The Value of Certifying a Business as Woman-Owned

Stephen Singleteary serves as the principal and president of Legacy Food Solutions. In this role, Stephen Singleteary is responsible for the company's overall vision and serves as the primary negotiator for the company's proposed facility in Chicago. As an experienced entrepreneur, Stephen Singleteary is passionate about raising awareness of the challenges women- and minority-owned businesses face in raising capital for business initiatives.

One way female entrepreneurs can help their businesses stand out in the marketplace is by having them certified as woman-owned. Multiple organizations certify woman-owned businesses, but the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) stands out as the largest certifier in the U.S.

In general, a business qualifies as a woman-owned business when a woman holds the top position at the business and oversees all daily responsibilities. A woman or women must also control at least 51 percent of the business, and the principal owner must be a U.S. citizen.

The application process for certifying a business as woman-owned can be lengthy, sometimes taking as long as a year. The potential benefits of becoming a certified woman-owned business include qualifying for specially-designated government contracts, as well as finding business opportunities through organizations like the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, which provides a list of women-owned businesses to interested companies.