MBE and WBE certification, done end-to-end.

What is MBE / WBE certification

MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) and WBE (Women Business Enterprise) certifications are formal designations granted by city, state, or federal agencies confirming that your business meets the ownership and operational criteria to participate in set-aside contract programs. Once certified, you become eligible for:

• Direct procurement under the NYC M/WBE Non-Competitive Small Purchase Method (contracts up to $500,000 can be awarded without formal bidding)
• M/WBE subcontracting requirements that primes must meet on city projects
• Preference points and percentage advantages in evaluated bids
• Inclusion in NYC SBS and NYS ESD vendor matching events
• The credibility marker that opens doors with chambers of commerce and prime contractors

What we do

We handle the entire certification process from start to filing:

• Eligibility analysis. We confirm that your business meets the ownership, operational, and size criteria for the certifications you want, and we identify any structural issues that need to be addressed before filing.
• Document checklist. NYC MBE requires roughly 20 supporting documents — tax returns, organizational documents, lease agreements, bank statements, resumes, and more. We send you a precise checklist organized by document type.
• Application drafting. The application narrative — describing the business operations, ownership structure, and decision-making authority — is where most self-filers lose points. We draft the narrative based on what the certifying office actually wants to see.
• Filing. We submit through NYC PASSPort or NYS portal, attach all supporting documents in the required format, and confirm receipt.
• Agency follow-up. If the certifying office asks for additional documentation or clarification, we respond on your behalf within 48 hours.
• Renewal calendar. Certifications expire. We set up the renewal calendar so you do not lose your certification because nobody remembered.

Timeline

Document gathering on your side typically takes one to two weeks. Once we have everything, we draft and file within five business days. Then the certifying office takes over: NYC MBE averages four to eight weeks for review, NYS MWBE averages six to ten weeks, federal DBE varies by state. We follow up at appropriate intervals and keep you informed.

Related services

MBE certification is the entry ticket, not the finish line. To actually win contracts, you'll usually want one or more of these too:

• SAM.gov + DSBS Setup — federal contractor registration. Required for any federal opportunity.
• Capability Statement — the one-pager every government buyer asks for before they'll consider a bid from you.
• Bid & RFP Response Writing — when you find the right opportunity, the response itself wins or loses you the contract.
• Grant Applications — federal, state, and foundation grants for which MBE certification often unlocks higher award rates.
• Pipeline Subscription — weekly bid opportunities matched to your NAICS codes and capacity.

Resources to read first

• How Long Does NYC MBE Certification Actually Take? — the honest distribution: median 12 weeks, fast quartile 8, tail 6 months.
• Full pricing detail — all 4 tiers explained with what you actually pay for and what you never pay.
• 5-minute Access Audit — find every program you actually qualify for, free.

What we do not do

We do not guarantee approval. Certification is determined by the certifying office, not by us. We do not provide legal advice if your ownership structure has historical complexities that may require attorney review — in those cases, we refer you to qualified attorneys before filing. We do not pay your agency filing fees (NYC MBE is typically free; federal programs may have nominal fees that are passed through at cost).

Common questions