Prepare to apply for the Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program

These checklists identify the documents that applicants will be required to submit in the application process. The beta.Certify application process is easier when applicants gather these documents before starting the application. Within the checklists outlined below the required documents have been organized by the “cards” that will be filled out for the certification application.

Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Preparation Checklist

Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) Preparation Checklist

Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Checklist

Qualifying individual(s) include one or more women claiming 51% ownership

Active registration in the System for Award Management for the firm, available at SAM.gov (Note: The firm’s UEI and EIN, and MPIN must exactly match SAM registration)
Note: SAM.gov registrations should be for the purposes of "All Awards" and not limited to "Loans and Grants"

SBA Basic Eligibility Card

Legible proof of U.S. citizenship (i.e., state-issued birth certificate, certificate of naturalization, or an unexpired passport) for qualifying individual(s)
- If your name differs from your submitted citizenship document (ex. Marriage), you may have to provide a poof of name change (ex. state filed documents -official name change, marriage license, unexpired passport, unexpired military ID (front and back copy)

Existing Qualified Certification Card

8(a) Program Participant
- Most recent annual review letter OR firms in their first program year may submit their initial approval letter

TPC-Certified
- Certificate from one of the four SBA approved third party certifying organizations

CVE-Certified
- Certification letter from Department of Veterans Affairs’ Center for Verification and Evaluation

Firms that do not have these certifications will respond NO to questions within this section and will be advanced to the next card

Ownership Card

Firm Ownership

Trust agreement if a trust currently holds the qualifying individual’s ownership interest
Letter of explanation for any executory agreements

Business Structure - Corporation

Articles of Incorporation – Signed, dated, and reflecting state filing seal for the domestically filed state
- Firms operating in another state should submit foreign filing documentation for that state and certificate of good standing from the original domestic state
Copies of stock certificates - Front and Back, if issued as a two-sided document. State law dependent
Stock Ledger
The Stock Ledger should be in chart format and must include all actions including the transfer and/or cancellations of the shares and the dates of the transfer. The detailed listing should include:
- Name of Business
- Name of stockholder
- Date of issuance
- Number of shares issued
- Stock Certificate Number (if applicable)
- Date of transfer/cancellation
- Who were the shares transferred to?
- How many shares transferred
- Total outstanding shares
Corporate Bylaws and any amendments
- If the Bylaws are not signed, Meeting minutes adopting and accepting the Bylaws to include all amendments must be provided
- Shareholder agreements may be accepted in lieu of corporate bylaws pursuant to the laws of the state where the firm is registered
DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable
Business Documents
- Meeting minutes - Most recent meeting minutes (signed and dated) noting the election of the officers and directors
- Joint Venture agreements, if applicable
- Buy/Sale agreements, if applicable
- - Stock ledger should reflect changes executed from this agreement

Business Structure - Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Fully executed Operating Agreement and any amendments
Articles of Organization and any amendments, signed, dated, and reflecting state filing seal
- Firms operating in another state should submit foreign filing documentation for that state and certificate of good standing from the original domestic state
DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable
Business documents
- Joint Venture agreements, if applicable
- Buy/Sale agreements, if applicable

Business Structure - Partnership

Partnership Agreement and any amendments
DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable

Business Structure - Sole Proprietorship

DBA (Doing Business As) or Trade Name Certificate reflecting state filing seal, if applicable

Control Card

Résumé – listing current ownership roles/title and duties, as well as details on prior work experience should include position/title, company name, duties
Letter of Explanation, if needed
Technical licenses, if applicable

Individual Contributor Card

Firm owner questionnaires need to be completed:
- Highest officer owner (financial section is required for EDWOSB applicants)
- Additional firm owners (financial section is required for EDWOSB applicants who comprise 51% ownership interest)
- Spouse, if applicable (only for EDWOSB applicants)
- Current Board Members that are listed in bylaws, operating agreement, and/or meeting minutes

Please Note: Per 13 CFR § 127.304(b), SBA may request additional information or clarification of information contained in an application or document submission at any time.

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Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) Checklist

Qualifying individual(s) include one or more women whose ownership interest(s) equal or exceed 51%

Active registration in the System for Award Management for the firm, available at SAM.gov (Note: The firm’s UEI and EIN, and MPIN must exactly match SAM registration)
Note: SAM.gov registrations should be for the purposes of "All Awards" and not limited to "Loans and Grants"