Create New Business Opportunitieswith a Diverse-Business Certification

Jamie Liggins, Notary of the Year 2004Owner of Notary Access & Field Inspection Service

Presentation Goals

• Learn about the classifications of diverse businesses and who certifies them

• Understand the requirements to qualify as a diverse business

• Gain insight on the process to register for a diverse-business certification

• Learn how a diverse-business certification can give you an advantage of getting work AND in establishing YOUR business

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How can you make this WORK for YOUR Notary/Signing Agent Business?

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Is Government Contracting Right for YOU?

• Does the Government buy what you sell OR use the service(s) you offer?

• Can you handle the job if given the contract? If not, what can you do to handle it?

• Can you make yourself more marketable or distinguished?

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What is a “Diverse Small Business Certification”?

• Certification that allows you to contract bid opportunities with the federal government exclusively for small businesses.

• Such certifications give you special capability or status that will help you compete in the marketplace and give you priority in the Notary industry with signing companies and within the mortgage industry.

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Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) 8(a) Program

1. Must be in a minority group: African American, Hispanic American, Native American, Asian Pacific American and Subcontinent Asian American.

2. If not considered minority, you must provide substantial evidence and documentation showing you have been subjected to bias or discrimination and are economically disadvantaged.

Refer to www.sba.gov/wosb

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Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (SDVBE)

1. Any person who served “honorably” on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States; and

2. Have at least a twenty percent (20%) disability that is service-connected meaning that such disability was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval or air service.

Refer to SBA Office of Veteran’s Business Development: www.sba.gov/veterans

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Small Business Enterprise (SBE)1. A continuing, independent, for-profit business

which performs a commercially useful function with residence in the state;

2. Has total gross receipts of no more than 10 million dollars averaged over a 3-year period or employees no more than 99% on a full-time basis.

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Small Disadvantaged Business1. Must be 51% or more owned and controlled by one

or more disadvantaged person(s);2. Must be socially and economically disadvantaged;3. Must be small, according to SBA’s size standards.

Refer to www.sba.gov/sdb

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Women Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)

1. Be at least 51% owned or controlled by one or more women;

2. The women must be U.S. citizens; and3. Must be small according to SBA’s size standards.

To determine their size standard, refer to www.sba.gov/wosb

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Other Local Community State Certifications

1. Small & Emerging Business Development (SEBD): assists with entrepreneurial training, legal needs, marketing and computer and accounting skills

2. Womens Business Development Center (www.wbdc.org). They offer free webinars and certification

3. National Minority Supplier Development Council (www.NMSDC.org)

Refer to the SBA to have a personal appointment with your local representative

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Benefits – Diverse Certification• Access to mentoring,

education and capacity development

• Participation in their social media profiles

• Use of the particular certified seal or logo on your marketing material

• Scholarship eligibility12

• Informal networking and target marketing opportunities at national conferences and business fairs

• Partnering opportunities with other certified businesses

• Free business webinars

Benefits – Diverse Certification• Companies in the

private sector have supplier/service diversity goals and often seek those with certifications.

• Helps you get on a company’s preferred vendor list.

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• Marketing tool to get companies to take you seriously.

• Potential opportunities for business as some companies are required to report the names of certified-only diverse contractors THUS they are more likely to USE YOU!

CERTIFICATION / REGISTRATION PROCESS

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STEP 1 Determine NAICS code• The website is:

https://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/• Select NAICS codes that best describe your

business and then determine if the business meets size standards for the selected NAICS codes.

• Notary industry: the NAICS is 541199 and Mortgage is: 522292

Determine Small Size • The website is:

https://www.sba.gov/tools/size-standards-tool?ms=nid4060

• Type in keyword(s) for your business.

• When entering the NAICS code…Do we qualify? YES.

• Size Standard: $11 million in average annual receipts.

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STEP 2What is a D-U-N-S#? • A unique nine-digit

identification number for each physical location of your business & used to identify and track your business.

• It is free for all businesses required to register with the federal government for contracts or grants.

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1. Identify your D-U-N-S number.

2. Log onto www.dnb.com (Dunn and Bradstreet)

Once you get a D&B #, type your DUNS# and zip code in and it will search out your competitors in your regional area.

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STEP 3• An EIN is used to identify a

business entity. • You may apply for an EIN

online as a free service offered by the IRS to get your EIN immediately.

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-id-numbers-eins

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Identify and/or obtain an EIN number (Employer Identification Number) aka Federal Tax Identification Number.

STEP 4• SAM is the primary

database used by vendors doing business with the federal government.

• As you register as a government contractor in the System for Award Management (SAM), you will also self-certify your business as small.

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• Register your company with the federal government’s System for Award Management (SAM). www.sam.gov or call 866-606-8220

STEP 5Websites:

www.fbo.govOthers to Research:

USAspendingLaPAC

BidMatchBidsync

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• Search for federal business contracting opportunities. (FedBizOps)

STEP 6Look for Marketing opportunities!

• Determine which agencies could use your service(s) and get to know them;

• Identify their contracting procedures;

• Register with other local agencies for diverse business certification opportunities.

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OVERWHELMED?

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AWESOME WEBPAGE

https://www.sba.gov/tools/sba-learning-center/search/training

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One-Stop Shop & Support Center1. Register for a “Free”

Training Workshop or Seminar to help you “Launch your Business” with Government Contracting & Certifications

2. Make an appointment with your local SBA Contract Assistance Specialist or Procurement Counselor

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FIND YOUR LOCAL SBA OFFICE

WWW.SBA.GOV

You will learn & have assistance with:6. Getting assistance with

obtaining D-U-N-S # 7. Registering for

government contracting8. Finding helpful resources9. Become a part of a

constant mentorship program

10.Networking

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1. Reserving a business name

2. Writing your business plan3. Choosing your business

structure4. Getting a Tax ID # for your

business5. Registering your business

with System for Award Management (SAM)-www.sam.gov

GET STARTED- IT’S A “WIN-WIN”!

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Questions, Thoughts or Comments

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