WOSB & EDWOSB
A Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) is a small business at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens. An Economically Disadvantaged WOSB (EDWOSB) meets the same test plus SBA economic-disadvantage thresholds. Both can win WOSB/EDWOSB set-aside contracts in industries where women-owned firms are underrepresented — and certification is required.
Who qualifies
- WOSB: at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens; small under its primary NAICS code.
- EDWOSB: all WOSB criteria, plus the owner(s) meet SBA’s economic-disadvantage thresholds (personal net worth, income, and assets limits).
- Eligible industries: set-asides apply in NAICS codes SBA has designated as underrepresented or substantially underrepresented for women-owned firms.
Self-certification ended in 2020
Since October 2020, you must be formally certified to win WOSB/EDWOSB set-asides — either free through SBA at certify.sba.gov or via an SBA-approved third-party certifier. Simply checking a box in SAM.gov is no longer sufficient.
WOSBs received roughly 5% of eligible federal contracting dollars in recent years, a meaningful pool of set-aside work for certified firms in qualifying NAICS codes.
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Find WOSB contracts →Frequently asked questions
Do I still need to certify for WOSB set-asides?
Yes. Since October 2020, WOSB and EDWOSB set-asides require formal certification — free through SBA at certify.sba.gov or via an SBA-approved third-party certifier. WOSB self-certification was discontinued.
What is the difference between WOSB and EDWOSB?
Both are at least 51% women-owned small businesses. EDWOSB adds an economic-disadvantage test (limits on the owner’s net worth, income, and assets). Some set-asides are reserved specifically for EDWOSBs.