PREPARING FOR SBA VETERAN SMALL 

BUSINESS CERTIFICATION/RECERTIFICATION

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides small businesses 

access to resources such as training, business counseling, access to 

capital, and more. Most resources are provided free of charge. SBA’s 

Veteran Small Business Certification Program (VetCert) allows servicedisabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) the opportunity 

to compete for federal sole-source and set-aside contracts across the 

federal government. Certified veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) 

may also compete for sole-source and set- aside contracts from the 

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

VETCERT UPDATES

1. The one-year self-certification grace period ending December 31, 

2023 is over for sole source and set aside self-certification. Unless 

Firms had applied before that date and are on the following site: 

What Businesses Had Pending Applications with VetCert as of 

December 31, 2023?

2. Advanced search features with multiple filters are available now. 

Visit SBA’s dynamic small business search (DSBS). Veteran-owned 

and service-disabled veteran-owned small business certifications 

are listed under the “Government Certifications” section of the DSBS 

main search page.

3. VetCert webinars conducted on 2nd and 4th Thursdays of 

each month @ 2:00 p.m. ET. To secure your spot, Webinar 

Training Schedule.

4. The 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will now require 

SDVOSB goaling and subcontracting credit to be VetCert qualified. 

Self-certification for goaling and subcontracting purposes will be 

allowed until December 22, 2024.

5. NDAA 2024 now establishes the Federal set aside goal to be 5%. 

That is an increased goal of an extra 2%.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

You will need to do a few preliminary things to be ready for the 

application process:

1. Be registered in SAM.gov and have your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) 

and company’s bank account number handy.

2. Visit Frequently Asked Questions: FAQ – VetCert Frequently Asked 

Questions - VetCert KB – Confluence.

3. Gather the required documentation detailed in the table below.

ELIGIBILITY

To apply for certification or 

recertification as a VOSB or 

SDVOSB, a firm must meet the 

following requirements:

✓ Be considered a small 

business as defined 

by the size standard 

corresponding to at 

least one NAICS code 

listed in the business’s 

SAM.gov profile.

✓ No less than 51 percent 

of the business must be 

owned and controlled by 

one or more veterans.

✓ For certification as an 

SDVOSB, no less than 51 

percent of the business 

must be owned and 

controlled by one or 

more veterans rated as 

service-disabled by VA.

For those veterans who are 

permanently and totally disabled 

and unable to manage the daily 

business operations of their 

business, their business may 

still qualify for certification as 

an SDVOSB if their appointed 

permanent caregiver is assisting 

in that management. Additionally, 

spouses who assume ownership 

and control of a participant 

company after the death of such a 

veteran may continue to qualify for 

this program.
APPLYING

To apply, visit the Veteran Small Business Certification portal to establish an account and login.

The following tables detail some of the questions you will be asked in the application along with the anticipated 

required documentation based upon the answer to each step. Keep in mind that the SBA reviewer may ask for additional 

information depending on the individual situation.

Who is Preparing the Application?

Preparer Required Documentation

Contractor/Consultant Contract between contractor/consultant and business owner.

If it is a surviving spouse who has 

not remarried

Proof of marriage such as a marriage certificate.

If it is a permanent caregiver for a 

veteran with a permanent, total, 

service- connected disability

Caregiver’s formal appointment Written determination from the VA that 

the veteran has a permanent and total service- connected disability.

Business Information

Question Required Documentation

If veteran is not highest compensated 

person in the business

Written explanation of the situation detailing who is highest 

compensated and the business reasons for such compensation.

Does the business have any 

franchise agreements?

Franchise Agreement.

Is the business currently past due on any 

taxes, liens, federally backed loans, or 

outstanding tax returns?

Letter of explanation regarding any delinquencies, including amounts 

and to whom owed.

Is the owner or any family household 

embers of an owner a federal employee in a 

GS-13 (or equivalent) position or above?

Letter of non-objection from the federal employee’s ethics official.

Does the veteran have a 

permanent caregiver?

Written determination from the VA that the veteran has a permanent and 

total service-connected disability.

Is the business owned by a trust? Trust agreement demonstrating the trust is revocable, and veterans are 

the grantors, trustees, and the current beneficiaries of the trust. Other 

types of trusts are not eligible for the program.
Documents Required Based Upon the Entity Type of the Applicant Business

Business Type Required Documentation

Sole Proprietorship One of the following three documents to demonstrate the business 

legally exists and is in operation:

1. IRS SS4 TIN issuance letter with correct name and EIN. 

2. Fictitious name certificate or certificate of trade name. 

3. Copy of most recent schedule.

Limited Liability Company (LLC) 1. Copy of Articles of Organization, or equivalent, including all Limited 

Liability Company (LLC) amendments as filed with the State 

of Formation.

2. Certificate, or equivalent, issued by State of Formation showing 

creation of LLC, as available.

3. Operating Agreement, including all amendments.

4. Minutes demonstrating or establishing the current operating 

practices. When signed and dated, these legally serve as evidence of 

important actions such as: 

a. Election or appointments of officers 

b. Adoption/implementation of operating agreements or 

voting agreements

c. Business decisions

d. Voting

Partnerships - General 1. Partnership Agreement, including all amendments.

2. One of the following four documents to demonstrate the business 

legally exists and is in operation: 

a. Copy of most recent Schedule K-1s 

b. Copy of most recent Schedule C for proprietorship 

c. IRS SS4 TIN issuance letter with correct name and EIN 

d. Fictitious Name Certificate or Certificate of Trade Name

Partnerships - Limited (LP), 

Limited Liability (LLP)

1. Partnership Agreement, including all amendments.

2. Certificate, or equivalent, issued by State of Formation showing 

creation of Partnership, as available.

3. Minutes demonstrating or establishing the current operating 

practices. When signed and dated, these legally serve as evidence of 

important actions such as: 

a. Election or appointments of officers

b. Adoption/implementation of partnership agreements & 

amendments 

c. Business decisions 

d. Voting
Business Type Required Documentation

Corporation 1. Copy of Articles of Incorporation, or equivalent, including all

amendments as filed with the State of Formation.

2. By-laws: All corporate by-laws and all amendments, signed and

dated as of their effective date.

3. Certificate, or equivalent, issued by State of Formation showing

creation of Corporation, as available.

4. Shareholders Agreements, including all amendments.

5. Minutes demonstrating or establishing the current operating

practices. When signed and dated, these legally serve as evidence of

important actions such as:

a. Election or appointments of officers

b. Adoption/implementation of bylaws and voting agreements

c. Business decisions

d. Voting

6. Copy of the most recent Stock Ledger adopted in the minutes or by

resolution. A stock ledger provides crucial information about the

stockholders of the company such as:

a. Stockholder name

b. Stockholder’s certificate number

c. Date the person became a stockholder

d. Number of shares registered to each stockholder

e. Class of shares held by the stockholders, e.g. voting shares

ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT NOTE AS YOU SET UP AN ACCOUNT AND REGISTER FOR THE 

VETCERT PROGRAM:

1. Personal credentials don’t match what VA has on file.

a. Ensure full name (First, middle, last, suffix Jr/Sr), Date of Birth, and personal residential address match VA’s files.

2. Unsure of the credentials registered with VA?

a. Go to www.va.gov.

b. Login to your account or create an account.

c. Click “Go to your profile” under My VA at the top center of the page.

d. Click “Personal information” to view Name.

e. Click Contact information (Please make sure that there is an address in both the mailing and home address

field). This will help the VA Validation to go through.

3. Make corrections to the SBA Vet Cert Application.

a. Go “Business Owner” page.

b. Click “View” to the right of owner’s name. You will have to click save and continue until the (7th tab on left hand

side). The info on this tab must be consistent with the data you have on file with www.va.gov.

c. The link below contains screenshots to assist with making corrections within your profile: How do I update a

personal address for verifications? - VetCert KB - Confluence (atlassian.net).

d. Please DO NOT resubmit the SBA VetCert Application until all information has been reconciled between

the VA and SBA profiles.

For More Information

Website: www.sba.gov/vetcert

Email: vetcert@sba.gov

Online Support: Frequently Asked Questions

All SBA programs and services are extended 

to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

March 2024