Explore Business Certification Options
Not sure which certification is the best fit for your business? You may qualify for more than one. When you apply for a certification program, the certifying officer will review your eligibility for additional certifications and, with your approval, can grant those designations as well.
Certification Details
- Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
- At least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by one or more minorities
- Has a significant presence in the Kansas City metropolitan area
- Meets federal small business size standards
- Performs a commercially useful function
- Certified by CREO
- Women Business Enterprise (WBE)
- At least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by one or more women
- Has a significant presence in the Kansas City metropolitan area
- Meets federal small business size standards
- Performs a commercially useful function
- Certified by CREO
- Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE)
- Size: Revenue does not exceed ~5% of SBA limits (about $2.25M)
- Location: Based in the Kansas City metro area
- Ownership: At least 51% owned and controlled
- Independence: Operates without heavy reliance on non-SLBE firms
- Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
Used primarily for federally funded or assisted projects.
- Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
- Independently owned and operated
- Meets SBA size standards
- Typically fewer than 500 employees (varies by industry)
- Based on revenue or number of employees
What does “commercially useful function” mean?
A business performs a commercially useful function when it is actively responsible for the work it is hired to complete.
- Performs the work itself (does not pass it to another company)
- Manages its own employees, equipment, and materials
- Makes independent decisions about how work is completed
- Is not acting as a pass-through just to meet requirements
In simple terms, the business must be doing real, meaningful work—not just listed on paper.
