SDVOSB / VOSB — Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business
Federal small business certifications that give service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (SDVOSBs) and veteran-owned businesses.
Official source: va.gov
SDVOSB and VOSB are special badges the government gives to businesses. SDVOSB means Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, and VOSB means Veteran-Owned Small Business. These badges help businesses owned by veterans get government work.If you have an SDVOSB badge, it means a veteran who was hurt while serving in the military owns at least 51% of your business and runs it. For a VOSB badge, any veteran must own and run at least 51% of the business. The "small business" part means your business meets certain size rules set by the government.Here's how it helps: the government wants to give some of its contracts, which are like big work agreements, to these veteran-owned businesses. They set aside some work just for SDVOSBs, meaning only businesses with that badge can bid on it. This gives them a better chance to win contracts. VOSBs also get certain benefits.One important thing to know is that getting these badges isn't automatic. You have to apply and prove your business meets all the rules. This can take time and careful work to gather all the right papers. If you don't keep good records, you might have trouble proving you qualify. See also: <a href="/glossary/extraschedular-rating">Extraschedular Rating</a>.
In real life
- A service-disabled veteran starts a small business and gets this certification to help secure government jobs.
- Someone with a veteran-owned business applies for this certification to get an advantage when bidding on federal contracts.
- A certified veteran-owned business is able to get a federal contract without competing against other businesses because of this certification.
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Frequently asked questions about SDVOSB / VOSB
What is SDVOSB / VOSB?+
Federal small business certifications that give service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (SDVOSBs) and veteran-owned businesses (VOSBs) priority access to federal contracting set-asides and sole-source awards. SDVOSB set-asides: the federal government reserves a percentage of contracts exclusively for SDVOSBs.
Who qualifies for SDVOSB / VOSB?+
Veterans must own and control at least 51% of the business; SDVOSB requires a service-connected disability.
How do I apply for SDVOSB / VOSB?+
Apply at va.gov (search for the program by name) or work with a free accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) through your state VA office.
Where can I get help?+
Use BenefitKarma's free Benefit Eligibility Screener to see what VA benefits you may have missed, or talk with a free accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) through your state VA office.
Source: va.gov