Certifications

Are you a women-owned or minority-owned business in Illinois?

Securing a certification as a women-owned (“WBE”) or minority-owned business (“MBE”) can be a game-changer for your business.

Our firm helps businesses navigate the complex process and successfully apply for WBE + MBE certification.

What is a "WBE" or "MBE" Certification?

A “WBE” is a women-owned business enterprise and a “MBE” is a minority-owned business enterprise.

Getting a certification with the State or local government as a WBE or MBE gets you access to set-aside programs, designed specifically to help businesses like yours.

This means more government contracts and $$$ for your business.

Why do I want WBE/MBE certification for my business?

Accessibility to government contracts can help you grow your company, increase revenue and jobs, build capacity, and prepare you for larger contracts in the future.

With certification also comes access to the state’s supplier database and your business becomes searchable for companies to find and contact you. Overall, being certified as a woman or minority-owned business creates a marketing opportunity to raise brand awareness and celebrate your diverse ownership.

I want to be certified. What is the process?

Step 1: Determine which certification you will pursue first.

Each certifying agency (such as the State of Illinois, City of Chicago, Cook County, or Illinois Department of Transportation) has their own version of a WBE/MBE program, so you will need to apply to the programs individually. Of course, some programs have varying levels of reciprocity.

You should research each program, decide which type of contracts you plan to apply for, and ultimately decide which certification program fits your business and your business goals best.

State of Illinois

The State runs a Business Enterprise Program (BEP) through the Illinois Department of Central and Management Services, which is meant to gain access to the State’s procurement process.

Cook County's Business Enterprise Program

Pursue Minority, Women, Veteran, Service Disabled Veteran, and/or Persons with Disabilities Owned Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE/VBE/SDVBE/PDB) certification with Cook County.

City of Chicago

The City of Chicago’s Minority and Women-Owned Business (M/WBE) Certification Program demonstrates the City’s continued commitment to the success of minority-and women-owned businesses by offering certification opportunities to MBE and WBE firms.

Illinois Unified Certification Program

A “one-stop” certification process for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) with five state agencies: IDOT, City of Chicago, CTA, Metra, and PACE.

Step 2: Collect your documents.

Start collecting your business documents to prepare for your application. Keep in mind that each certifying agency wants something a little different. Here is a Certification Document Checklist for the State of Illinois, City of Chicago, and Cook County.

Step 3: Submit application + pay any application fees.

woman in pink suit working on her pink computer

What if I need more help with my application?

At Elking Consulting, we prepare our clients for the certification process by walking you through the necessary steps leading up to and submitting your application.

Applying for MBE + WBE certification can be a complex and even time-consuming process. Our clients often come to us because they want more help and hand-holding during the process. We help you stay focused and organized.

The process is very document heavy, and our clients do not want to submit something wrong. We review each document with the certifier’s eye in mind, and help carry out your strategy that will eventually enable you to win more government contracts.

From understanding the eligibility requirements to preparing your application, we’re here to ensure a smooth and hopefully, successful, certification process.

What we will do together:

Evaluate the most beneficial MBE/WBE certifying agency for your business
Determine your business’s certification qualifications + eligibility
Prepare and compile all necessary documentation required for a successful application
Finalize your application and walk you through submitting
Communicate with the certifying agency in the case of any clarification, rejections, or appeals

Benefits of Our Experience

Expert Guidance

Our team has in-depth knowledge of the certification processes and requirements, ensuring your application is accurate and complete.

Time Saved

We know the process and what the regulators want. This saves you valuable time and resources, so you can focus on what you really want to do: run your business.

Increased Opportunities

WBE and MBE certifications can open up new opportunities for your business with government contracts.

Want to get to work? Let's do it.

Let’s develop a tailor-made strategy for you.

Step 1: Contact Us

Send us an email or schedule a brief call to let us know a bit more about you, your business and how we can help.

Step 2: Briefing call

During this call, we’ll ask more questions to understand your goals and develop a strategy.

Step 3: Plan

When we decide to partner together, we will create a plan of action to attack your goals and increase your access to more opportunities.

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The Industries

Our clients have found their bespoke government relations strategy to be profit-generating, and over time, our clients have seen a return on their investment.