Universal Women-Owned™ Certification 

Certifying your business opens opportunities for you to position your company. Certification allows businesswomen to increase visibility and connect to opportunities that otherwise may not be available to them — such as access to key supplier diversity and procurement executives.

Certified Universal Women-Owned™ Business meets the following criteria:

• 51% owned by one or more women,
• Managed by a female principal executive or;
• Controlled or operated by women in crucial business making decisions (dealing with the company’s finances, operations, personnel, or strategy).

Cost: $ 750 – $ 1150 Annual – Non-Refundable Processing Fee (Includes Logo, Certification Verification)

Verification Process:

• Payment of Non-Refundable Processing Fee
• Application and Verification of Required Documents
• Once verified, you will receive an email notification and your logo.
• Application Process – 2 – 4 weeks.
• Expedite Service less than a week available!

Benefits Universal Women-Owned Businesses

• Certification allows business women to increase visibility and connect to opportunities that otherwise may not be available to them — such as access to key supplier diversity and procurement executives.
• Approximately 97% of Fortune 500 companies have a supplier diversity program where they attribute a percentage of their annual spending to sourcing from under-represented diverse suppliers (including women-owned businesses).
• With these contracts available to diverse suppliers, it provides an invaluable opportunity for women to grow and internationalize their business.
• Gain the advantage of submitting RFP as many municipalities have mandates to support women-owned businesses. While it is not a guarantee, it separates you from the rest!

UNIVERSAL WOMEN-OWNED™ CERTIFICATION

Certifying your business opens opportunities for you to position your company. Certification allows businesswomen to increase visibility and connect to opportunities that otherwise may not be available.

Women-Owned Definition:

An enterprise where women own the majority of the company (more than 50%).

Benefits of Certification:

• Proudly market your Women-Owned
• Opportunities for your business to increase revenue
• Access to key diversity and procurement executives
• Connect with buyers who have mandates to work with Women-Owned businesses.
• A consistent and reliable source of income from government grants or sub-contracting to companies who award contacts to Women-Owned.
• Brand your Product or Service with your Certification Logo
• Be visible to the consumer as a Women-Owned product.
• Provide the consumer the benefit to show they support Women-Owned with your certification lo
• go on your website, email signature, service, or packaging on your products.

Criteria:

• 51% owned by one or more women,
• Managed by a female principal executive or.
• Controlled or operated by women in crucial business making decisions (dealing with the company’s finances, operations, personnel, or strategy).
• Company to have been owned by a woman for more than two years.

Step 1: Get Certified

To Apply

Applicants must complete the Online Certification application, submit a Sworn Affidavit, and pay a non-refundable fee. Application process 2 – 4 weeks from the date you apply to submit all documents. Annual renewal required.

Once Certification has been approved, you will receive a Certified Universal Women-Owned™ Logo for use to identify your products and services.

STEP 2: Get Visible!

We are elevating Certified Universal Women-Owned businesses in our Behind the Brand marketing ads. Take your business to the next level and let us help you market your product or service.

Behind the Brand Includes:

• Social Media Campaign
• HomePage and Social Media
• Behind the Brand Blog Interview
• Behind the Brand Virtual Series – Invited to be on our Panels

Get Certified! Get Visible;e!  According to stat, women-owned businesses only make up 16%  of businesses. Social Media has only 26% combined focus on promoting women in business! f we don’t know who you are, how can we support you1

Top Companies locally, nationally, and globally are supporting women-owned businesses (WOBs) just to name a few

• Accenture
• Bell
• BMO
• Campbell’s Soup
• Coca-Cola
• Exxon
• General Mills
• General Motors
• IBM
• Johnson & Johnson
• Pepsi-Co
• Proctor and Gamble
• RBC
• Rogers
• TD Bank
• TELUS
• TOYOTA
• WALMART