Business guide
MWBE Certification Walkthrough
Minority- and women-owned business enterprise certification gets your company into the directories that city and state agencies — and their prime contractors — actually search. Many Brooklyn immigrant-owned businesses qualify and never apply. Here’s how.
Two separate certifications
NYC MWBE — run by the Department of Small Business Services — covers City contracting. NYS MWBE — run by Empire State Development — covers State agencies and authorities. One does not get you the other; most businesses that qualify should file both.
The walkthrough — six steps
-
Check that you qualify
The core requirement: at least 51% of the business is owned, operated, and controlled by U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are minority group members and/or women. The business must also be a real, independent, operating business — certification looks at who truly runs it day to day.
-
Decide: city, state, or both
NYC MWBE certification (through the Department of Small Business Services) opens doors to City contracting. NYS MWBE certification (through Empire State Development) covers State agencies and authorities. Many Brooklyn businesses benefit from both — they are separate applications.
-
Gather your documents
Expect to prove ownership and control: formation documents, tax returns, bank signature cards, resumes of the owners, and proof of citizenship or permanent residency. The agency checklists list exactly what’s needed.
-
Apply online
NYC applications go through SBS’s online certification portal; NYS applications go through the New York State Contract System. Both are free to file — be cautious of anyone charging to “guarantee” certification.
-
Respond and get listed
Analysts often come back with questions — answer them promptly and completely. Once certified, your business is listed in the public MWBE directories that agencies and prime contractors search.
-
Put the certification to work
Register as a vendor with the City and State, watch for solicitations in your trade, and use SBS’s free contracting assistance to bid. Certification opens the door — you still have to walk through it.
Official links
- NYC MWBE certification (SBS) — eligibility, the application portal, and free application help.
- NYS MWBE certification (Empire State Development) — the state program and directory.
- NYC SBS — selling to government — free help turning certification into contracts.
Eligibility rules and document checklists are set by the certifying agencies and are updated from time to time — rely on the official pages above for the current requirements.
More business guides: NYC permits & licenses · SBA loans explained · small business hub