Getting your small business certified by the highest authority in the land and bagging federal contract deals must have been a day dream, right? Not anymore! With 8a certification advantages you can take your small enterprise to great heights and stay there. This article will highlight some of the fine points for small biz owners to benefit from 8a certified advantage.

The Small Business Administration administers two types of programs to assist small disadvantaged businesses. These programs are Small Disadvantaged Business Certification Program and 8a Business Development Program. The 8a program provides a broad scope of assistance to economically and socially disadvantaged companies whereas the small disadvantaged business certification is strictly concerned about the advantages in federal procurement. Companies that are 8a certified automatically qualify for small disadvantaged business certification. The new regulations permit the 8a firms to form the beneficial teaming partnerships and enable the federal agencies to streamline contracting process. The new rules make it easier for the firms of non-minority status to take part by offering their social disadvantage. There is also the new Mentor-Protege Program that enables start up 8a small firms to learn the ropes from the expert businesses. The task of the 8a certification consultants is to teach the small 8a firms how to compete in the field of federal contracting and how to utilize the subcontracting opportunities available from the big businesses because of private-public partnerships. In order to be eligible for the program, the small business should be controlled and owned by economically and socially disadvantaged person. Some of the presumed groups include Hispanic Americans, African Americans, Subcontinent Asian Americans, Native Americans and Asian Pacific Americans. Even people who are not members of these groups can be admitted to the program. In that case, individuals need to prove that they are disadvantaged because of their ethnicity, race, physical handicap, residence in a place isolated from the mainstream of the American society or gender. An individual, in order to prove that he/she is economically disadvantaged, should have a net worth of not more than 250,000 dollars. However, the value of personnel residence and business should not be included here. Individuals who want their companies to be 8a certified should see to it that their firms meet the small size standards set by the SBA. Apart from these, the individuals should also keep in mind that their business could only be eligible for the certification if the firm has been in business for a minimum of two years. Although this two year requirement can be waived, the small companies should comply with the other requirements. The other requirements are: • The businesses should prove that they have the potential to succeed. • The business owner needs to have a good character. For doing business with the federal government and to be certified under a small disadvantaged business program or the 8a business development program, you should register in the SAM.

Procuring the SBA certification gives the ideal opportunity for the small firms to flourish exponentially. Getting the federal recognition allows the firm enter the government market and bid for the hugely funded projects. Such projects will enable the firms to boost their annual revenue significantly and rank high than their competitors. While applying for the federal recognition such as professional 8A certification or DBE certification, it is imperative for an applicant to select the right consulting firm.  With the aid of a proper consulting firm, an applying firm can get over the federal process in no time. However, while selecting the consulting firm, certain points should be considered, namely: • The consulting firm must declare the full name along with its subsidiaries in its particular website. Certain consulting firms may attempt to mislead an applicant by placing a referral on the website which is derived from its affiliates • The website of the business consultant should be riddle-free and must not have spelling errors. The names of the offices, official forms and processes should be slept in the right manner • The website should not contain hyperbolic or overstated assertions or promises, which are not authenticated. Any kind of unrealistic claim by the consulting firm should give it a red flag. • The credentials of the consulting firm should be strong enough to support the claim of the company of being proficient. A proficient consultant should have years of expertise in the related field and must have a good record of accomplishment. It should have supportive testimonials of its previous clients that verifies the proficiency of the consulting company • The references of the related consulting company should be easily located on the web. An applicant must have the access to talk to references of the consulting firm via a telephone or an email. • The consulting company should not make any kind of promise or give assurance, which only the US government is allowed to do. If any consulting company gives 100% guarantee that it can help a candidate to procure 8A certification or DBE certification, it should not be trusted. Getting the federal recognition depends on the right selection of the consulting company. By adhering to the above-mentioned points, if an applicant chooses a consulting company, it is quite likely that his/her federal approach will be a highly successful one.

8a certification program involves certain myths following which can hamper your business approach. EZ8A helps you deal with such misconceptions in the most lucid manner.

8a certification offers 12 essential benefits for small business owners. The above video highlights the lucrative federal contracting options for small firms certified with 8a certification.