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Division of Revenue Business Certification Program
Welcome to the business certification service page where you’ll find all you need to know to become certified as a:
Small Business Enterprise;
Minority/Woman Owned Business Enterprise;
Veteran/Disabled Veteran Owned Business Enterprise;
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning+ Owned Business Enterprise; and
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
If you have determined that your business is eligible for one or more certifications, you may file your application now. Please ensure that you have all
required information and are prepared to upload all required documents (see What You Will Need To Apply below) before starting your application.
If you are ready to apply, click the "Apply" button:
By obtaining one or more of these certifications, you may be eligible to participate in select set-aside or goal-based contracting initiatives offered by State agencies. Additionally, certification provides state-backed documentation of your business status, which can be beneficial in pursuing contracting opportunities at the local and federal level, as well as with the private sector.
Because Treasury is committed to broadening opportunities for Small, Minority, Women, Veteran, Disabled Veteran, Socially and Economically Disadvantaged and LGBTQ+ Owned Business Enterprises, the $100 fee normally required to apply for certification has been waived indefinitely.
Once you obtain certification(s), your business contact information will be posted to a public database currently called Selective Assistance Vendor Information (SAVI). This is an upgraded search platform.** Use the email link on the site to let us know your thoughts on it.
**A fast-track option is available for MWBE applicants. We accept the following certifications (watch this web site for additions to the fast track list):
*Taken from the New Jersey Administrative Code, Title 17
§ 17:13-2.1 Standards of eligibility for small businesses for goods and services and for State construction contracts
In order to be eligible as a small business, a business must satisfy all of the following criteria:
The business must be independently owned and operated, as evidenced by its management being responsible for both its daily and long term operation, and its management owning at least 51 percent interest in the business.
The business must be incorporated or registered to do business in the State and have its principal place of business in New Jersey, defined as such when either 51 percent or more of its employees work in New Jersey, as evidenced by the payment of New Jersey unemployment taxes, or 51 percent or more of its business activities take place in New Jersey, as evidenced by its payment of income or business taxes.
The business must be a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation with 100 or fewer employees in full-time positions (35 hours or more not including seasonal and part-time employees employed for less than 90 days, if seasonal and casual part-time employment are common to that industry, and consultants employed under other contract not related to the goods and services which are the subject of the specific contract for which the business wants to be eligible as a small business).
For goods and services contracts, the business must have gross revenues that do not exceed$ 12 million or the applicable Federal revenue standards established at 13 CFR 121.201, incorporated herein by reference, whichever is higher. For State construction contracts, the business must have gross revenues that do not exceed$ 3 million or the applicable annual revenue standards set forth in Federal regulation at 13 CFR 121.201, incorporated herein by reference, as may be adjusted periodically.
Gross revenues of a business which has been in business for three or more completed years means the revenues of the business over its last three completed tax years divided by three.
Gross revenues of a business which has been in business for less than three complete tax years means the revenues for the period the business has been in business divided by the number of weeks in business, multiplied by 52.
Gross revenues of a business which has been in business three or more complete tax years but has a short year as one of those years means the revenue for the short year and the two full years divided by the number of weeks in the short year and the two full years, multiplied by 52.
Eligibility is formalized by the Division's (Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services') registration and approval process.
Small businesses, for goods and services, will be registered in one of the following three categories:
Small businesses whose gross revenues do not exceed$ 500,000;
Small businesses whose gross revenues do not exceed$ 5 million; or
Small businesses whose gross revenues do not exceed$ 12 million or the applicable Federal revenue standards established at 13 CFR 121.201, incorporated herein by reference, whichever is higher.
Small businesses for State construction contracts will be registered in one of the following three categories:
Small businesses whose gross revenues do not exceed$ 3 million;
Small businesses whose gross revenues do not exceed 50 percent of the applicable annual revenue standards set forth in Federal regulation at 13 CFR 121.201, incorporated herein by reference, and as may be adjusted periodically; or
Small businesses whose gross revenues do not exceed the applicable annual revenue standards set forth in Federal regulation at 13 CFR 121.201, incorporated herein by reference, as may be adjusted periodically.
Small businesses properly registered in the category in (c)1 above will be eligible to participate in set-aside contracts and subcontracting programs available to businesses registered in the categories in (c)1, 2, and 3 above. Small businesses properly registered in the category in (c)2 above will be eligible to participate in set-side contracts and subcontracting programs available to businesses registered in the categories in (c)2 and 3 above. Small businesses properly registered in the category in (c)3 above will be eligible to participate in set-aside contracts and subcontracting programs available to businesses in the category in (c)3 above only.
Small businesses properly registered in the category in (d)1 above will be eligible to participate in set-aside contracts and subcontracting programs available to businesses registered in the categories in (d)1, 2, and 3 above. Small businesses properly registered only in the category in (d)2 above will be eligible to participate in set-aside contracts and subcontracting programs available to businesses registered in the categories in (d)2 and 3 above. Small businesses properly registered in the category in (d)3 above will be eligible to participate in set-aside contracts and subcontracting programs available to businesses registered only in the category in (d)3 above.
Eligibility Criteria for Minority and Woman Owned Businesses
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:27H-21.18 (pursuant to legislation (S3013) enacted on January 8, 2024):
"Minority" means a person who is:
Black, which is a person having origins in any of the black racial groups in Africa; or
Hispanic, which is a person with origins in Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean Islands, regardless of race; or
Asian-American, which is a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, Indian subcontinent, Hawaii, or the Pacific Islands; or
American Indian or Alaskan native, which is a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North America.
"Minority business" means a business which is:
A sole proprietorship owned and controlled by a minority;
A partnership or joint venture owned and controlled by minorities in which at least 51% of the ownership interest is held by minorities and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more of the minorities who own it; or
A corporation or other entity whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more minorities who own it, and of which at least 51% of the legal beneficial ownership is held by one or more minorities.
"Woman" or "women" means a female or females, regardless of race.
A sole proprietorship owned and controlled by a woman; or
A partnership or joint venture owned and controlled by women in which at least 51% of the ownership is held by women and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more women who own it; or
A corporation or other entity whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women who own it, and of which at least 51% of the legal beneficial ownership is held by women.
*Taken from the New Jersey Administrative Code, Title 17
"Veteran-owned business" means a business, as defined in N.J.S.A. 52:32-49 et seq., which has its principal place of business in the State, is independently owned and operated, and not less than 51 percent of the business is owned by one or more veterans; and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more veterans.
"Disabled veteran-owned business" means a business that has its principal place of business in the State, is independently owned and operated, and at least 51 percent of which is owned and controlled by persons who are disabled veterans or a business that has its principal place of business in this State and has been officially verified by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs as a service disabled veteran-owned business for the purposes of Federal department contracts pursuant to Federal law.
*Taken from the New Jersey Administrative Code, Title 17
*17:47-1.3 Standards of certification for LGBTQ+ businesses
A business may be eligible to be certified as an LGBTQ+ business,
as set forth in this section.
In order to be eligible as an LGBTQ+ business, a business must be
a sole proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, corporation, or other
business entity authorized pursuant to the laws of the United States, which
is at least 51 percent owned, operated, and controlled by persons who
identify as LGBTQ+.
In order to be eligible to be certified, an LGBTQ+ business must be
independently owned, operated, and controlled and can demonstrate the
ability to be considered a “going concern,” as the business has sufficient
resources needed to continue operating indefinitely by normal industry
standards. A business shall meet the following standards to be certified as
an LGBTQ+ business:
Ownership. A business shall be deemed to be independently owned,
operated, and controlled, if its management, as specified in its certification
application, is responsible for both its daily and long-term operation, and
that management owns at least 51 percent interest in the business and
consists of individuals who identify as LGBTQ+. The ownership and
control by members of the LGBTQ+ community shall be real, substantial,
and continuing, demonstrating authority over the affairs of the business,
and shall go beyond the pro forma ownership of the business as, reflected
in its ownership documents.
Business Entity. Recognition of the business as a separate entity for
tax or corporate purposes is not necessarily sufficient for recognition as
an LGBTQ+ business. In determining whether a potential LGBTQ+
business is an independent business, all relevant factors shall be
considered, including the date the business was established and the degree
to which financial, equipment leasing, and other relationships with non-
LGBTQ+ businesses vary from industry practice.
Licensing. When a professional or occupational license or
certification is required by Federal or State law to perform the primary
business operations of the applicant business, and the LGBTQ+ business
does not possess the applicable license or certification, the LGBTQ+
owner shall demonstrate competence in the affairs of the business, in order
to satisfy the requirement for managerial and operational control.
Business must be a sole proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, corporation, or other business entity authorized under the laws of the United States, which is at least 51 percent owned, operated, and controlled by a person or persons who are both socially and economically disadvantaged.
Business must be independently owned, operated, and controlled. A business shall meet the following standards to be certified as a qualified SEDB business enterprise:
Ownership: A business shall be deemed to be independently owned, operated, and controlled, if its management, as specified in its certification application, is responsible for both its daily and long-term operation, and that management owns at least 51 percent interest in the business. The ownership and control by a person or persons who are both socially and economically disadvantaged shall be real, substantial, and continuing, demonstrating authority over the affairs of the business, and shall go beyond the pro forma ownership of the business as reflected in its ownership documents;
Business Entity: Recognition of the business as a separate entity for tax or corporate purposes is not necessarily sufficient for recognition as a socially and economically disadvantaged business. In determining whether a potential socially and economically disadvantaged business is an independent business, all relevant factors shall be considered, including the date the business was established and the degree to which financial, equipment leasing, and other relationships with non-socially and economically disadvantaged businesses, taking into consideration differences from industry to industry;
Licensing: When a professional or occupational license or certification is required by Federal or State law to perform the primary business operations of the applicant business, and the socially and economically disadvantaged owner or owners does not possess the applicable license or certification, the socially and economically disadvantaged business owner or owners shall demonstrate competence in the affairs of the business in order to satisfy the requirement for managerial and operational control; and
Personal Net Worth Threshold: The net worth of the owner or owners of a potential socially and economically disadvantaged business shall not exceed $1,320,000.
Information and Services
Current Set-aside Initiatives
The State of New Jersey currently has two contract set aside programs – a 25 percent set aside for certified Small Business Enterprises and a three percent set aside for Disabled Veteran Owned Business Enterprises.
Apply for Certification
Treasury's Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services has implemented a streamlined, web-based business certification service that makes the process more user-friendly by allowing businesses to certify in more than one category with only one application.
Get Help
If you have questions about the Business Certification Program, rules and regulations, or your application(s), contact the NJ Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services Uniform Certification Services Unit.
Phone: 609-292-2146, weekdays except holidays, 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Official Site of The State of New Jersey
