Nationwide · Federal set-aside
SBA 8(a) Certification
Nine years of access to sole-source and set-aside federal contracts — and the hardest small business application the federal government runs.
- SBA fee
- Free
- Typical timeline
- 3–6 months
- Program length
- 9 years
- Where
- All 50 states
8(a) is the strongest small business programme the federal government runs. Certified firms can receive sole-source awards without competing, and agencies actively seek 8(a) firms to meet their goals. It lasts nine years and you get it once.
Who qualifies
- At least 51% owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged U.S. citizens
- Personal net worth, adjusted gross income and total assets below SBA's thresholds
- Small under your primary NAICS code
- Generally two years of operating history, though a waiver exists
- The disadvantaged owner manages day-to-day operations full time
Why applications fail
Rarely on merit. They fail on control — an operating agreement giving a non-disadvantaged partner veto rights, an outside job that makes full-time management implausible, or a personal financial statement that contradicts the tax returns SBA will pull.
What we do
We check every criterion before you spend anything, write the narrative, organise the financials the way SBA reads them, fix control problems in your governing documents before submission, and stay with the application through every request for information.
GERC fee
$4,500
one-time · eligibility reviewed first
- Eligibility reviewed against every criterion before you pay
- Social and economic disadvantage narrative written properly
- Personal and business financials organised to SBA's format
- Ownership and control documents reviewed and corrected first
- Full submission through SBA's portal
- Every SBA request for information answered until a decision
SBA charges nothing to apply. If the eligibility review says you don't qualify yet, we tell you before you pay us anything.
Build your quote Call (909) 454-707650% to start, balance on delivery.
Questions
What people ask about 8(a).
Does SBA charge for the 8(a) application?
No. Applying is free. What it costs is months of your time and the risk of a rejection that sets you back a year.
How long does 8(a) certification take?
Typically three to six months from a complete application. Incomplete submissions restart the clock.
Can you guarantee approval?
No, and nobody honestly can. SBA decides. What we control is that every criterion is addressed and evidenced.
What if I don't qualify yet?
We say so during the eligibility review, before you pay for the application, and map what would change that.
Do you only work with California businesses?
No. 8(a) is federal and we handle applications for businesses in any state.
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