Getting started with certification
If you answer yes to the following questions, you meet the criteria for becoming a certified MBE/WBE with the City of Austin.
- Is the business 51% owned by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual(s) from one of the presumed groups?
- Is the business managed by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual(s) that control the day-to-day operations?
Additional Criteria
- A small business as defined by the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Size Standard Guidelines
- Owner’s Personal Net Worth (PNW) must not exceed $2,218,894 for MBE/WBE certification
- MBE/WBE applicant must have a facility located within the State of Texas for at least 90 days
- Must be a for-profit business
Register for a workshop
Register for our pre-certification workshop to learn more about certification.
Types of certification
- Minority-Owned Business Enterprise
Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) is a certification for a small business as defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), which is at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by one or more ethnic minorities who are economically disadvantaged. Ethnic minorities include the following groups: African-American; Hispanic; Asian-American and Native-American.
- Women-Owned Business Enterprise
Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) is a certification for a small business, as defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), that is at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by one or more economically disadvantaged females.
- Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) is a certification for small, minority and/or women-owned businesses that are socially or economically disadvantaged.
- Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) is a certification for small, minority and/or women-owned businesses that are socially or economically disadvantaged.
Steps to certification
- Register as a vendor
- Complete the application online or as as a PDF (408 KB).
- Applying online through our CCS portal is the most efficient way to protect your information. Applying online also ensures you receive appropriate reminders, the status of certification(s), and communication from the SMBR Certification Division.
Resources
- Getting Started Certification Guide (921 KB; for firms not certified)
- How to use the CCS portal (310 KB; for certified firms)
- MBE/WBE Personal Net Worth Form (355 KB)
- MBE/WBE Alternate Personal Net Worth Form (150 KB)
- Complete the MBE/WBE Certification Application
- Complete the application online on the CCS portal at https://austintexas.mwdbe.com or click here (408 KB) to download a PDF version of the application.
- Applying online through our CCS portal is the most efficient way to protect your information. Applying online also ensures you receive appropriate reminders, the status of certification(s), and communication from the SMBR Certification Division.
- Get recertified (if necessary)
- Owners of MBE/WBE-certified firms must apply for recertification every 4 years after the firm’s initial certification by completing an online application on the CCS portal.
- Submit business tax returns to confirm that business size meets SBA industry size requirements.
- Complete Personal Net Worth Statement (PNW) and provide supporting documents, including a complete personal tax return. The owner may be required to submit other information to determine continued eligibility once staff reviews the application.
Small Business Construction Program (SBCP) Eligibility:
Interested firms MUST provide scopes in construction or a related field.
The firm’s size must not exceed $16.5 million in average gross receipts for the past 5-years as established for 238-Specialty Trade Contractors by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and be certified as a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) by the City of Austin.
- Complete the SBE application online.
- Owner(s) must provide a detailed resume
- Provide 5-years of business tax returns, if applicable
- Get certified as a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB)
Please acknowledge interest in Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) certification when completing the Minority/ or Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) application online. SMBR will review your MBE/WBE application and supporting documentation for HUB consideration with the Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) Office.