Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) certification verifies that a small business is at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens. The federal government has a 5% goal for WOSB contract awards.
Apply through SBA's certification portal at certify.sba.gov or through SBA-approved third-party certifiers. Documentation includes proof of ownership, management control, business financial information, and personal financial information.
EDWOSB (Economically Disadvantaged WOSB) has additional financial requirements: personal net worth under $850,000, adjusted gross income under $400,000 averaged over 3 years, and total assets under $6.5 million. EDWOSB firms can access more set-aside industries.
WOSB set-asides are available in industries where women-owned businesses are underrepresented. SBA publishes a list of eligible NAICS codes. EDWOSB certification expands access to additional industries where women are substantially underrepresented.