NSBA Small Business Certification Application

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Apply Today

Small businesses are under increasing pressure as prices skyrocket, customer demand wains and economic security wavers.


But, where the average person sees challenges, a small-business owner sees opportunities.  

Opportunity to expand. Opportunity to gain new customers. Opportunity to become an NSBA-certified Small Business Owner.
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What is the Certification?

NSBA’s new broad-based Small Business Certification will help your business get a foot in the door with the countless larger businesses seeking to increase their work with small business.
 
NSBA Certified companies gain access to procurement contacts within NSBA’s broad network of corporate and government partners. These connections provide opportunities to build strategic relationships and prepare for turning a connection into a customer.

What do you Gain?

For a two-year certification, NSBA members pay only $400 and nonmembers pay $600.


  • National recognition by America’s top corporations as a Certified Small Business.
  • Automatic inclusion in NSBA’s online searchable database of certified businesses, which is accessible by NSBA’s corporate network.
  • Use of the NSBA Certified Small Business logo on your marketing materials.
  • Eligibility to receive sourcing opportunities from NSBA.
  • Eligibility to participate in matchmaking events, trainings, and networking opportunities.

What You Need to Get Certified

Eligible businesses must be:
  • Legally established and headquartered in the U.S.
  • Privately-owned Owned by U.S. Citizens
  • Under $1 Billion in Annual Revenue
Information required for certification:
  • Certification application 
  • Ownership documents 
  • Organizational documents 
  • Tax documents 
  • Employee verification records
  • Business licenses and permits
  • Other materials necessary to verify eligibility
Logo featuring an abstract hexagonal shape in shades of green, blue, gray, and brown, with a white 'S' shape in the center, next to the text 'Global SME Certification Council' in black.

A Certification You Can Trust

NSBA’s Small Business Certification is backed by the Global Small & Medium Enterprise Certification Council (GSMECC), a private-sector framework that verifies independently owned small businesses using consistent, standardized criteria.
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This gives participating businesses a credible way to demonstrate their small-business status to potential corporate and government partners.

Support Your
Small Business Deserves


Small business is as American as apple pie – unfortunately, there are some businesses masquerading as small businesses, backed by large VC firms or subsidiaries of global companies. The NSBA certification will help your clients and potential clients cut through the noise to connect with true small businesses like yours. Yours is the small business people want to support – give them the assurance that they’re spending their money well.

How This Certification Is Different

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers targeted federal certifications for businesses that meet specific ownership or location requirements, including 8(a), HUBZone, Veteran-Owned Small Business and Women-Owned Small Business certifications.

NSBA’s certification is different. It is a broad-based certification available to eligible independently owned small businesses, regardless of ownership category or location. NSBA is the only broad-based national association offering this type of certification to help small businesses connect with larger companies seeking qualified small-business partners.

GSMECC x NSBA SME (Small & Medium Business Enterprise)
Certification Application

This certification is part of NSBA’s partnership with the Global Small & Medium Enterprise Certification Council (GSMECC).