I am frequently approached by clients asking me whether or not they should pursue the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification. My answer is always the same – is this certification of value to your target audience? While some people will advise you that if you have one certification, you should have them all, I strongly disagree. I don’t just do things to do them, there has to be a means to the end. If someone tells you that you should get your DBE certification – your first question should be why, and your next step should be to do research. Is your target audience receiving federal funds or bidding on projects that receive federal funds? If the answer is yes, then DBE certification may be of value to you. You’ll also want to consider what opportunities are available to DBE firms by utilizing procurement forecasts and published goals on current DBE projects.
For more information about the DBE program, visit their website.
https://www.dot.ny.gov/doing-business
