To learn more about MBE, DBE, and other forms of business certifications, keep readin’!
People of all races, ethnicities, and genders are all equally talented and able to work on whatever they like. There’s no visual physical trait that defines how qualified someone is for a job.
However, entrepreneurial success hasn’t been equitably enjoyed by all American business owners, especially those of color and women.
To fill this gap some programs were created in order to give assistance to Minority Business Owners and help their businesses grow quicker.
What is an MBE (Minority Business Enterprise)
For a business to get the MBE certificate, it has to be at least 51% owned by a minority. This means that the business is operated by people who are, at least 25%, Black, Asian, Hispanic, or Native American, for instance.
No matter what the company does or the industry that it belongs to, as long as its majority is owned, administrated, and operated by minorities, it can get the MBE certification.
Click here to read about MBE Certification.
What is DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise)
DBE businesses are all of those that are owned and managed by people with a social or economical disadvantage, regardless of their race or their gender.
For a business to get the DBE certificate, at least 51% of the owners and workforce must present proof of their social or economical disadvantages.
Social Disadvantage means an individual who is a woman or member of a presumed group:
- Black American: any Black racial group originating in Africa;
- Hispanic: origins in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central and South American, or other Spanish or Portuguese cultures;
- Native American: a Native of Alaska or Hawaii, or certified member of a federal or state-recognized Indian Tribe;
- Asian Pacific: origins in the Pacific Islands, China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore or Philippines;
- Subcontinent Asian: origins in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives Islands, Nepal or Sri Lanka. (Source: https://www.mwbe-enterprises.com/minority-business-enterprise-mbe-certification/)
WBE (Women Business Enterprise)
As the name suggests, WBE businesses are all companies run on their majority, at least 51%, by women. One of the most critical requirements to get this certification is that the business’s top executive officer must be a woman or a group of women.
8a or WOSB (Women-Owned Small Business)
This type of certification is given to businesses that are run on their majority by women. But, to be considered “small businesses”, their receipts can’t exceed 23.9 million dollars during their 3 previous years of operation.
To learn more about the 8a or WOSB certification, click here.
Why work with an MBE, DBE, WBE, or an 8a or WOSB business?
All businesses that get any of the previously mentioned certifications, have to go through a thorough and long qualification process. This is to assure that only the companies that are truly owned and operated by these minorities get certified. The certifications were created to promote equality and diversity in all types of workspaces and industries. Moreover, they encourage people of all ethnicities, races, and gender to pursue their working dreams. By working with companies that have any of these certifications, you will be getting their expertise in multicultural and minority audiences.
PHU Concepts
PHU Concepts, being a black-owned agency, is currently certified as an MBE and a DBE business. As a multicultural agency, we’re able to provide our clients with wider expertise from all of our team members. This allows us to deliver strategies that stand out from the ones that we’re accustomed to seeing.
MBE is Minority Business Enterprise. This is a form of certification that requires the organization to be at least 51% owned by a minority. This means that the business is operated by people who are, at least 25%, Black, Asian, Hispanic, or Native American, for instance.
DBE is a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise.
DBE businesses are all of those that are owned and managed by people with a social or economical disadvantage, regardless of their race or their gender.
