Who Qualifies?

Small Business- A business concern eligible for assistance from the SBA is organized for profit, with a place of business located within the U.S.  It must operate primarily within the U.S. or make a significant contribution to the U.S. economy through the payment of taxes or use of American products, material or labor.  Together with its affiliates, it must meet the numerical size standards as defined in the Small Business Size Regulations, 13 CFR 121. (Can self certify.)

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE): A for profit enterprise presently located in the United States or its trust territories, and is at least 51% owned and operated by a U.S. citizen(s) who is a member of one of the following groups:

• African American: Black racial groups of Africa
• Hispanic American: Spanish or Portuguese speaking areas of Latin American or the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean basin
• Native American: American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut and Native Hawaiian. Individuals must be regarded as such by the community of which the person claims to be a part. 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 or who otherwise have a special relationship with the United States or a state through treaty, agreement or some other form of recognition.
• Asian Pacific: Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific or the Northern Marianas
• Asian Indian: India, Pakistan and Bangladesh

Woman Business Enterprise (WBE): A for profit enterprise presently located in the United States or its trust territories, and is at least 51% owned, controlled, and operated by a woman or women of U.S. citizenship. Individual(s) must be involved in the day-to-day management of the business. (Can self certify.)

Disabled Business Enterprise (DBE): A for profit enterprise presently located in the United States or its trust territories, and is at least 51% owned by an individual(s) of U.S. citizenship with a permanent physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of such persons' major life activities. Individual(s) must be involved in the day-to-day management of the business. 

A small business that has received certification as a small business disadvantaged business concern consistent with 13 CFR 124, Subpart B, and no material change in disadvantaged ownership and control has occurred since certification.
 
Veteran-Owned Business: A for profit business presently located in the United States or its trust territories, and is at least 51 percent owned, controlled, operated and managed by one or more veterans of U.S. citizenship. (Can self certify.)

Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE): A for profit enterprise presently located in the United States or its trust territories, and is at least 51% owned by an individual(s) who have performed active service in one of the United States armed services and has/have a disability. Individual(s) must be involved in the day-to-day management of the business.

Service Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (SDVBE): A for profit enterprise presently located in the United States or its trust territories, and is at least 51% owned by an individual(s) who have performed active service in one of the United States armed services and has/have a service-connected disability. Individual(s) must be involved in the day-to-day management of the business. 
 
HUBZone Small Business Concern (HUBZone): A small business, located in a HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zone), owned and controlled by one or more U.S. citizens, and at least 35 percent of its employees reside in a HUBZone.

Small 8(a) Business: A small business unconditionally owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged citizens of the United States, and demonstrates potential for success.(Can self certify.)

Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB): A for profit enterprise presently located in the United States or its trust territories, and is at least 51% owned, controlled, operated and managed by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual or individuals, who must have a net worth of less than $750,000, excluding the equity of the business and primary residence and must meet applicable size standards for small businesses in their industry. (Has to certify.)

Historically Black Colleges/Universities & Minority Institiutions (HBCU/MI) – Historically Black and minority colleges and universities that are recognized by the government as legitimate set-aside business opportunities.