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The National Association of Women Business Owners-Silicon Valley is the consummate destination association for CEOs, entrepreneurs and
executive officers of diverse, women-owned businesses. Members are recognized worldwide by prestigious organizations as leaders
of successful and professionally run companies.

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Women Owned Business Certification

Does NAWBO certify businesses?

NAWBO does not certify women owned businesses. For more information regarding certification, please contact one of the following organizations: WBENC

| NWBOC

WBENC Certification Process

Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)

Why be Certified?
The WBENC certification for women-owned businesses is one of the most widely recognized and respected certifications in the nation. Accepted by over 700 major corporations across the country and a number of federal and government agencies, your WBENC certification will be an important marketing tool for expanding your company’s visibility among decision makers in corporate supplier diversity and procurement.

Special programs and initiatives developed by WBENC also provide certified WBEs with added information, training and resources for growing their business opportunities in both the public and private sectors. Moreover, WBENC exclusive initiatives like WBENCLink, WEBuy, the Accelerator Program are designed especially for certified women’s business enterprises.

Criteria for Certification
1. Fifty-one percent ownership by a woman or women.
2. Proof of effective management of the business (operating position, by-laws, hire-fire, other decision-making role.)
3. Control of the business as evidenced by signature role on loans, leases and contracts.
4. US Citizenship or US Resident Alien Status

Important Links
Certification Process
Certification Standards Outline
Instructions/Application
Required Attachments
Sworn Affidavit

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NWBOC Certification Process

National Women Business Owners Corporation

NWBOC provides a national certification program for women-owned businesses. The certification, called “Woman Business Enterprise” (WBE) Certification, ensures that a private, for-profit company is truly owned and controlled by a woman or women.

Obtaining WBE Certification is an important business development strategy for women business owners for two primary reasons:

First, most local and national government purchasing agencies track and/or have programs for doing business with women business owners. Having WBE Certification is the only way the purchasing agents have confidence that a business representing itself as woman-owned is in fact woman-owned.
Second, in a similar manner many publicly-held corporations, as well as larger private corporations, also track and have programs for doing business with women-owned vendor companies. They, too, rely on WBE Certification.

Important Links
Basic Information About WBE Certification
Types of Certification
NWBOC Application Process

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Other Resources

FirstGov

U.S. Business Advisor

U.S. Small Business Administration’s Subnet

Contract Assistance for Women Business Owners U.S. Small Business Administration

Contracting and Business Development U.S. Small Business Administration

Pro-Net An online information database of small businesses for contracting officers

Womenbiz.gov Gateway for Women-Owned Businesses selling to the Federal government

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