VBE | SDVBE

Certification

THE GOLD STANDARD IN VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS CERTIFICATION

Certified Veteran's Business Enterprise®

The National Veteran-Owned Business Association’s Certified Veteran’s Business Enterprise®  (VBE) and Certified Service-Disabled Veteran’s Business Enterprise® (SDVBE) programs set the national benchmark 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 and a competitive edge—for both corporations and Veteran-Owned businesses.

The NaVOBA Certification Process

Learn the requirements, review process, and why corporations trust NaVOBA.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Required Documents

    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 applicants must 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.

98.5% of VBEs/SDVBEs

Renew Their Certification*

Start your certification journey or continue your Certified VBE/SDVBE status.

*Based on Certified VBE and SDVBE renewal data from 2021–2024.

FAQs

  • 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 Veteran's Business Enterprise® and Certified Service-Disabled Veteran's Business Enterprise® 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 Veteran's Business Enterprises® and Certified Service-Disabled Veteran's Business Enterprises®.  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-Owned 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.

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Not sure if VBE or SDVBE certification fits your business? Our team can help you determine the right path.