1. What is a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE)?
A Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) is loosely defined as an independent
business concern that is at least 51% owned and operated by one or more
women who are U.S. citizens.
2.What is WBE certification?
A Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) is a company that is certified by
the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) to be a woman-owned business.
This certification is awarded to companies that meet strict
standards of ownership. The WBE is one of the
most widely recognized and respected certifications in
the nation.
Although "WBE certification" or "WBE certified" is often used as the term describing a company's status, the Women's Business Enterprise National Council does the certifying and thus the correct term is WBENC certification. 3. Why do we need to be WBE certified?
WBE certification is an important marketing tool for expanding
T & H’s visibility among corporate decision makers. This is because
WBE certification is accepted by more than 500 major corporations,
including many federal and state government agencies.
The WBENC organization provides its corporate members and
certified companies with access
to a range of business-to-business sourcing tools, including
an Internet database – WBENCLink – that
contains information on certified women's businesses for
purchasing managers nationwide.
4. How do we qualify for WBE certification?
To apply for WBE certification, T & H has to submit documentation
that proves that the company is owned and operated
by women. A committee evaluates the documentation to
ensure that a variety of standards are met. For example,
they confirm that ownership of Turtle & Hughes by women is
"real, substantial, and continuing".
The committee also confirms that the women owners
share in all risk and profits commensurate with their ownership
interest. Finally, the committe checks that all securities
that constitute ownership of T & H are held directly
by the women and not held in trust by some other party.
5. Is there a time limit to WBE certification?
Yes. The WBE certification is effective for one year. The certification
must be renewed yearly, otherwise it expires and the company
is taken off the Certified Supplier List. The limitation
is imposed to deal with any changes of ownership or management
that might take place during the one-year certification
period.
6. What does the WBE certification logo look like?
The WBE certification logo:
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