*Additional minor eligibility criteria.

To learn more about the standardization process and some of the benefits of MBE certification, go to the link directly below.

Required documentation:
(documents will vary by business types)

ALL BUSINESSES (SOLE PRIOPRIETORS) ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT:

• Completed certification application
• Signed, dated and notarized affidavit/declaration page
• Fictitious Business Statement – DBA (if applicable)
• Driver’s license or currently valid picture ID
• Proof of U.S. Citizenship (US passport, long form original birth certificate, driver’s license and voter’s registration card, naturalization certificate)
• Proof of Ethnicity for Owner(s), Partners, Shareholders that includes race (Foreign passport, long form original birth certificate, parent’s birth/death certificate or child’s birth certificate)
• Indian/Native Americans Blood Degree Certificate (i.e. tribal registry letter, tribal roll register number) [if applicable]
• Two Years of Federal Tax Returns (Business)^*1
• Current Financial Statements (P &L , statement of cash flows, balance sheet)^*2
• Notes Payable (if applicable)
• Applicable Operating Business License and/or permits (if applicable)
• Occupational Licenses (if applicable)
• Lease Agreement if business premises are leased or rented Signature page of homeowners deed or mortgage receipt (if property is owned or home based)
• Resume(s) of owner(s), partners, shareholders or key employees (to include current enterprise and the definition of role within)
• Bank Signature Card (or letter from bank identifying signatures on the account and type of account)
• Equipment Rental and Purchase Agreements (if applicable)
• Current invoice receivables with corresponding proof of payment (at least two) (i.e. cancelled check, deposit slip, bank statement with matching amount)
• Equipment owned or available (include description of equipment, year acquired, and current value)
• Proof of Bonding Capacity (if applicable)
• Proof of EIN
• Certificate of Authority to Transact Business (Foreign Entity Certificate) (if applicable)
• Non-refundable application processing fee based on annual gross revenue sales

FRANCHISES SUBMIT:

• Franchise Agreement

PARTNERSHIPS SUBMIT: (If the company is a LLP or Ltd., applicants must submit the legal documents for all companies involved.  For example, if the GP is a LLC, the applicant must submit documents for the Partnership and the LLC)

• Articles of Partnership(for LLP|Ltd)
• Certificate of limited partnership or certificate of formation(for LLP|Ltd)
• Partnership Agreements (to include buy-out rights and profit sharing)
• Proof of Capital Investment (i.e. both side of cancelled checks, initial deposits, bank statements)
• Proof of Partnership purchase (i.e. both sides of cancelled checks, deposit slips, bank statements)

CORPORATIONS SUBMIT:

• Assumed Name Certificate (filed with the Secretary of State) (if applicable)
• Certificate of Corporation
• Article of Incorporation or Certificate of formation (stamped copy from the Secretary of State)
• Articles of Amendment or Certificate of Amendment (if applicable)
• Corporate Bylaws or Governing documents
• Proof of Capital Investment (i.e. both side of cancelled checks, equipment receipts, initial deposits, bank statements)
• Minutes of 1^st Organizational Board Meeting
• Minutes of the last Board meeting
• Minutes of the last meeting where officers were elected
• Copies of both sides of all stock certificates issued (no specimen)
• Copies of both sides of the next consecutive stock certificate not issued
• Current Stock Ledger
• Proof of Stock purchase (i.e. both sides of cancelled checks, deposit slips, bank statements)
• Copy of the purchase or buy|sell agreement with the corresponding proof of payments)(if applicable)
• Copy of any stock options or other ownership options outstanding as well as agreements which restrict ownership or control of minority owners (if applicable)

LLCs SUBMIT:

• Assumed Name Certificate (filed with the Secretary of State) (if applicable)
• Certificate of organization
• Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation (stamped copy from the Secretary of State)
• Articles of Amendment or Certificate of amendment (if applicable)
• Operating Agreement
• Proof of Capital Investment (i.e. both side of cancelled checks, equipment receipts, initial deposits, bank statements)
• Minutes of the organizational meeting or minutes of the meeting
• Minutes of the last meeting where managers or members were identified and elected
• Copy of both sides of all certificates of ownership issued (no specimen)
• Copy of both sides of next consecutive membership unit certificate not issued
• Copy of ownership transfer ledger or copy of membership transfer ledger
• Proof of unit purchase (i.e. both sides of cancelled checks, deposit slips, bank statements)
• Copy of the purchase or buy|sell agreement with the corresponding proof of payments)(if applicable)
• Copy of any membership unit options or other ownership options outstanding as well as agreements which restrict ownership or control of minority owners (if applicable)