Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) Certification

The State of Wisconsin is committed to providing woman-owned businesses with a credible certification that validates their business ownership. The program was established in order to facilitate contracting capabilities for women with both the public and private sector.

Application
WBE certification requires that the business is at a minimum 51% owned, managed and controlled by the WBE applicant. An applicant will be required to provide a copy of business tax returns as part of the supporting documentation requirement. Therefore, start-up businesses that do not have business tax documentation that supports their majority ownership of the business will not be considered eligible for WBE certification. You may want to review this Pre-Certification Assessment.

Download the WBE application packet.

Wisconsin Administrative Code
The WBE certification program was created by and is governed by Administrative Code COMM 104.

Procurement Opportunities
Government contracts can be a great source of business revenue for both new and established businesses. But to get those contracts, you have to understand the process and how to navigate it successfully. Learn more.

Multimedia
WBE Certification Brochure
Download and print the WBE Certification Program brochure to share with others at conferences, seminars and other events you attend.

Certification: How it Can Help Leverage Your Business Opportunities
In this webcast, panelists Carol Dunn (Womens Business Ombudsman), Anne Hlavacka (Atty. from Reinhart Law Office) and Linda Krysiak (SBA Business 8(a) Specialist) and a panel of certified WBE's discuss the certification process.

Wisconsin's New Woman-Owned Business Certification Program
In this podcast, hear details about the WBE Certification Program, including eligibility requirements of the program. Courtesy Weiss Berzowski Brady LLP Attorneys at Law.

"Expanding your Horizon" Women's Forum
In this webcast, hear from the Wisconsin Business Initiative Corporation, bankers and accountants about financial issues affecting women-owned businesses. Also hear how three women business owners utilized their WBE certification to grow their business.

Associations and Organizations
Resources listed below are not endorsed by the Department of Commerce and are provided as informational only.

• Financial Resources for WBEs
• Franchises for Women
• National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)
• National Women's Business Council (NWBC)
• Office of Women's Business Ownership Entrepreneurial Development (SBA)
• National Women Business Owners Corporation
• U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce
• Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC)
• Wisconsin Women's Business Center - Western Dairyland
• Wisconsin Women's Council
• Women Construction Owners & Executives (WCOE)
• Women in Technology International (WITI)
• Make Mine a Million $ (M3) Business Race - Wisconsin Launch Event

Contacts
For additional information, contact Carol Dunn, Woman's Business Ombudsman, at 608-267-0297 or Carol.Dunn@wisconsin.gov.