Powerful Page for Professional Women

If you are a woman running your own company and haven't yet become certified as a woman-owned and operated business, you might just be missing out on some great opportunities. Certification essentially lets others know that your company is what you say it is – a business that is at least 51 percent owned and operated by a woman or a group of women.

I know the process of getting certified can be overwhelming, but don’t let this deter you. I would encourage all of you women to utilize the vast number of resources available right here in Georgia. Recently I had the opportunity to speak with two Atlanta women who have had first hand experience with the certification process. Below are their answers to some of the most common questions we hear about this topic.

Where Can Women Go To Get Certified?

“A great resource is The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC),” says Lily Winsaft, Founder and CEO of Alderbaran Associates International, a company that specializes in client services and creative positions at Advertising, PR and Marketing agencies. “This is the most widely recognized certification in the United States.” Here, your business can apply for a certification that is accepted by over 700 major corporations, non-profit organizations, as well as many local, state, and federal government agencies. Created in 1997 as a certification entity, WBENC strives for diversity in the marketplace for women business owners. Today companies like American Airlines, FedEx and Wachovia are all members.

What are the Benefits of Certification?

· Access to Fortune 500 companies.

· Access to government contracts.

· A listing of your business profile in WBENCLink, an Internet database that is accessed by hundreds of corporations throughout the United States.

· Access to a directory of corporations accepting WBENC certification.

· Invitations to networking events, matchmaker meetings and trade shows with other women-owned businesses.

What Is the Criteria For Getting Certified?

· At least 51 percent of your business must be owned and operated by a woman or group of women.

· The WBENC wants to see proof that the management of the business rests in female hands as evidenced in bylaws, hiring and firing responsibilities and other decision-making roles.

· You must have U.S. Citizenship or Legal Resident Alien status.

How Difficult is the Process?

Winsaft cautions that the process will take some time because you will need to gather the necessary documentation and fill out the paperwork. “Be really sure what your objectives are,” she says. “It can be an emotional thing because you are divulging a lot of financial information. You have to disclose everything.”

If you chose the WBENC certification process, you will work one-on-one with a regional affiliate, known as Women's Business Organization Partners or (WBOP). Be prepared for the turnaround time, though. WBENC certification can take anywhere from 90 to 120 days once the application is received. Atlanta business owners must mail all documents and a non-refundable $500 processing fee to the Georgia Women’s Business Council. Their address is 1201 Peachtree Street NE, 400 Colony Square, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30361.

As soon as your certification is approved, your status is upgraded by your WBOP to "Certified." At this point you can access your profile from the WBENC website using login information supplied to you by your WBOP. Just remember that certification is good for a period of one year, so you must submit a recertification application approximately 90 days before your certification expires.

Any Advice To Women Looking To Get Certified?

“Do get a mentor, someone who has gone through the process, because the moral support is necessary,” Winsaft says. “You can do it little by little and delegate it to someone else. Don’t try and do it on your own.”

As founder of MSA Global Advisory Group, a management consulting firm in Atlanta, Madinah Ali is familiar with this process as well. She has been certified for three years and now serves as a mentor to Winsaft. “It is so important to network with other women-owned businesses,” she says. “And once you get certified, you have to stay involved in your industry. The hard part isn’t over – you have to keep that visibility.

Why Not Get Certified?

“Since getting certified, our revenues have increased dramatically,” Ali says. “We have six solid corporate partnerships now.” Today, Winsaft is looking forward to these benefits as well. “Certification will give me an additional advantage with larger companies in such a competitive industry,” she says. “As a small business, it’s hard to get the attention of someone without the budget to advertise. This will give me a compelling edge.

Donna L. Kain is President of the Private and Entrepreneurial Banking Division of The Buckhead Community Bank. To reach her, call (404) 760–2487 or email dkain@buckheadcommunitybank.com. To learn more about the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), visit www.wbenc.org, and to learn more about the Power of Women and Money, visit http://powerofwomenandmoney.com.