— WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS FEDERAL CONTRACT PROGRAM

WOSB & EDWOSB Certification

Get certified for women-owned set-asides, and know exactly how to use them. Federal Contracting Center checks your eligibility, prepares your MySBA Certifications application, and helps you stay compliant long after approval.

  • Find out if WOSB, EDWOSB, or both fit your business and your federal market
  • Avoid the ownership and control mistakes that stall SBA reviews
  • One team for SAM.gov, certification, and what comes next
Check My Eligibility Right-thin Right-thin Call (855) 700-5143
Check My Eligibility
Call (855) 700-5143

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SAM.gov support on a 1,200-entity federal contract

Applying through SBA is free. Federal Contracting Center is a private consulting firm, not a government agency or an SBA-approved certifier.

Free Eligibility Review

A specialist will review your situation and call you within one business day.

    Your information is never sold or shared.

    Overview Eligibility Benefits How It Works Pricing FAQs

    What Is WOSB Certification?

    WOSB certification is the U.S. Small Business Administration’s confirmation that a small business is at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens. Certified firms can compete for federal contracts set aside for women-owned small businesses. EDWOSB is a tier within the same program for women owners who also meet SBA’s economic disadvantage limits, and it opens set-asides in even more industries.

    5%
    Government-wide goal for contract dollars awarded to women-owned small businesses
    4.52%
    What agencies actually reached in FY2025, short of the goal
    $0
    SBA's fee to apply through MySBA Certifications
    90 days
    SBA's target for a decision on a complete application

    Sources: SBA.gov; Congressional Research Service (FY2025 scorecard data).

    Woman-owned small business owner smiling at her laptop

    Do You Qualify? WOSB vs. EDWOSB Requirements

    EDWOSB isn’t a separate program. It’s a higher tier of WOSB. Every EDWOSB is also a WOSB, but EDWOSB-certified firms can compete for set-asides in more industries.

    Requirement WOSB EDWOSB More set-asides
    Ownership At least 51% unconditionally and directly owned by one or more women who are U.S. citizens Same
    Control Women manage day-to-day operations and make long-term decisions, and a woman holds the highest officer position Same
    Business size Small under SBA's size standard for your primary NAICS code Same
    SAM.gov Active registration with a Unique Entity ID Same
    Economic disadvantage Not required Each qualifying woman owner must have: personal net worth under $850,000; average adjusted gross income of $400,000 or less (past 3 years); total personal assets of $6.5 million or less
    Set-aside industries 646 NAICS codes where WOSBs are substantially underrepresented 759 NAICS codes where WOSBs are underrepresented or substantially underrepresented

    Net worth excludes your ownership interest in the business and the equity in your primary residence. SBA also excludes funds held in qualified retirement accounts.

    • Heads up for EDWOSB applicants: In 2026, SBA began examining EDWOSB firms’ finances more closely, including requests for three years of personal and business tax returns. If you apply as an EDWOSB, your numbers need to be documented and defensible from day one.
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    Benefits of WOSB and EDWOSB Certification

    Certification doesn’t hand you contracts. It puts you in a smaller, more winnable pool.

    Compete in a Smaller Pool

    Contracting officers can set aside contracts so only certified WOSBs, or only EDWOSBs, can bid in eligible industries.

    Sole-Source Awards

    When the conditions are met, agencies can award contracts to a certified firm without competition, within set dollar limits.

    Visibility to Buyers and Primes

    Your certification shows in SAM.gov and SBA’s Small Business Search, where agency buyers and prime contractors look for women-owned partners.

    Stack With Other Programs

    If you’re eligible, combine WOSB or EDWOSB with 8(a), HUBZone, or VOSB/SDVOSB certification.

    HEAR IT FROM OUR FOUNDER

    Certification Is a Tool. We Help You Use It.

    Our founder, Mike Major, explains when WOSB or EDWOSB certification pays off, and how to make sure it does for your business.

    Captions available

    1,200
    SAM.gov entities
    Proven at federal scale

    Our team supported SAM.gov registrations for about 1,200 entities on a deadline-driven federal government contract.

    Customer and contract details are confidential.

    Who you'll work with

    Our team includes former federal employees, federal market researchers, data analysts, and SAM.gov registration specialists.

    How We Help You Get WOSB Certified

    You can apply on your own, and SBA doesn’t charge a fee. Business owners hire us because a denial or a months-long delay costs more than getting it right the first time.

    Federal Contracting Center specialist reviewing federal market data with a client
    1. 1

      Market Fit Review

      We look at your NAICS codes and the agencies that buy what you sell to confirm that a WOSB or EDWOSB strategy makes sense in your market.

    2. 2

      SAM.gov & SBS Check

      Your SAM.gov registration must be active and accurate before you apply. We fix any gaps and tune your Small Business Search profile while we're at it.

    3. 3

      Ownership Review & Documents

      We gather your documents and flag ownership or control issues before SBA sees them.

    4. 4

      MySBA Submission & SBA Questions

      We help you complete and submit your application in MySBA Certifications, then respond quickly when SBA asks for more.

    5. 5

      Stay Certified & Start Competing

      We help you report changes within 30 days, renew SAM.gov every year, prepare for SBA's three-year program examination, and find the set-asides worth chasing.

    Start My Certification

    WOSB & EDWOSB Certification Pricing

    Flat-fee packages, listed up front so you know the cost before you start.

    WOSB Certification

    For women-owned small businesses applying for WOSB status.

    $X,XXX

    one-time service fee

    • Eligibility and market fit review
    • SAM.gov registration check
    • Ownership and control document review
    • MySBA Certifications application prep and submission
    • Support with SBA follow-up questions
    Get Started

    EDWOSB Certification

    For owners who also meet SBA’s economic disadvantage limits.

    $X,XXX

    one-time service fee

    Everything in WOSB, plus:

    • Net worth, income, and asset review against SBA limits
    • Personal financial statement (SBA Form 413) prep
    • Tax return review ahead of SBA’s financial checks
    Get Started
    All-in-one

    SAM + WOSB Bundle

    For businesses that need SAM.gov registration or renewal first.

    $X,XXX

    one-time service fee

    • SAM.gov registration or renewal support
    • Everything in the WOSB package
    • One team and one point of contact from start to finish

    Save $XXX compared with booking our SAM.gov and WOSB services separately.

    Get Started

    Registering in SAM.gov and applying for WOSB or EDWOSB certification through SBA are both free. Our fees cover consulting and application support and don’t guarantee SAM.gov activation, SBA certification, or contract awards.

    What Our Clients Are Saying

    Excellent Based on 133 Google reviews

    “Peter has been incredibly helpful getting our contractors set up! He is professional, efficient, patient and knowledgeable.”

    Katie Epstein · Google review

    “Tina Mueller was so helpful with Sam.gov as there were some issues I have never encountered prior to renewing my entities registration. Her guidance and explanation made the process smooth…”

    Alan Fleitz · Google review

    “Angel was great to work with. She assisted me with our government contracting needs and made sure everything was in order from start to finish…”

    Sydney Otundo · Google review

    Live Google reviews feed (Trustindex) in production.

    WOSB & EDWOSB Certification FAQs

    SBA aims to make a decision within 90 calendar days of receiving a complete application. Prep time before that depends on how quickly you gather documents and whether your SAM.gov registration is already active. Incomplete packages and ownership or control questions are the most common causes of delay.

    Applying through SBA’s MySBA Certifications is free. SBA-approved third-party certifiers may charge their own fees. Federal Contracting Center charges a flat fee for consulting and application support, not for the certification itself. See our pricing packages.

    Exact requirements depend on how your business is structured, and SBA may ask for more. Most applicants need:

    • Proof of U.S. citizenship for each woman owner
    • Active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID
    • Articles of incorporation or organization, bylaws or operating agreement, and amendments
    • Stock certificates and ledger, or partnership agreement (if applicable)
    • Any buy-sell, voting, or management agreements
    • Résumés showing the woman owner’s management experience
    • Recent business tax returns

    EDWOSB applicants also need personal tax returns for each qualifying woman owner (past three years), a personal financial statement (SBA Form 413), and records supporting the value of personal assets.

    Most problems come down to control, not ownership percentages. Common issues include operating agreements or bylaws that give a non-woman owner veto power over ordinary decisions, buy-sell or voting agreements that limit the woman owner’s authority, and a woman owner who doesn’t hold the top officer position or make key decisions in practice. Missing documents are the other big cause.

    No. Since October 15, 2020, firms must be certified by SBA or an SBA-approved third-party certifier to compete for WOSB and EDWOSB set-aside contracts.

    SBA has approved four: the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the National Women Business Owners Corporation, the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Federal Contracting Center is not a certifier. We help you prepare and apply.

    WOSB is SBA’s federal certification for women-owned set-aside contracts. WBE (Women’s Business Enterprise) certification usually comes from WBENC or a state or local agency and is used for corporate supplier diversity and many state and local programs. Many women-owned firms hold both. Learn more about WBE certification.

    Yes, if your business meets each program’s requirements. Holding more than one certification can open more set-aside pools. We’ll help you decide which combinations are worth pursuing in your market.

    Your certification is subject to an SBA program examination every three years. In between, you must report material changes to SBA within 30 days and keep your SAM.gov registration current every year. SBA’s annual attestation requirement is currently on hold.

    WOSB set-asides are limited to industries where women-owned small businesses are underrepresented. SBA’s list includes 646 NAICS codes for WOSB set-asides and 759 for EDWOSB set-asides. We’ll check your codes during your eligibility review.

    No. Certification lets you compete for set-asides, but winning depends on targeting the right agencies, a strong capability statement, and well-priced bids. That’s why we start with market research, not paperwork.

    Related Certifications & Registrations

    SAM Registration SAM Renewal Small Business Search (SBS) Profile 8(a) Business Development HUBZone Certification VOSB/SDVOSB Certification WBE Certification MBE Certification Capability Statement Services

    Ready to Compete for Women-Owned Set-Asides?

    Tell us about your business, and we’ll tell you whether WOSB, EDWOSB, or both make sense, and what it takes to get there.

    Check My Eligibility Right-thin Right-thin Call (855) 700-5143

    Monday–Friday, 8am–8pm EST · support@federalcontractingcenter.com

    Last updated October 2026. Reviewed by the Federal Contracting Center certification team. Sources: SBA.gov WOSB Federal Contract Program; 13 CFR Part 127; Congressional Research Service. Federal Contracting Center is an independent consulting firm and is not affiliated with the U.S. Small Business Administration or any government agency.

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    Federal Contracting Center (FCC) is an independent entity, separate from any US government agency. Specializing in third-party services, FCC handles small-business registrations, certifications, and the submission and management of SAM registrations. Additionally, FCC offers expert guidance to companies and non-profit organizations, navigating the complex process of federal government contracting process. | Sitemap