Native American Blood Degree Certificate (i.e., tribal registry letter, tribal roll register number).

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Why Let Our Team Get You Certified As A Minority Owned Small Business? 

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Frankly, because our team has expertise in certification we are able to prepare the documents needed for certification in a timely and professional manner.  The typical small business owner finds it difficult to complete the paperwork and government requests that are needed for certification.  We will ensure that you have filed what is needed accurately, and promptly.

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Our Process:

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• Free extensive consultation of what certification you are looking for.

• Professional audit of your business and sharing with the business owner exactly what is needed for certification before applying.

• Completion of all required documents and applications needed for certification.  

• Outstanding communication:

  • With issuers of certificates​

  • With business owner on progress, expectations, needed documentation or signatures, and when you can expect your certificate.

• So you do not have to worry, our experts will serve as a your communication hub with the agencies you are seeking certification with.

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