Your business must be in operation for at least one year.

Your business enterprise will need to be at least fifty-one percent (51%) owned, operated and controlled by citizens or permanent resident aliens who are meeting the MBE ethnic or gender requirements. The ownership must be real, substantial and continuing, and the minority members and/or women must exercise the authority to independently control the day-to-day business decisions.

Black: Persons having origins from any of the Black African racial groups.

Hispanic: Persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Cuban, Central or South American descent of either Native American or Latin American origin, regardless of race.

Asian-Pacific: Persons having origins from the Far East, Southeast Asia or the Pacific Islands.

Asian-Indian Subcontinent: Persons having origins from the Indian subcontinent.

Native American or Alaskan Native: Persons having origins in any of the original peoples of North America.

Women: Under Article 15-A of the Executive Law, a WBE is a business enterprise in which at least fifty-one percent (51%) is owned, operated and controlled by citizens or permanent resident aliens who are women.

Each minority or woman owner upon whom certification is based cannot have a personal net worth exceeding $15 Million after allowable deductions.

Firms must not employ more than 300 individuals. The Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development calculates the number of employees of a business based upon the average total employees of the business over four calendar quarters.

For each minority or woman owner upon which certification is based) Current Personal and Business Federal and State Taxes (Including all schedules, statements and amendments) to name a few.

Unfortunately. the list of documentation required is too long to fully list here. That’s why we are here to help guide you through the process and assist you with putting the documents needed to expedite your application.

Out of state applicants should be certified as a MWBE in their home state, if a similar process exists, before applying for MWBE certification in New York State. All applicants must have "Authority to do Business in NYS" from the New York Department of State prior to submitting an application for MWBE certification.

Currently certified MWBEs are eligible to apply for recertification 90 days before their current certification expires.