8(A) Information, Fact Or Fiction?

The 8a designation is a coveted federal certification for small business owners. Everyday there are hundreds of business owners seeking advice about the 8(a) program and how to get certified. By doing thorough research, you can literally save thousands of dollars in preparation fees.

So what is fact or fiction about the 8a program? You can do to the source, the SBA website, but unfortunately it is really difficult to navigate and find the exact information you need.

So then you start with a Google search and you find articles.

Just because an article appears on the Internet does not make it fact or even truth. Take for example, the flurry of poorly written articles I have seen on SBA 8(a) certification.

I find it interesting that many of the articles that are written by "Internet Experts" who have NO - that is zip, zilch, nada - experience in owning an 8a business.

In addition to the poor grammar and sentence structure, they are writing articles that are simply not factual. One recent article that I read stated there are "millions of 8a companies". In reality, there are less than 10,000 certified SBA 8a companies currently. If you were researching the 8a program and learned there are millions of companies versus thousands of companies, how would that affect your perception? Would you decide it was too easy or too difficult to even apply for certification?

How do I know how to distinguish between fact and fiction? Here are three tips to help you sift through the fiction and find facts.

1. When you are seeking advice about 8a certification take time to look at the author's credentials and determine if they are credible or not. Check out their website and see how much they reveal about themselves as individuals and as a company. Take time to learn about the writer and their experience in the 8a program, if there is any.
2. Do a Google search of the person's name and see if there are any relevant websites associates with that author. Put the writer into context and determine for yourself if they are truly qualified to be making statements about a very complex program.
3. Call the author, ask them questions, get to know them as a person. Reputable authors are more than happy to email and speak with you on the phone about specifics regarding the 8a certification process.
Don't be duped by "experts" who simply copy other people's work, add in some filler words and pass themselves off as 8a experts.

Karen Miller is The 8a Mentor. She has assisted business owners for the past five years to prepare their social and economic disadvantage narratives, a critical part of the SBA 8a application process. Get the facts about SBA 8a certification and the narrative requirements at: http://www.The8aMentor.com

Information on the Purpose of the SBA 8a - SDB Certification

There is much news going around about the SBA 8a program and it's benefits to small business owners. Here is a quick overview with relevant information about the program purpose and eligibility requirements.

SBA 8(a) / SDB Certification Overview Submission of the 8(a) and SDB application is required from a small business owner who wants to obtain certification to participate in the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) 8(a) Business Development (BD) program and/or the small disadvantaged business (SBD) program. We recommend you do a Google search to locate the FedBizOpps database and view potential contracting opportunities in your field.

Purpose of Certifications Certification for participation in the 8(a) BD program qualifies eligible firms to receive certain managerial, technical, and contracting assistance designed to assist the firms in competing in the American Economy. It is interesting to note that the definition of a small business may seem rather large to the "traditional small business" owner. For example: 541511 Custom Computer Programming the limits are no more than 500 employees and less than $23 million in sales for three consecutive years.

Certification as an SDB qualifies eligible firms for Federal contract assistance, including the price evaluation adjustment, a source selection evaluation factor or sub-factor, and other subcontracting incentives. This designation offers even more opportunities when submitting bids that are or are not designated for small business owners.

Basic Eligibility Requirements To qualify for 8(a) BD program certification, the applicant firm must: Be a for-profit small business concern, non-profit organizations are not eligible. The SBA looks favorably upon small business owners who have been in a specific field and then choose to open their own consulting practice. So if you are thinking of a second career, this might be a great choice.

Prove 51% unconditionally owned by one or more U.S. citizens who are socially disadvantaged and economically disadvantaged. This group includes women, minorities and service disabled veterans.

Demonstrate the management and daily business operation is controlled by one or more U.S. citizens who are socially and economically disadvantaged.

Demonstrate potential for success; and possess, together with all its principals, good character. Government agencies are getting more strict in conducting criminal background checks to ensure that owners are in good standing with taxes and other personal / business legalities.

To qualify for certification as an SDB, the applicant firm must: Be a small business concern. As stated earlier the definition of a small business is much more than just a one person office. Despending upon the classification a small business might be a large company in a community.

Be at least 51% unconditionally owned by one or more U.S. citizens who are socially and economically disadvantaged. Companies that have one owner do not have to do as much paperwork, while companies that are comprised of husbands and wives may come under additional scrutiny to prove that the woman is qualified and serving in the leadership role.

Management and daily business operation controlled by one or more U.S. citizens who are socially economically disadvantaged.

Special Eligibility Rules for 8(a) BD Certification Firms certified for 8(a) program participation are automatically certified as SDBs. But if a company applies for SDB certification is does not automatically become SBA 8a certified.

Another important note: A firm and the disadvantaged individual upon whom eligibility is based can participate in only one time. Once an individual has used the one-time eligibility to qualify a firm, that individual will be considered non-disadvantaged with respect to any other applicant firm or 8(a) SBD program participant. Note: Brokers and Non-Profit Entities are not eligible for participation in the 8(a) BD Program

Karen Miller, owner of Design2Train (SBA 8a certified) shares SBA 8a application information with small business owners. Each year the federal government sets aside millions of contract dollars for qualified small businesses to bid and receive contracts relating to the many federal agencies. The designation of SBA 8(a) is a coveted program certification. Many federal contracts are "set aside" for 8(a) firms, meaning that only certified businesses may apply or be considered. To become SBA 8(a) certified, a business owner must take the time to apply for and receive certification. Learn more about the application process at: http://www.getsba8acertified.com