What is 8a certification Small Business

Go to Blogger edit html and find these sentences.Now replace these sentences with your own descriptions.

8a certified by the U.S. small business administration

Go to Blogger edit html and find these sentences.Now replace these sentences with your own descriptions.

8a certification consultants

Go to Blogger edit html and find these sentences.Now replace these sentences with your own descriptions.

8a certification requirements

Go to Blogger edit html and find these sentences.Now replace these sentences with your own descriptions.

SBA 8a qualification

Go to Blogger edit html and find these sentences.Now replace these sentences with your own descriptions.

8a certification federal government

Go to Blogger edit html and find these sentences.Now replace these sentences with your own descriptions.

8a certification assistance

Go to Blogger edit html and find these sentences.Now replace these sentences with your own descriptions.

Wednesday, 14 August 2013

8 A Certification Financial Requirements And Limits

8 A Certification is a United States Small Business Development Program for the small businesses. By obtaining the certification, small businesses can get an access to the federal contracting opportunities. So, getting certified by the SBA is a big thing for small companies that want to grow.

Not every small company can get 8a certified by the Small Business Administration. The firm needs to be eligible for the 8a program. For being eligible, the firm has to be small as per the SBA standards; the owner of the firm should be disadvantaged both socially and economically, he/she should have a good character, the company has to be owned and controlled by the disadvantaged individuals and it should have been in business for a minimum of two years. Only if the company and the entrepreneur have all these qualifications, the SBA is going to approve the 8a application of the firm.
8 A Certification Financial Requirements
8 A Certification Financial Requirements
Here in this article we are going to discuss in detail about the financial requirements and limits for obtaining the 8 a certification.

Personal net worth--$250K

The applicant’s personal net worth should not be more than $250K. But do you know what this figure takes into account? It includes all your cash, bonds, stocks, savings and checking accounts, automobiles, RVs, motorcycles and other assets. Though you will need to declare the value of your company, home, 401ks and IRAS on the SBA Form 413 or personal financial statement, they will not be included within the personal net worth limit. The Small Business Administration doesn’t include the value of your home, company or retirement accounts.

Annual salary--$250K

The applicant’s annual salary should not be beyond $250K. The person needs to be the highest paid one in the company. Moreover, his/her salary needs to be reasonable as per the industry standards and should be reasonable in proportion to the annual gross revenue of the firm. The Small Business Administration is going to consider both the salary as well as the amount the entrepreneur draws from the bank account of the company while determining what all is constituted in the ‘total owner compensation.’

Assets market value--$4 million

The individual who is applying for SBA 8a application needs to keep one very important thing in mind. He/she should make sure that the total market value of all the assets that he/she possess is not more than 4 million dollars. The person can ignore the liabilities when considering the total market value of the assets.

The 8a application reviewers generally look for any large or unusual transfers of money between the accounts during the three year period preceding the 8a application submittal. Few things, which the reviewers look for include huge amounts of money presented to relatives or mortgages for homes, which are quickly paid off.

3 year average AGI--$250K

The applicant’s 3 year average AGI or adjusted gross income as shown on the federal tax returns should not be more than $250K.

As far as the financial requirements and limits for 8 a certification is concerned, you should note the above-mentioned four points. They are going to be of great help to you while preparing the SBA 8a application.

Thursday, 8 August 2013

8a Certification: Determine Whether Your AGI is Below $250K

8a certification is a business development program for small businesses. Obtaining this certification is not an easy affair. The United States Small Business Administration is very stringent when it comes to approving the certification for small businesses. It scrutinizes the application in details and if it finds any SBA 8a certification requirement not being met, it rejects the application straightway.

If you are a small business wanting to get 8a certified, you need to make sure you first know the requirements for SBA 8a certification thoroughly. You need to be a ‘small business’ as per the SBA rules, you should be socially and economically disadvantaged not having more than $250K as your average AGI over the past three tax years, the small business need to be owned and controlled by disadvantaged individuals, your business should be 2 years of age at least and the business owner needs to have a good character.
8a Certification
8a Certification
Here we have discussed about how to determine if an 8a applicant’s average Adjusted Gross Income, which should not be more than $250K over the past three tax years.

Before starting, let’s first learn what is an AGI. It’s a tax term for an amount used in the calculation of the individual’s income tax liability. It’s calculated by taking the gross income of the applicant and subtracting the maximum allowable adjustments.

How to determine your AGI for 8a certification?

An easy way to determine if your AGI has exceeded $250K threshold is to add the AGI number for the past three tax years, which is the on the first page of the Form 1040. Add these three numbers, divide them by three and then find out what’s the result? If the amount exceeds $250,000, you need to do more analysis. If the number is not more than $250,000, then be happy you have not exceeded the threshold and that you have met one of the major 8a certification criteria.

If you’ve found out that your AGI is more than $250K, then a further analysis might help you. Sometimes it happens that married couple file their taxes jointly. In such a case, you need to separate your part of income, which is reported on tax return. After doing this, add up the AGI numbers for the last three years and then divide them by three again. If the number exceeds $250,000, you need to do more analysis. If it is below $250K, you can be happy that now you have met the criteria.

However, if the average AGI is more than $250K, there is one more way to see if you still exceed the specified threshold. If your company is an S-Corporation or an LLC you can:

Deduct the income, which is related to the enterprise and that was reinvested into the business, less any distributions.
Deduct the income, which has been used for paying the S-Corporation or LLC federal taxes within one year of the income distribution.

Determining your AGI for 8a certification is a complicated affair. Advance 8a can assist you to determine your Adjusted Gross Income should you require more help.

Tuesday, 30 July 2013

SBA 8a Application: 4 Major Mistakes Applicants Often Make

Do you want your small business to get 8a certified? You first need to make sure whether you are eligible for the SBA 8 a certification requirements. If you are unable to meet any one of them, you will be rejected by the United States Small Business Administration. The SBA is very strict with reviewing the application. Any mistake on your part will delay your request and cause harassment to you or even jeopardize your chances of getting 8a certified by the SBA.
8 a certification
8 a certification
Here in this blog, we have discussed the four major mistakes, which applicants often make while applying for the 8a program. Make sure not to make these mistakes when you apply for the certification program.

Never appoint your better half as the CEO of your company

Many applicants make the mistake of appointing their spouse as the CEO of the firm. This is one of the major mistakes they do. You should never do this unless your better half has a strong background in business management or has held a top management position in other companies in the past. Make sure your spouse has technical credentials as well if you plan to appoint him/her in the position of CEO.  The person you appoint as the Chief Executing Officer of your small firm should have the appropriate skills, expertise, licenses and credentials required to succeed in the industry.

Never obtain contracts from your X-employer

You should make it a point not to acquire contracts from your past employers. If you do acquire contracts from them, it will see as if your form is just a front for them. All you need to do is develop a wide base of clients and have a balanced project portfolio before getting involved in the SBA 8a application procedure.

Never appoint a number of Board of Directors

One of the major mistakes, which small companies often do is, just after few months of their commencement they appoint a number of board of directors. Never do this because you might dilute your firm control or come up with an affiliation or size problem. Carefully vet all the directors and officers before applying for the 8 a certification because these people will need to submit some of their personal documents as part of the firm’s 8a application.

Never show a loss on company taxes

Applicants often think that they might get approval from the SBA if they show the agency that they have incurred losses while running the company. Never do this. Instead show positive equity and positive revenue in your business to prove the SBA that your firm is in a stable and healthy condition.

Always make sure that you do not make these above-mentioned SBA 8a application mistakes if you want your company to get 8a certified at one go.

Wednesday, 17 July 2013

Arranging The Personal Financials Is Compulsory Before Requesting For 8A Certification

If you are thinking to request for the 8A certification without arranging your finances, it is quite certain that your 8A application will get denied. According to the federal rules set of the SBA, your personal finances must be synchronized to get access to federal funded contracts.

Requesting for the 8A programs needs fulfillment of numerous pre-requisites. One of the key requisites to be fulfilled for successful 8A certification is the appropriate planning of your financials. According to the rules of the government programs, if you are requesting for schedule projects you must correctly coordinate the financial position of your firm and deliver your SBA application in a methodical and disciplined way. Professionals suggest that, if you own a small firm and wish to get rid of your personal financial barriers effortlessly to request for the 8a programs, it can be completed in a number of ways namely:
8a Certification
8a Certification
 Assembling a list of the liabilities

Before you request for the 8 A Certification programs, arrange a list of all your incomplete dues and liabilities namely credit card accounts, car payments, mortgages and HELOCs. Agreeing to the SBA, if you are a candidate you must disclose all your liability to the SBA.

Placing papers for all accounts

If you own an account for any liability or asset, appropriate documents must be delivered to display its current value. To validate the existence of such accounts, suitable documents must be offered instead of just word-of-mouth.

Good riddance from debts

If you have any federal obligation such as linens, arrear taxes or student loans it is highly suggested to pay it off. In case you are unable to pay your debt completely, establish up a formal payment option with the leading federal agencies like IRS, SBA, or Department of Education. Ensure that the plan is included in the 8A application before submitting it.

Keep a record of assets

Maintain a record of all your assets before prior sending the application for the 8A program. If you possess an asset together with your spouse, do not forget to indicate it in the list. It is compulsory for you to make the SBA alert of each asset, online accounts or 401k plans you own, prior sending the requesting for 8A certification.

Place your documents in order

After organizing all your documents, use a binder or folder where it can be easily accessed when needed while creating for 8A application. You can utilize your account statement to aid your financials while sending application.

If you do not obey to the basic instructions and layouts set by the government program, your request will get denied. Meeting the financial requirements is one of the rudimentary requirements to get your company 8Acertified successfully. Hence, it is compulsory for you to pay attention to the above-mentioned ideas and solve your financials prior submitting your SBA certification request to bid for government projects.

Friday, 8 March 2013

What is takes to qualify for the 8A certification program

8a certification application
8a certification application
8A Certification Application

If you are thinking to apply for the 8A certification program, and not worried about your eligibility, then it is quite likely that your application for the federal certification may get rejected. Qualifying for 8A SBA program is one of the hardest steps for a potential applicant.

To qualify for the Benefits 8a certification program, you need to meet few requisites. In case you fail to meet any one the mandatory requisites, your firm will not get the official federal recognition. In order to derive the benefits of the 8A SBA program, your firm needs to meet the eligibility requirements, which includes:

Disadvantaged Business

If you intend to apply for the 8A programs, it is mandatory for your firm to be monitored by a disadvantaged individual. It is imperative that a disadvantaged person occupies the highest rank or position in your firm. The disadvantaged individual must be in-charge of the firm and should be responsible for the day-to-day activities of the business.

Good Track Record

Your firm must maintain an excellent record of accomplishment, by delivering every order on time and meeting all the customer requirements.  This will help the SBA to evaluate your company on a positive note and help you qualify for the government program. Few positive testimonials from your previous clients will add to your overall credentials.

Good Moral Character

This is one of the most important requirements set by the SBA. The person representing your company must have a decent moral character. Fiscal responsibility plays an important factor in moral accountability. Make sure that the representative you opt for your company is not on parole or a felon. Such people should not hold a significant position in the ownership or the management of the company. However, few other mars such as a DUI arrest for 10 years do not prohibit you from applying in the 8A certification program. Few other felony convictions such as tax scofflaws, unmet taxes, default on SBA loans, liens etc. are taken as serious crimes, committed by an applicant and hence will reject the application.

Small Business Concern

According to the standard set by the SBA, your business must be small and meet the requirements of the federal program. In case the SBA does not define your firm “small”, it is not possible for your company to get the certification.

Presence

A company applying for the 8A certification should remain active for not less than 9 years. It is imperative for your firm to remain active for nine whole years in order to qualify for the SBA program. The reason for such a requirement is that the SBA wants to determine whether your company is durable enough to bear the uncertain ups and downs in business and whether it has the potential for success.

To get the certification, your firm must meet all the eligibility factors set by the SBA. If the above points are not fulfilled, be rest assured that your application for the certification will get rejected. All the documents and paperwork must be in proper order before applying and must be in agreement with the federal and state law.

Thursday, 24 January 2013

What are the mandatory requirements of your business to become 8A certified?

If you have overlooked the importance of the compulsory requirements of your business to get 8A certification, getting your business certified by the SBA can become very difficult for you.

In order for your business to get 8A certification, it is mandatory that certain requirements are met as suggested by SBA. Fulfillment of specific details and requirements confirms that your firm is qualified to be 8A certified. Such requirements include:
8a certified
8a certified
Business concern

This part generally involves the structure of the organization, articles of incorporation and special agreement bonds with the state government. This section also includes bank signature cards, insurance information and business background. The SBA confirms whether you actually control the organization or not and if your business have shared ownership, location or management. If in case any individual is having a higher position than you in your organization, it is quite likely that your business will not be 8A certified. The SBA also verifies your employment background and find out the possibility of any discrepancy. The sole purpose of the verification is to determine whether you have job outside the organization or not. The SBA also scrutinizes your personal financial statement and determines the net worth. Your net worth must value below USD 250000 excluding your house and business.

Financial Status

You business concern should be financially capable to be able to thrive in the program and must have positive equity. If your business has negative equity, it will not get 8 a certification. The SBA also evaluates whether your company can prosper without the continuous introduction of capital in the business. The cash flow of your company is also determined by the SBA to find out whether your organization will be able to cover the expense when any client fails to pay within time. Your business must provide at least 3 years of business tax returns for the analysis of the SBA to verify the sales report and authenticate the financial statements.

Personal Data

Your personal data which includes financial position, personal history and narratives play a significant role in the eligibility criteria of your 8A program. You do not require providing with a social disadvantage network in case you are a member of a designated group such as the Asian Pacific Americans, Black Americans, Hispanic American etc. Providing an economic disadvantage narrative is essential for each and every applicant, in order to determine whether a particular application is approved or not. The economic and social disadvantage narrative displays specific events from your life displaying the discrimination depending on the membership of the group applied for. Such narratives may include specific gender, handicap and specific race. The sole purpose of SBA is to offer credibility to your narrative by verifying as much detail as possible.

To get your business 8A certified, it is essential that you fulfill the above mentioned points carefully. After proper scrutiny of the above mentioned points, the SBA may grant the 8A certification to your business and offer an official recognition.

Thursday, 6 December 2012

Quick glance on 8A certification application process

http://www.ez8a.com/
For small business organizations, federal loans can be quite useful to develop the business. However, such loans are offered by the SBA only for business organizations which are owned and managed by minority, women or service disable veterans. The SBA 8A program is one of the largely available business agendas present in the market which focuses on developing the small organizations and promotes individual entrepreneurs. To avail such benefits of  SBA 8A, it is mandatory for you to successfully complete the application process. The 8A certification process as suggested by the SBA generally comprises of 3 basic parts including:

If you are an applicant, not less than 51% of the ownership of your business should be managed and controlled by a minority, women or service disable veterans. In addition to it, the owner of the majority of shares should have active involvement in the daily business operations. In this context, SBA utilizes a highly adept system that determines and finds out the individual majority shares owner of your business and makes sure that they adhere to the basic rules and regulations.

The second part is a very difficult step as it demands certain legal obligations to prove that you are economically and socially disadvantaged. According to the norms and standard set by the SBA, your business can qualify as economically and socially disadvantaged. If you are the majority share holder, make sure your net income should be more than USD 250000. This amount should exclude assets such as company ownership and personal home.

In the third step, the SBA will systematically check your business to determine whether it qualifies for small business requirements or not. If your business is on the list of banned businesses, then it will not pass the SBA 8a application process. The SBA accepts the standard for small business set by North American Industry Classification System which states that a business is small scaled if:

It has around 500 employees form mining, manufacturing and other industrial procedures

It has USD 7 million as an average annual receipt for a number of non-manufacturing businesses

It has 100 employees for wholesale trade businesses

8A certification application process can turn out to be a complicated tricky task if not dealt with proficiency.  Getting your business organization 8A certified will not only add value to your company but will also help in bidding for federal contracts. Thus, 8A certification widens your prospects and offers you will a number of avenues to expand the growth of your business.

Wednesday, 5 December 2012

4 major 8a application problems

8a Certification Application
8a Certification Application
Accreditation for small business organizations is one of the primary steps towards business growth and development. Official recognition offers an organization the right platform to amplify its business growth and proliferate proportionately. One of the basic and universally recognized certification proposed by Small Business Association-SBA is 8A certification. SBA 8A certification provides a small organization the legal identity required to approach federal and non-federal business contracts. Among all others, the 8A certification is one of the most significant programs for the SBA. However, application for 8A certification involves few issues prevalent in almost every case. Every potential 8A certification applicant is likely to encounter four common problems triggered by the SBA, which includes:

Application submitted and returned back
It is considered to be one of the common issues being faced by almost each and every applicant of 8A application. The officials of SBA often send back an application while reviewing for completeness. When returned back, an applicant often fells disappointed and confused trying to figure out the root of the cause of the rejection. EZ8A can act as ideal savior for small organizations, trying to obtain 8A certification in a hassle-free manner.

Competent and legally capable officials of EZ8A aim to assist such organizations in obtaining SBA 8A certification by reviewing the entire application and filling in the required gaps absolutely cost-free. However, the limits of EZ8A are restricted to eligibility issues of the applicant. If an applicant (small organization) is not qualified enough to fulfill the eligibility criteria required for 8A certification, EZ8A cannot offer any aid in such regard. EZ8A can either fill up the last sent application by the applicant or can execute on a piece meal basis.

Question arising after reviewing application

Often it has been witnessed that SBA comes up with multiple questions while reviewing the application of a potential small business owner. In order to deal with such questions, EZ8A offers its necessary aid and services to all small organizations. EZ8A offers its service by analyzing the potential client with the questions asked by SBA in order to deduce whether all the questions asked should be answered precisely or withdrawing the application would be appropriate. Asking such questions to an 8A certificate applicant is quite traditional for SBA. The timeline for the entire process is 5-15 days.

Application Denied

Often due to a number of reasons, SBA often denies the application for 8A certification by a prospective client. Here EZ8A plays a significant role in approving the application and can help such clients by examining the letter of denial in order to analyze whether the formal request for 8A certification can be reconsidered or not.

Application Reconsideration Refused

In rare cases, the SBA often defines the application for reconsideration. In such cases, an OHA appeal is the only option left. An OHA court-Office of Hearings and Appeals is the only place where such denial can be questioned. EZ8A works in joint collaboration with a law firm and resolves such problems with finesse at the OHA level.

While filing for 8A certification, encountering the above mentioned problems is quite apparent. Hence, it is highly recommended to avail the services of EZ8A in order to obtain the certification in a trouble-free manner and deal with the queries of SBA conveniently.

Wednesday, 28 November 2012

8A certification and its essence in SBA


8a Certification
SBA 8a Certification
Do you own a small business enterprise? Are you willing to exemplify your organization with the assistance of legal boundaries? Then, obtaining an 8A certification from the SBA (Small Business Association) is mandatory for you to explore and diversify your business extensively.

EZ8A is a renowned and widely acclaimed consulting firm that offers SBA 8A certification to mid-sized and small enterprises.  With a poignant business background and vast professional experience over the years, the senior partners of the organization assist the small companies to acquire 8A certification in the most convenient way possible. EZ8A aims to make the approach of small organizations to obtain 8A certification much easy by resolving all the major factors of government association. This is mainly achieved by offering excellent service to the mid-sized organizations at the most affordable price available in the market. Incorporated in 1988 by its founder-Mark Ryan, EZ8A specializes in helping the small business enterprises from obtaining the SBA loans to acquiring the 8A certification. Consulting agreements at hourly basis and multiple participation services are the few activities done by EZ8A.

Pre-requisites of 8A certification

8A certification is generally reserved for such business organizations whose 51 percent majority shares are administered by individuals belonging to backward economic and social communities. Before granting the SBA 8A certification, a business is required to be monitored under its present ownership for not less than two years. SBA generally waives this tenure of two years only for such corporations that are operated by potential leaders who can display excellent expertise in their selected sectors of business and can execute lucratively all kinds of governmental and private contracts. Such individuals are required to demonstrate their acute business acumen by solid capitalization in order to acquire the 8A accreditation.

Benefits offered by EZ8A

EZ8A states some of the key points, which define the significance of SBA 8A certification and adds to its credentials. Once 8A certification is obtained, an organization gains access to federal contracts worth billions of dollars, designed exclusively for firms having 8A certification. Some of the primary reasons why one should avail for the services offered by EZ8A include:


EZ8A sends the list of all the items and enclosures required for certification.

• It inspects and examines each item submitted by a small business organization, in order to avoid any possible complication.

• EZ8A is equipped with team of highly skilled professionals who help the small organizations in every possible way to acquire the 8A certification.

Constant communication and being in touch with the 8 A certification applicants builds trust and confidence among the small business owners.

EZ8A spends adequate time with each 8A certification applicant and inspects it thoroughly. If you wish to succeed your small organization and takeit to the next level giving it an extra edge, 8A certification is first thing you should think of. Dealing in federal contracts and becoming proficient in it will not only add as an added advantage for your business but will also secure your market position.

Tuesday, 30 October 2012

SBA Minor Owned Certification To Take Your Business Higher

SBA 8a Certification
SBA 8a Certification
If you are looking for finding newer and wider business opportunities, then going after federal contracts would be a good option. If you are looking for newer marketing avenues, then taking advantage of these federal certificate programs can open a wide area of business opportunities. This certification program is offered to small business owners. If you are a woman, specially abled person or a minority, then you can take advantage of minority owned certification that is also known as 8a program.

There are 2 major certification programs that are administered by the SBA (Small Business Administration) – Federal HUB zone and SBA 8a certification. Some of the features of these are as follows:

Federal HUB zone: The main objective of this program is to help the small business owners market their products to larger contractors from both government and private corporations. The main objective of this program is to render encouragement to the small business owners by increased employment opportunities in a local niche and developing the general economy of the nation. To get eligible for this certification, the requirements are –

o The business should meet the criteria of ‘small business’ standards.
o The business should be controlled and owned by the US citizens only.
o The main office of the business needs to be located in a federal HUB zone.
o The employees of the organization comprising at least 35% should live in the specified HUB zone for a minimum number of 180 days.

SBA 8a Program: The main objective of this program is to render support to the minority, disabled, and women business owners. With the help of this 8a program minority certification the business owners can reach out to large government and private corporations contractors along with the federal procurement agencies. As per the standards specified in this program, this certification is rendered to registered companies, who also render advice to the business.  The mandatory eligibility requirements for this program are as follows:

o Minimum 51% of the shareholders need to US residents and members of designated disabled veteran, minority group or woman.
o The candidates need to submit proof of their demonstration of economical and social disadvantage through professional and personal experiences.
o The shareholders should not have more than $250,000 in terms of personal assets. However, business assets and personal residence will not be included in this.
o The applicant needs to be in business for at least past 2 years.
o The applicant needs to submit proof of his / her abilities to grow and build a business.

Monday, 8 October 2012

Basic Facts about 8a Certification

8a Certification
8a Certification
If you have started a small business and wondering where to and how to qualify for a WOSB or EDWOSB program, then the first thing you would need is an 8a certification from the SBA. However, you need to meet some requirements to get eligible for this certification.

To get qualified for 8a certification, you need to have a basic knowledge on it. WOSB or woman owned small business is a Federal program, which offers equal access to women and economically disadvantaged women, owning small businesses for contracting opportunities in the Federal. Through this program, contracting officers can set aside some specific federal contracts and offer them to EDWOSB or WOSB, as per the 300 NAICS codes, mentioned in the federal. Some of the eligibility factors for 8a application approval are as follows:

  • The firm needs to be at least 51% owned by women, who are in unconditional control over administration.
  • All the governing body members (women) need to be the US citizen.
  • Apart from the women, no man should have any control on the firm’s administration.
  • Women, in charge of administration should have adequate managerial experience and expertise.
  • The owners of the firm need to manage full time.

The above-mentioned factors are mandatory for SBA 8a certification for both EDWOSB and WOSB programs. For EDWOSB program, you need to  have some additional requirements, which are:

  • The business should have a net worth of not more than $750,000.
  • The gross income of an individual need to be not more than $350,000 a year for the last 3 consecutive years.
The benefit of 8a certification is that it is a significant marketing tool for economically and socially disadvantaged women, having small business. With this certification, they get access to the federal government contracts. However, in the initial stage, contracting under this 8a program may seem a little hard, because the competition is open and contracts are gained through a procurement of sealed bid. But, in the long run it proves beneficial for both the 8a contractor and the government. To get your 8a application approved by the SBA, you can take help of a professional expert and do away with the application hassles. Every money spent toward the professional consultancy would  worth once you get the certificate.

Friday, 21 September 2012

SBA 8a Consultant Increases The Approval Chances of Your Application!


8a Certification
8a Certification
If you have started a business then you need SBA 8a approval to manage and control the daily operations of your company. To get the SBA approval, it is better to take help of a reliable 8a consultant and increase the chance of approval.

Does taking help of a consultant mean getting a guaranteed SBA approval on your application?

The answer is a definite NO.  If any consultant claims that he can give you guarantee of having your 8a application approved by the SBA, then you better try looking for another consultancy. Apart from the SBA, nobody can guarantee the approval. Beware of the desperate consultancies who promise money back guarantee, in case of rejection of the application. A good consultant would ensure that your 8a application meets all the necessary requirements for getting SBA approval. It can only assure that your application will get a fair review. A good consultant is aware of SBA requirements for 8a certification and sees that there are no irregularities in your application.

How to select a reliable SBA 8a consultant?

When you are looking for a good and reliable 8a consultant, consider the following tips and make your choice:
• Check with BBB: Whenever you come across a consultancy company, the most authentic way to check its credibility is through BBB or Better Business Bureau. If the company is listed in BBB website and has at least a “B” grading, you can say that it is quite reliable. Check out the various customers’ reviews and grievances and see how the company has handled such issues. If the issues have been resolved by the company, you can go ahead with it.

• Check the website: Once you have short listed the consultancy companies from the BBB, you can check out the homepage of each. If the company is reliable enough, it will have a physical address on the website. It will also state its affiliates (if there is any) and state about the principals clearly.

• Check references: The consultancy companies display the list of customers who have acquired certifications with their help. You can directly make a call to these people and check about the company, regarding their service, originally quoted price, duration to get the application completed, process used by the consultancy to manage and collect data submitted by the clients, and so on.

Once you are satisfied with the chosen 8a consultant, you can call them up and speak about your potential problem. If you feel the chosen one is cent percent trustworthy then provide them with the necessary documents and move ahead to get the SBA 8a certification.