MBE Certification Centralization Notice

As of July 23, 2025 all MBE certifications will be managed by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and processed via The NMSDC Hub.

Duration

The transition period will last approximately 16 days, through August 8, 2025. During this transition, new MBE certifications can get started using the pre-qualification link, however, current MBEs and applicants that have already started the process will not be able to access the database for certification purposes.

At the end of this data-freeze period, MBEs and applicants will be sent an announcement that The NMSDC Hub is now open to continue your current application or start a recertification application when you are within 90-days of your expiration date.

Access to Database

At the end of this data freeze period, you will receive login credentials for the new database. Please keep an eye out for an email from zohoadmin@nmsdc.org with your new login details and instructions for accessing the database.

The credentials to access The NMSDC Hub will give you access to both the MBE Search Database, where you can find other MBEs to work with, and the new Certification Module. You will only need one ID to access both systems.

Progress Status

If you have started a New Certification Application in the last six months or updated a New Certification Application in the last six months, your application and all associated documents will be migrated to the new system.

If you started a Recertification Application but have not paid the fee and submitted it yet, you will need to restart that application in the NMSDC Hub. Recertification Applications that are submitted before July 23 will be migrated to the new system for the NMSDC Certification team to review.

Questions

You can visit https://nmsdc.org/certifications/certification-process/ for more information on the new certification process and what it means for your business.

If you have any questions, please contact our certification team at certification@nmsdc.org

MBE Certification Will Elevate Your Business

Our premier Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification is nationally recognized and will help elevate your business status while aligning you with opportunities to expand.

See If Your Business Is Ready For MBE Certification.

PAGE NAVIGATION

What Is An MBE?

A Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) is a for-profit enterprise, regardless of size, physically located in the United States or its trust territories, which is owned, controlled and managed by a minority group or members.

“Ownership” by minority individuals means the business is at least 51% owned by such individuals or, in the case of a publicly owned business, at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals. Further, those minority group members must control the governance of the business and manage its daily business operations.

MBE Certification Process

Step 1 : Take Pre-Qualifier Quiz

See if your business is ready to apply for MBE certification. Click here to take the quiz.

Step 2 : Mandatory Pre-certification Video

You are required to view the Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council’s Pre-certification video. The Pre-certification video is an informal informational tool designed to provide potential MBEs with critical information needed to aid you with your understanding of the process for the MBE Certification. Topics of discussion include benefits of certification, application process, fees etc. Additionally, you will learn how to complete the online certification application and the required documentation. It is time stamped for ease of viewing and you will have an opportunity to watch as many times as you would like.

Click to Watch Video

Step 3 : Complete Application

Once your application has been received, our certification team will begin the review process.

Certification may take 1-3 months.

If you fail to include ONE or MORE of the required pieces of documentation or provide an incorrect document, your application cannot be processed.

Step 4 : Application Review

Once your application has been audited by our certification team and is deemed complete, you will be contacted to schedule a site visit.

During the review, any application that is only partially complete may be severely delayed beyond the 1–3 month time frame, until all required documentation is submitted.

Step 5 : Certification Committee Approval

Once your site visit is approved, your application will be submitted for certification committee approval.

Certification meetings are held monthly to review all current applications.

Step 6 : MBE Orientation & Certificate Distribution

Once your certification application is approved by the committee, you’ll be contacted to attend MBE orientation. You will learn how to leverage your MBE certification to elevate and grow your business and obtain your MBE certificate.

Application Criteria MBE Certification

An MBE is a for-profit enterprise, regardless of size, physically located in the United States or its trust territories, which is owned, controlled and managed by minority group members.

Ethnic Minority Certification Criteria

For purposes of National Minority Supplier Development Council’s (NMSDC) program, an ethnic-minority group member is an individual who is a U.S. citizen with at least 1/4 or 25% minimum (third party governmental documentation to support claim of 25% required from applicant) and is a person whose bloodline reflects an indigenous heritage from the following countries:

African-American

A U.S. citizen having origins in any of the Black racial groups of sub-Saharan Africa. These countries include the following: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Afro-Caribbean descendants are also eligible.

Native American

A person who is an American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut or native Hawaiian. Native Americans must be documented members of a North American tribe, band or organized group of native people who are indigenous to the United States. Proof must be provided.

Hispanic

A US citizen of trueborn Latin heritage from any of the Spanish speaking areas of the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean basin only. (Afro-Brazilian, indigenous/Indian only). These countries include the following: Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Panama, Guatemala, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Belize and Nicaragua.

Asian, Asian Indian and Pacific Islander American

A US citizen whose origins are from the Asian Pacific Islander region. These countries include Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Guam, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Samoa, Thailand, Taiwan, the US Trust Territories of the Pacific or the Northern Marianas, and Vietnam.

* Being born in one of the countries listed above DOES NOT, by itself, qualify an individual as an ethnic minority.

Certification Benefits To Help You Thrive:

RFPs and Business Leads/Alerts from Corporate Members

We get the first call from our corporate members when they are looking for diverse businesses to fulfill their project needs. Gain more visibility to businesses with leads and alerts from local corporate members.

Weekly Things You Should Know™ (TYSK) E-Newsletters

Be the first to learn about resources, programs, events, opportunities, grants, bids and much more in our weekly newsletter.

Listing in national databases with exposure to corporate and government buyers

Minority-owned suppliers are listed in the national Minority Supplier Development Council database of suppliers accessible by all corporate members.

Access to educational programs and scholarships

Certified MBEs receive EXCLUSIVE access to specialty programs, resources and scholarships to help your business grow and scale.

Required Documents To Submit With Your Application

All businesses are required to submit the following documents.

If you have any questions about the documents, please refer to our Certification Document Library for samples.

Any application that is partially completed, may be severely delayed beyond the 60-90 timeframe, until all the required documentation is submitted.

Recertification

Recertification is due annually and can be submitted up to ninety (90) days prior to your certification expiration date, or upon request by the Affiliate Council.

A certified MBE can submit an application for renewal at least sixty (60) days prior to the certification expiration date, or upon request by the Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council (FSMSDC). THERE IS NO GRACE PERIOD. Upon renewal, applicants are required to submit a certification application, signed tax returns for the previous year and a notarized Certification Affidavit. If the prior year's tax returns are not available, the previous year's tax extension form AND prior year Financial Statements must be provided. FSMSDC shall determine whether continued certification is supported.

Certification and Recertification Annual Fees

(Gross sales are up to $1 million)

^$ 300

(Gross sales are up to $1 million)

^$ 300

(Gross sales are above $1 million but less than $5 million)

^$ 475

(Gross sales are above $1 million but less than $5 million)

^$ 475

(Gross sales are above $5 million but less than $10 million)

^$ 625

(Gross sales are above $5 million but less than $10 million)

^$ 625

(Gross sales are above $10 million)

^$ 800

(Gross sales are above $10 million)

^$ 800

*Application fee is non-refundable.

Note: Expediting of application is available at the discretion of the FSMSDC for an additional fee of $650.

Is Your Business Ready for MBE Certification?

Arbritration Clause

ALL CLAIMS OR DISPUTES ARISING OUT OF THE MBE CERTIFICATION PROCESS, WHETHER THE INITIAL DENIAL OR AFTER AN APPEAL, BETWEEN YOU AND FSMSDC WILL BE RESOLVED THROUGH BINDING ARBITRATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL ARBITRATION ACT (FAA), TITLE 9 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE, AND ARBITRATION RULES. YOU AGREE, UNDERSTAND AND CHOOSE BINDING ARBITRATION INSTEAD OF LITIGATION TO RESOLVE ALL CLAIMS. BY PROCEEDING WITH THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS, NEITHER YOU NOR FSMSDC WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO LITIGATE A CLAIM IN COURT WITH RESPECT TO THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS.

The arbitration shall take place in Miami-Dade County, Florida. In the event this agreement to arbitrate is found to be invalid and/or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, any and all claims arising out of the MBE certification process shall be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Florida, Miami-Dade County judicial district, and shall be tried without a jury.

MBE Certification Centralization Notice

Duration

Access to Database

Progress Status

Questions

MBE Certification Will Elevate Your Business

PAGE NAVIGATION

What Is An MBE?

MBE Certification Process

Application Criteria MBE Certification

Ethnic Minority Certification Criteria

Certification Benefits To Help You Thrive:

Required Documents To Submit With Your Application

Recertification

Certification and Recertification Annual Fees

(Gross sales are up to $1 million)

(Gross sales are up to $1 million)

(Gross sales are above $1 million but less than $5 million)

(Gross sales are above $1 million but less than $5 million)

(Gross sales are above $5 million but less than $10 million)

(Gross sales are above $5 million but less than $10 million)

(Gross sales are above $10 million)

(Gross sales are above $10 million)

Is Your Business Ready for MBE Certification?

Arbritration Clause

JOIN US

PROGRAMS & SERVICES

ATTEND EVENTS

About Us

ADDRESS

PHONE

EMAIL

Stay in the Loop!

Stay in the Loop!