Certification Documents Checklist & Status

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FOR THE CHECKLISTS BELOW, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU INDICATE A STATUS FOR EACH ROW. IF NOT APPLICABLE, ACTIVATE THE "NA" BUTTON. OTHERWISE, YOU WILL BE UNABLE TO SUBMIT THE FORM.

1. GENERAL DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST - MANDATORY UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE *

	NA	WORKING ON GETTING	READY FOR REVIEW	COUNSELOR FEEDBACK PROVIDED	READY FOR APPLICATION	NEED HELP
(1) Signed WBENC Sworn Affidavit ( Microsoft Word - Sworn Affidavit 5-07.doc (wbenc.org) ) Signed by the majority female business owner and notarized by an authorized notary of the U.S. or one of its territories.
(2) Signed mWBENCLink2.0 User Agreement ( WBENCLink User 3-7 Agreement - 2014 ) Signed by majority female owner
(3) WBENC Non-Refundable Processing Fee Paid by credit card or by mailed check Amount based on gross revenue: Under $1 million: $350 $1M < $5M: $500 $5M < $10M: $750 $10M < $50M: $1,000 $50M+: $1,250
(4) History of Business: Explain the start and history of your business, including when, where, why, with whom, and how the business was started/acquired, as well as an explanation of the primary business of the company.
(5) Professional and business license(s) (if applicable)
(6) Resumes of all owners, board of directors, and key management team Biographies are NOT an acceptable substitute. Resumes should cover related professional experience
(7) Power of Attorney that affects ownership/management of company
(8) Evidence of Gender: Copy of current U.S. Passport, U.S. Birth Certificate, or Driver’s License
(9) Evidence of U.S. citizenship or Permanent Legal Resident Alien status for female owner(s): Copy of current U.S. Passport, U.S. Birth Certificate, naturalization papers, or Permanent Legal Resident Alien Card (green card) Note: U.S. Passports in color are preferred
(10) Printout of the first page of System Award Management (SAM) Registration showing an “Active” status. SAM is here: SAM.gov

2. FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST - MANDATORY UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE *

	NA	WORKING ON GETTING	READY FOR REVIEW	COUNSELOR FEEDBACK PROVIDED	READY FOR APPLICATION	NEED HELP
(1) Financial statements for the business: (A) Profit and loss statement that aligns with the most recent tax return submitted. (B) Balance sheet that aligns with the most recent tax return submitted. FOR BUSINESSES IN OPERATION FOR LESS THAN ONE YEAR: Submit an opening balance sheet only.
(2) Three years’ Federal Income Tax returns, as filed with the IRS {NOT STATE: Current and prior two years’ federal income tax returns for the business with all schedules and statements attached. If your company has applied for an extension to file for the most recent tax year, submit extension paperwork. If company information is filed on a Schedule C, please note this is not an official tax return and must be accompanied by the official Form 1040 submitted to the IRS (for sole proprietors/sole member LLCs).
(2) BUSINESSES LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD: Substitute personal federal income tax returns for the appropriate number of years with all schedules and statements attached. When submitting personal tax returns, you may black out all social security numbers and all dependent names. Personal tax returns must be submitted by any individual that owns 10% or more of the company
(3) ACTIVE DOCUMENTS (listed under Liabilities on Balance Sheet):
(3A) Debt instruments: (I) Loan Agreements (II) Note Payables (III) Promissory Notes (IV) Surety Agreements (V) Security Agreements
(3B) Equipment Rental/Purchase Agreements or Proof of Equipment Purchase
(3C) Real Estate Leases
(3D) Copy of Bank Signature Authorization Card OR Corporate Resolution Note: If the item does not exist or your financial institution does not release this information, please have your financial institution write a letter on its letterhead indicating the company name, type of accounts held, date account was opened, who has signature authority for those accounts, as well as any stipulations/ restrictions pertaining to signatory authority (e.g. two signatures required for amounts greater than $10,000).
(4) Proof of capital and/or equity investment by female owner(s): Any document or written statement indicating the method by which the female owner(s) obtained her ownership interest (e.g. cancelled checks, opening bank statement, proof of stock purchase, written statement by owner, list of contributed equipment/expertise, etc.)
(5) List of all full- and part-time employees by name, position, and length of service or date of hire, including all owners
(6) Employee payroll for the month prior to submitting the application: (A) Indicate time span of the pay period on the document (B) For each employee, list his/her name, title/position, hours worked for the pay period indicated, gross pay for the pay period indicated, hourly pay rate and/or commission earned in period (if applicable) (C) Information is required for internal employees, not those who are leased to/from other companies
(7) W-2s and/or 1099 forms from every officer, director, or owner receiving compensation from the company for the most recent year

3. POTENTIALLY APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST *

	NA	WORKING ON GETTING	READY FOR REVIEW	COUNSELOR FEEDBACK PROVIDED	READY FOR APPLICATION	NEED HELP
(A) IF APPLICABLE: Trust agreement(s) that involve the majority female owner(s)
(B) IF APPLICABLE: Employee Stock Ownership Plan Agreements (ESOPs)
(C) IF APPLICABLE, copies of currently active: Management/ consulting agreements
(D) IF APPLICABLE, c opies of currently active: Agreements with individuals and/or vendors who are providing management/consulting services to the applicant company. Note: These are agreements that influence the management and/or operations of the applicant company DO NOT submit client agreements between the applicant company and its customers.
(E) IF APPLICABLE, copies of currently active: Service agreements These are agreements that influence the day-to-day operations, including the production and/or distribution of the applicant company’s product or service
(F) IF APPLICABLE, copies of currently active: Affiliate/subsidiary agreements Note: An affiliation is a relationship where 5% or more of a company’s stock is held by a parent company. A subsidiary relationship is one where 50% or more of a company’s stock is held by a parent company. If the affiliate/ subsidiary company is a certified WBE, please include a copy of the WBE certificate; otherwise, include only the agreement.
(G) IF APPLICABLE, copies of currently active: Franchise Agreements
(H) IF APPLICABLE, copies of currently active: Union Agreement

NOTE: ONLY ONE OF THE LISTS BELOW IS REQUIRED DEPENDING ON YOUR BUSINESS TYPE: SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP, LLC OR CORPORATION.

4A. SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP DOCUMENT CHECKLIST *

	NA	WORKING ON GETTING	READY FOR REVIEW	COUNSELOR FEEDBACK PROVIDED	READY FOR APPLICATION	NEED HELP
(1) Assumed Name Documents

4B. PARTNERSHIP DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST *

	NA	WORKING ON GETTING	READY FOR REVIEW	COUNSELOR FEEDBACK PROVIDED	READY FOR APPLICATION	NEED HELP
(1) Partnership Agreement (mandatory)
(2) IF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP: (1) Certificate of existence; AND (2) copy of certificate of limited partnership issued by the state of formation
(3) IF APPLICABLE, Buy-Out Rights Agreement
(4) IF APPLICABLE, Profit Sharing Agreements
(5) Partnerships, Corporations, and LLCs must submit ONE of the following: (A) First page of IRS Form 941 (Quarterly Tax Return) for preceding 12 months; OR (B) W-3 (Transmittal of Wage & Tax Statements) for past year; OR (C) List of all employees, if Forms 941 or W3 are not available for the past year

4C. LIMITED LIABILTY COMPANY DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST *

	NA	WORKING ON GETTING	READY FOR REVIEW	COUNSELOR FEEDBACK PROVIDED	READY FOR APPLICATION	NEED HELP
(1) Certificate of Organization/Existence/Formation (for businesses in states that issue certificates)
(2) Articles of Organization or Articles of Formation and any amendments {mandatory}
(3) LLC Regulations, Operating Agreement and/or Member Agreement {mandatory}
(4) Member List with Titles and gender {mandatory}
(5) Schedule of Advances made to LLC by members for the preceding three years
(6) If an out-of-state LLC, proof of authority to do business in state where LLC is headquartered
(7) Partnerships, Corporations, and LLCs must submit ONE of the following: (A) First page of IRS Form 941 (Quarterly Tax Return) for preceding 12 months; OR (B) W-3 (Transmittal of Wage & Tax Statements) for past year; OR (C) List of all employees, if Forms 941 or W3 are not available for the past year

4D. CORPORATION DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST *

	NA	WORKING ON GETTING	READY FOR REVIEW	COUNSELOR FEEDBACK PROVIDED	READY FOR APPLICATION	NEED HELP
(1) Certificate of Incorporation
(2) Articles/ Charter of Incorporation {mandatory}
(3) Current corporate bylaws with all amendments {mandatory}
(4) Minutes from shareholders’ first organizational meeting {mandatory} Note: If 100% owned and minutes are not available, please state so in writing. Must be signed and dated.
(5) Minutes from first meeting of board of directors {mandatory} Note: If 100% owned and minutes are not available, please state so in writing. Must be signed and dated.
(6) Minutes from shareholders’ meeting establishing current ownership {mandatory} Note: If 100% owned and minutes are not available, please state so in writing. Must be signed and dated.
(7) Minutes from board of directors’ meeting establishing current ownership Note: If 100% owned and minutes are not available, please state so in writing. Must be signed and dated.
(8) Minutes from most recent meeting of shareholders {mandatory} Note: If 100% owned and minutes are not available, please state so in writing. Must be signed and dated.
(9) Minutes from most recent meeting of board of directors {mandatory} Note: If 100% owned and minutes are not available, please state so in writing. Must be signed and dated.
(10) Statement from the Board Secretary certifying the names, titles, and gender of all current members of the board of directors {mandatory}
(11) Both sides of ALL stock certificates issued, including voided and/or canceled {mandatory}
(12) Stock Transfer Ledger (Record of stock certificates issued and transferred) NOTE: Owning the company 100% does NOT EXEMPT the owner from providing stock certificates.
(13) Voting agreements and other equity interests including stock options, warrants, buy/sell agreements, and right of first refusal
(14) Schedule of advances made to corporation by shareholders for the preceding three years
(15) If an out-of-state corporation, proof of authority to do business in state where corporation is headquartered
(16) Partnerships, Corporations, and LLCs must submit ONE of the following: (A) First page of IRS Form 941 (Quarterly Tax Return) for preceding 12 months; OR (B) W-3 (Transmittal of Wage & Tax Statements) for past year; OR (C) List of all employees, if Forms 941 or W3 are not available for the past year

COMMENTS FROM CLIENT TO BUSINESS CENTER/COUNSELOR (For example, status, things going smoothly, anticipated turnaround for document review, and challenges and areas where you could use some guidance or referrals): *

COMMENTS FROM COUNSELOR TO CLIENT (For example, status, anticipated turnaround for document review, feedback, and guidance or referrals to other counseling/third-parties for assistance with certain documents):

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