Okay, so you have always thought that 8a advantages are meant for small businesses whose owners are all male? Seriously if that is what you have always believed in, trust me it isn’t true at all! The United States Small Business Administration (SBA), the 8a certification issuing authority makes it clear in their mandate that equal opportunity is provided to small business owners irrespective of their gender, and that means female members can enjoy equal benefits as par with their male counterparts.
If you don’t know, let me tell you that in 2010 alone out of the total federal spending on 8a contracts 3-4 percent of the contract dollars were awarded to women-owned small businesses. And that was 4 years back! Today you will find a lot more women-owned businesses competition for federal dollars in the government marketplace, thanks to the 8a certified advantage.
Here’s how women owned small businesses can go about obtaining the 8a advantage to strengthen their entrepreneurial initiative –
• Contact a nearest SBA 8a representative
Tthe SBA’s website provide links and host of ‘learn-on-your-own’ tools and materials to help you get started with 8a. Contact your nearest SBA representative, branch office or district chapter, as per your convenience and get going.
• Register your business on the federal database for contractors
Don’t waste seconds, there’s always a rush for companies to get themselves registered. So, go right ahead and register your small business at the “Central Contractor Registration National Database”. This is commonly called the CCR. The official web address is ccr.gov which provides an extensive database of all companies that are registered and are interested in doing business with the federal agencies and organizations.
• Declare your ownership during 8a application as sole women ownership
If you’re the sole owner of your small business, it’s time you take pride in it and declare the same in the 8a certification application form.
• Make sure your company meets the eligibility criteria to enjoy the 8a advantages
The SBA rule book makes it clear that applicant companies must all be ‘small businesses’, that is the company must have fewer than 500 employees working under their roof anytime and also the owner must have a minimum 51% ownership right (in case of partnership businesses)
To find out if you’re eligible consult an 8a consultant. With expert guidance get your business approved; enjoy all 8a advantages that women-owned small businesses can get from SBA.
