WOSB (Women-Owned Small Business)

WOSB certification provides women entrepreneurs with access to dedicated federal contracting opportunities. The eligibility rules are straightforward: your business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by a woman or women who are U.S. citizens, and the women owners must be involved in the day-to-day operations and management. The SBA offers two pathways to establish WOSB status. You can get certified through the Women-Owned Small Business certification program, or you can self-certify and declare WOSB status on SAM.gov without formal SBA approval. Self-certification is faster and requires no fees, but it puts you on the honor system—if you misrepresent your status, the consequences are serious.

The market advantage is substantial. The federal government has set a 5% contracting goal for women-owned small businesses, and agencies use WOSB set-asides to hit that target. A set-aside means your company faces only other WOSB competitors, reducing the field significantly. Additionally, on open competitive procurements, WOSB firms often receive evaluation preferences that boost their scoring. For women-owned companies, these contracting preferences can be the difference between a pipeline of government work and a sporadic project here and there.

What often surprises WOSB owners is that the certification scrutiny isn't as invasive as 8(a). The SBA doesn't require extensive financial disclosures or control audits. However, if you self-certify and bid on set-asides, any competitor can challenge your status before award. If you lose a protest, you're disqualified from that contract and you've damaged your reputation. The practical approach: if you're certain you meet the criteria, self-certify immediately. If there's any question about control or ownership, go through formal SBA certification for the documentation and legal protection.