Small Business Certification

Become a Certified Small Business

Small businesses with fewer than 500 employees and annual gross revenues equal to or less than $25,000,000 (or a 3 year average of less than $20M) are eligible to be ‘certified small’ by the Small Business Association of Michigan. This certification can help set your business apart in the marketplace, add a layer of credibility to your name and/or brand and can potentially assist with procurement opportunities.

Once Certified Small by SBAM you will receive a certificate and a logo for use on your organization website and in your email signature.

Questions? Contact Sherry Bryan, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Certification

Contact Sherry Bryan

How to Become Certified

Certification Costs

Certification Application Fee

$100 processing charge for all applicants, including Starter, Basic, Premium and VIP members
FREE for SBAM Elite members

Certificate Fee

FREE for SBAM Basic, Premium, VIP and Elite members
$319 for Starter members and non-members

Get Certified in 2 Simple Steps

1. Purchase and complete your application from your organization record. You cannot purchase the certification from your individual record.

2. Attach required documentation and submit.

Copy of your Articles of Incorporation
One of the following:
- Copies of any tax documents showing your total gross annual revenue for the past three years OR
- Signed statement from your accountant on their company letterhead providing your past three years total gross annual revenue amounts, and notarized by a Notary Public. Statement must include total gross annual revenue amounts and be notarized to be accepted.

Purchase Application

How has this helped your business?

“…this certification has helped validate my organization.”

“The Small Business Association of Michigan created a simple process for becoming a certified small business. After answering the on line questionnaire and providing support materials, they reached out with further questions and upon satisfactory responses, they awarded Lisa Fisher Associates the Small Business Certification. They provided a logo for my email signature along with the window decals and certificate. Owning and operating a business that is not recognized as a Franchise or larger company, this certification has helped validate my organization.”

Lisa Fisher
Speaker | Trainer | Coach of Lisa Fisher Associates

Certification Partner

Enbridge is committed to utilizing Michigan small businesses for its procurement needs. Certified Small Businesses will receive details on the various opportunities available from Enbridge.

Enbridge is building a list of local Michigan businesses and service providers that would like to support contractors in building the Great Lakes Tunnel. If you would like your business to be included on the list and considered for work on the project, please send an email to: line5info@enbridge.com with the following information:

Your business name and address
Primary contact with phone number and email address
Brief description of services you could provide with quantities available (example: 4 port-o-lets, 15 wash stations, meals for 20 people delivered daily, 15 rooms for lodging, etc.)
Identify if you are a diverse supplier and any associated certifications.

While contractors are not currently accepting proposals from local businesses, Enbridge is compiling this list of businesses and their services to help potential contractors better understand local options as they prepare their proposals for the project.

Enbridge Opportunities

Other Opportunities for Certified Small Businesses

Consumers Energy

Did you know that Consumers Energy is also a customer for many small businesses in Michigan? As the state’s largest combined utility company, we sourced $2.24B in 2020 for materials and services and we spend with Michigan-based businesses whenever possible. In fact, we have a commitment to Pure Michigan Business Connect to direct $1.5B each year to Michigan-based businesses. If you’re one of the growing number of businesses who are small-business certified by SBAM, share your certificate during registration. We’ll take special notice!

Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget

The Vendor Opportunity Dashboard displays the State of Michigan’s active and planned procurement projects. Interested vendors can use this dashboard to research and anticipate upcoming opportunities to bid on projects. The dashboard updates every Monday.

The Vendor Opportunity Dashboard may not include all opportunities available to the vendor community. Vendors should always ensure they are registered for all relevant categories and regularly review opportunities in the State’s bidding system, SIGMA VSS.

Kinexus Group

Kinexus Group is committed to inspiring positive economic change one person, one business, one community at a time.

Headquartered in Benton Harbor, Kinexus Group has a family of organizations focused on solving complex community challenges across the state of Michigan. Kinexus Group encourages small businesses, minority-owned, women-owned, Veteran-owned, and LGBTQ owned businesses to respond when we release RFP’s. Join their bidders list at the link below.

Bidders List

Washtenaw Community College

Washtenaw Community College is one of the nation’s premier community colleges with an annual enrollment of more than 18,000 students in credit classes each year, and thousands more in Economic and College Development classes. Their Purchasing Department’s primary function is to serve the College students, faculty, staff and community through the use of a fair and prudent procurement process that is in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan and Federal regulations. The purchasing staff strives to conduct business with professionalism, integrity and teamwork. The Purchasing Department makes decisions in the College’s best interest and ensures that the use of public funds will be maximized to the fullest extent possible.

Learn More