What is WBE certification?
Updated November 10, 2026. Facts from official pages read on that date (listed under Sources). EasBid is an independent bid search service and is not affiliated with any government agency.
WBE certification is a state, city or other public agency's confirmation that a business is at least 51% owned, controlled and run by one or more women, which lets the business count toward that agency's women-owned contracting goals and appear in its directory of certified firms. There is no single national WBE program. Each state, city, county or transit agency that runs one sets its own rules, and the federal government runs a separate program, the SBA's Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract program, for federal set-asides. This guide explains the common tests using two official state and city programs as worked examples, then compares state WBE certification with federal WOSB so you can decide which one, or both, you need. Facts come from official pages read November 10, 2026.
WBE vs. WOSB: the short answer
Use a state or local WBE certification to compete for work from that state, city or agency. Use SBA's WOSB certification to compete for federal set-asides. SBA states that WOSB benefits apply only to federal contracting, and a state WBE does not by itself make you eligible for federal WOSB set-asides. Many women-owned firms that sell to both levels of government hold both.
| Question | State or local WBE | Federal WOSB |
|---|---|---|
| Who certifies | The state, city or agency office | SBA, through SBA Certifications |
| Where it counts | That government's contracts and goals | Federal contracts only |
| Ownership | At least 51% women-owned and controlled (rules vary) | At least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens |
| Rules | State law or city rules | 13 CFR Part 127 |
What 51% owned and controlled means
Every program asks two separate questions. Ownership: do women hold at least 51% of the business? Washington's certification office adds that the owner must show a real contribution of capital or expertise to acquire that share, in proportion to what she owns, and that simply working for the company is not enough. Control: do the women owners actually run it? Washington requires the owner to control management and day-to-day operations. New York City requires the business to be owned, operated and controlled by the women or minority owners. SBA's WOSB rule says women must manage day-to-day operations and also make long-term decisions.
In practice, reviewers look at governing documents, bank signature cards, who signs contracts, who hires, and whether a non-owner can veto decisions. Paper ownership with someone else running the firm is the most common reason for denial in every program.
Worked example 1: Washington State
Washington's Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises (OMWBE) certifies firms for state, local government, school district and public university work. It offers seven state certification types, including WBE for businesses owned by non-minority women and MWBE for businesses owned by minority women. Its stated rules for all certifications include:
- The business must be for-profit, licensed to do business in Washington, and able to do the core work in the owner's area of expertise.
- It must be small under SBA size standards for its NAICS codes and under an overall cap of $32.82 million in gross receipts averaged over three years.
- Owners must be socially and economically disadvantaged. For state certification, women are among the groups presumed socially disadvantaged.
- Owner personal net worth generally may not exceed $2.047 million, not counting equity in the owner's home or in the business being certified.
OMWBE says U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is not required for its state certification, and that there is no cost to apply after it waived fees indefinitely. State certification also lets a firm apply for Washington's Linked Deposit Program, which OMWBE says can cut small business loan rates by up to 2%.
Worked example 2: New York City M/WBE
New York City's Department of Small Business Services certifies women-owned and minority-owned firms through its M/WBE program. The city lists these requirements:
- The business must be legally allowed to operate in New York State and must have sold goods or services for at least one year.
- At least 51% must be owned, operated and controlled by U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are women and/or members of designated minority groups.
- It must be a sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation or partnership; nonprofits are not eligible.
- Its main office must be in the five boroughs or one of the listed nearby counties in New York and New Jersey, or it must show a real presence in the city market.
The city's page lists the program as free and shows a five-year term. The document checklist includes owner resumes, bank letters, recent tax returns, proof of citizenship or permanent residence, licenses and leases. Firms already certified by some partner agencies can use a faster FastTrack application.
Federal WOSB and EDWOSB: SBA's rules
To bid on federal WOSB set-asides, a firm must apply for certification on SBA Certifications, which SBA describes as its free online certification process. Eligibility:
- Small under SBA size standards.
- At least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens.
- Women manage day-to-day operations and also make long-term decisions.
The economically disadvantaged level, EDWOSB, adds money limits for each woman owner: personal net worth under $850,000, adjusted gross income of $400,000 or less averaged over the previous three years, and personal assets of $6.5 million or less. Retirement account funds are excluded from net worth. Set-asides are limited to industries, identified by NAICS code, where SBA finds women-owned firms underrepresented; SBA publishes that list.
SBA also accepts four approved third-party certifiers, but firms certified by one must still upload that certificate and proof of citizenship to SBA Certifications before bidding. Whenever practicable, SBA decides within 90 calendar days of a complete package. The government's goal is 5% of federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses.
How to get WBE certification, step by step
- Decide where you sell. List the governments you want as customers: your state, your city, a transit or port authority, or federal agencies.
- Find each program's official office. Our state vendor guides list the certification programs we found for each state.
- Check the eligibility page for size, residency, years in business and documents, which differ by program.
- Gather ownership and control records: formation documents, ownership ledger, proof of your capital contribution, tax returns, bank letters, leases and licenses.
- Apply online through the agency's portal, and answer follow-up questions quickly.
- For federal work, register in SAM.gov first (see our SAM.gov guide) and apply for WOSB on SBA Certifications.
Keeping your certification
Each program has its own renewal. New York City shows a five-year term. For WOSB, SBA requires an annual attestation within 30 days of the certification anniversary, which SBA currently has in abeyance, plus a program examination every three years and an annual update of your SAM.gov profile. Report ownership or control changes to every program that certified you.
Frequently asked questions
What is a WBE?
A Women's Business Enterprise: a business at least 51% owned, controlled and operated by women and certified as such by a state, city or other public agency.
Is WBE the same as WOSB?
No. WBE certification is issued by state and local agencies for their own contracts. WOSB is SBA's federal program for federal set-asides. Many firms hold both.
Is WBE certification free?
It depends on the program. Washington's OMWBE says there is no cost to apply, and New York City lists its M/WBE program as free. SBA describes its WOSB process as free. Check your own program's page.
What are the EDWOSB income and net worth limits?
Each woman owner needs personal net worth under $850,000, average adjusted gross income of $400,000 or less over three years, and personal assets of $6.5 million or less.
How long does WOSB certification take?
SBA says that whenever practicable it decides within 90 calendar days after receiving a complete package.
Do I need to be a U.S. citizen for WBE certification?
For federal WOSB, yes. Local rules vary: New York City accepts citizens or permanent residents, and Washington says citizenship or permanent residency is not required for its state certification.
Where can women-owned businesses find bids?
Look at state and city bid portals for local work and federal set-asides for WOSB work. EasBid lists women-owned set-aside bids in one place.
Sources
- SBA business certifications: 8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB (sba.gov, read November 10, 2026)
- State Certification, Washington OMWBE (omwbe.wa.gov, read November 10, 2026)
- Certification Eligibility, Washington OMWBE (omwbe.wa.gov, read November 10, 2026)
- Certification Fees, Washington OMWBE (omwbe.wa.gov, read November 10, 2026)
- NYC Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Certification Program (nyc.gov, read November 10, 2026)
- Certify with the City, NYC Small Business Services (nyc.gov, read November 10, 2026)