NYC M/WBE Certification

NYC M/WBE certification is the City of New York's recognition that a business is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by women or members of designated minority groups who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. It is issued by the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS).

NYC M/WBE certification is built for small businesses that are at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by one or more minority or women individuals and that want to compete for City of New York contracting opportunities. You may qualify to pursue it if:

• Your business is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by women or members of designated minority groups
• The qualifying owners are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• The business has been selling goods or services for at least 1 year
• Your main office is in the five boroughs or a listed NY/NJ county, or you can show a substantial NYC market presence
• The business is legally allowed to operate in New York State and is not a nonprofit

These are screening indicators only, not a guarantee of eligibility. Eligibility is determined solely by the certifying agency.

The City requires that the qualifying owner or owners hold at least 51% ownership and also exercise day-to-day control of the business — not just own it on paper. The qualifying owner must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and the business must have a NYC office or be able to demonstrate a meaningful NYC market presence. Before investing time in the application, confirm your ownership structure meets the ownership, operation, and control standard.

A listing in the City's Online Directory of Certified Businesses, where agencies and primes look for firms to meet M/WBE goals, plus access to City M/WBE programs, events and some lists that are limited to certified firms, such as DDC's M/WBE general construction list and HPD's TIL/AEP list.

Certification does not guarantee contracts, awards, preferences, or revenue. It makes your business eligible to compete for opportunities that carry participation goals.

Most certification delays come from missing paperwork, not the questions themselves. Here's what to pull together — organized by where you'll find it.

1. 1Confirm ownership and control: the qualifying owners must actually run the business, not just own it on paper.
2. 2If your office is outside the five boroughs, check whether you are in a listed county or can show NYC market presence.
3. 3Gather the documents above before you open the application. Missing paperwork is the usual cause of delay.
4. 4Apply in SBS Connect and answer any follow-up from SBS.
5. 5Once certified, file the annual confirmation every year and renew before your 5 years are up. SBS emails a reminder 45 days ahead.

The City manages certified firms through NYC PASSPort, its procurement vendor portal. Registering or updating your PASSPort vendor account is part of the process — the City uses it alongside the SBS certification system for city agency procurement.