SBE Required Documents Checklist
Everything you need to assemble before applying for SBE certification, with notes on what reviewers commonly look for.
Download SBE checklist
For business owners
Get certified. Then win the work that follows.
If you own a minority-, women-, disadvantaged-, or small business, certification opens doors, and we make earning it straightforward.
Know your certifications
What S/D/M/WBE certification means
Four certifications, four different tests. We help you pursue the ones that actually win you work.
M
MBE
Minority Business Enterprise. A for-profit business at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by minority group members. Certified by NMSDC affiliates and public agencies.
W
WBE
Women's Business Enterprise. At least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by one or more women. Certified by WBENC and public agencies.
D
DBE
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise. A small business at least 51% owned and controlled by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual, used on transportation projects.
S
SBE
Small Business Enterprise. A small business as defined by the Small Business Administration, used by agencies and corporations.
Why certification matters
It's the key to a different room
Certification doesn't just check a box, it makes you eligible for set-asides, prime-supplier programs, and corporate spend you can't otherwise compete for. The hard part isn't the opportunity; it's surviving the paperwork and the review.
- Access to public and corporate set-aside opportunities
- Visibility in supplier diversity databases primes search
- Credibility that shortens the sales conversation
- Eligibility that compounds across agencies once you're in
How LSP helps you earn it
The process, fully managed
Eligibility check
We confirm you qualify, ownership, control, size, before you spend time on an application.
Document plan
A precise checklist of what each agency needs, sequenced so it doesn't derail your business.
Application & narrative
We prepare and file applications with narratives that answer reviewer questions before they're asked.
Site visit & approval
We prep you for the interview and handle agency follow-ups through to a decision.
Renew & expand
We keep you active and add jurisdictions so one certification becomes many.
"I'd tried twice on my own and been denied twice. With LSP I was certified on the first attempt."
Owner
Woman-Owned Professional Services Firm
"They didn't just get me the certification, they showed me how to use it to actually land contracts."
Founder
Minority-Owned Construction Company
Free downloads
Two practical checklists to get you certification-ready
Used by the LSP team, free for you to download.
XBE Certification Readiness Checklist
The comprehensive checklist for SBE, DBE, ACDBE, MBE, and WBE certification, covering ownership tests, documentation, and timeline.
Download XBE checklistAlready drafting your DBE narrative?
Get it reviewed before you submit
The personal narrative is where most DBE applications win or lose. Have ours reviewed against the USDOT IFR before you file — and submit with confidence.