vbe®| sdvbe®
certification
Helping real veteran-owned businesses access corporate supply chains through rigorous, nationally recognized certification to access exclusive opportunities and stand out from the crowd.
Veteran's Business Enterprise® Certification
The National Veteran-Owned Business Association’s Certified Veteran’s Business Enterprise® (VBE) and Certified Service-Disabled Veteran’s Business Enterprise® (SDVBE) programs create a nationally recognized gold standard in certification for veteran-owned businesses of all sizes and enables corporate America to proactively source and confidently utilize businesses that are at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by U.S. military Veterans.
The Trusted Mark
NaVOBA’s Certified VBE® and SDVBE® credentials are the gold standard for verifying veteran-owned businesses in the private sector. Trusted by leading corporations, our certification opens doors to meaningful opportunities.
Created in response to corporate demand, our program mirrors established standards like NMSDC and WBENC to ensure veteran businesses are truly 51% owned, operated, and controlled by U.S. military veterans.
NaVOBA certification delivers credibility, integrity, and a competitive edge—for both corporations and veteran-owned businesses.
Is Certification Right For You?
Make an Informed Choice - Read Below to See if Certification Aligns with Your Goals.
Must Be 51% Veteran-Owned
NaVOBA’s VBE® and SDVBE® certifications require that businesses be at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by U.S. military Veterans. This standard ensures corporations can confidently work with verified veteran-owned businesses.
Without this verification, corporations risk misreporting spend, damaging trust, and facing compliance challenges in their veteran engagement efforts.
Know Before You Start
Before applying, it’s important to understand both the application process and how to use your certification once approved.
Certification is a rigorous, multi-step process designed to ensure credibility and trust. Once certified, it’s essential to stay engaged—attend events, apply for opportunities, and proactively position your business to benefit from the full value of certification. View list of required documents here.
Independent Certification
This is a private-sector certification. NaVOBA is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. Small Business Administration VOSB/SBVOSB certification through the Center for Verification and Evaluation.
VBE® certification is a private-sector program that mirrors those certifications that already exist for Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women’s Business Enterprises (WBEs) selling to corporate America.
Documentation Required
All applicants must provide significant documentation to validate that your firm is in fact veteran-owned.
Corporations cannot risk reporting spending with firms that are owned by veterans if they aren’t absolutely certain of the ownership, operation, and control.
VBE® certification provides that certainty. View list of required documents here.
On-Site Interviews
All certified businesses complete an on-site interview to validate the information collected during the document review phase.
NaVOBA uses a two part process to ensure every applicant meets our criteria and standards. This includes a thorough review of the documentation presented and a site visit interview with the veteran owner(s).
A trained NaVOBA site assessor will arrange a site visit with the owner(s). The review process takes approximately 90 days from the date your file is deemed complete.
Application Fee
As with other private-sector certifications, a processing fee is required for all applications.
Just like your business has expenses, so do we. The process required to certify that one or more veterans legitimately own, operate, and control a business concern requires skilled staff and a lengthy review, coupled with a site visit. Simply put, it’s expensive to do. Think of it like a hunting license—if you don’t plan to use it, it may not be the right investment for you.
Ready to Apply?
Download list of required documents here.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions. Don't see your question here?
Fill out the Contact Form below!
What type of business does NOT qualify for NaVOBA Certification?
Each application is carefully reviewed to ensure the certification criteria is met. But certain businesses, such as brokers, agents, and some franchises, are not eligible for certification. Non-profit businesses do not qualify for certification. This list is not all inclusive and there can be other reasons why a company does not qualify. If you have any questions, we recommend you schedule a 1:1 meeting with our certification director before beginning your application.
Will this certification help my business get government contracts?
No it will not. The federal government does not require third-party certification. VBE/SDVBE certification is focused on private sector contracting with NaVOBA’s Corporate Allies.
Who authorized NaVOBA to certify my business?
NaVOBA’s Certified VBE® and Certified SDVBE® credentials are offered in response to the need expressed by NaVOBA’s Corporate Allies.
Why do I have to get certified?
You don’t need to. This certification serves as a marketing tool for businesses looking to work with corporations that seek Certified VBEs® and Certified SDVBEs®. If your customer matrix does not include these firms, it may not be the best fit for your business, and you can consider whether the investment aligns with your goals.
Why do I have to pay to get certified?
Please note that the application fee is non-refundable. The process required to certify that one or more veterans legitimately own, operate, and control a business concern requires skilled staff and a lengthy review, coupled with a site visit. Simply put, it’s expensive to do. Think of it like a hunting license—if you don’t plan to use it, it may not be the right investment for you.
How long is my certification good for?
Three (3) Years! That's right, a NaVOBA certification is valid for 1,095 days.
What is the fee structure?
The application fee is based on your company’s most recent annual revenue.
Less Than $1 Million - $350
$1 Million - $4.99 Million - $550
$5 Million - $9.99 Million - $800
$10 Million - $19.99 Million - $1,200
$20 Million - $49.99 Million - $1,500
$50 Million or Greater - $2,000
Why do corporations want me to get certified?
Corporations want to include veteran businesses in their supply chain. The established standard for those firms to buy from minority- or women-owned businesses requires that a third party such as the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) or the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) certify those supplier firms to ensure they are actually spending money with deserving firms.
What Are the Next Steps?
Initiating the certification application process consists of four steps:
1. Acknowledgement and Agreement of the requirements and expectations of Certification Validating your veteran status through our external partners including the National Archives.
2. Making the appropriate non-refundable payment based on company revenue
3. Completing the Application form
4. Submitting application-related documents, based on company type
I have a question not listed here. Who can I speak with?
We're so glad you asked. At the bottom of this page is a contact form you can complete to reach the NaVOBA team directly.
98.5% of VBEs®/SDVBEs®
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Have Questions?
Connect with NaVOBA
If you're unsure whether VBE® or SDVBE® certification is the right fit, connect with our team to get clarity and guidance.
We're here to answer your questions and help you make an informed decision.
