Colorado Certifications
Obtaining the right business certifications for your enterprise is crucial to gaining access to both government and corporate contracts. Certifications provide your business with a nationally recognized and highly respected status that makes your company stand out against marketplace competition for lucrative contracts. This allows you to compete more successfully for federal, state, local government and commercial contracts.
Colorado accepts/recognizes the following certifications:
- Women-Owned Business (WBE);
- Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB);
- Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB);
- Minority-Owned Business (MBE);
- Small Business Administration 8(a) Development Program;
- Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE);
- Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE);
- Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB);
- Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB);
- HUBZone Business;
- Small Disadvantaged Business (SBE)
- The LGBT-Owned Business Enterprise Certification (LGBTBE)
Colorado serves as advocates for these certified businesses to enhance economic development. For more resources, contact the Minority Business Development Agency.
Additionally, the state of Colorado has the following certifications;
Here are the basic qualifications for most of the certifications:
- Emerging Small Business (ESB) – for small businesses to obtain work on state-funded construction, professional service, and research contracts. Note: this certification ONLY applies to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and not any other agencies.
- Emerging Business Enterprise (EBE) – for businesses in the City and County of Denver to compete with other emerging businesses
- Small Business Enterprise Concessionaire (SBEC) for Denver area small businesses to compete as a concessionaire
Getting a certification opens the door to targeted government and private contracting opportunities as well as networking.
Here are the basic qualifications for most of the certifications:
- The business must be at least 51% managed and controlled by either a women, minority, or disadvantaged owner who:
- Works exclusively for the firm seeking certification
- Has superior level of experience in the industry
- Holds the highest title as specified in the operating agreement/bylaws
- US Citizen (or for some certifications – a Green Card holder (legal permanent resident)
- Must be a for-profit business
- Must be in Good Standing with the Colorado Secretary of State
If you are an established business ready to take your business to the next level, BizCentral USA can help you get certified. Since 2004, BizCentral USA has helped thousands of businesses get certified and gain more connections. Working with an experienced expert means doing it right the first time, which means FASTER approval so you can start applying for contracts sooner.
Not an established business? No problem. We have a Pre-Certification Program that can help prepare you to become certified.