Verified Under-Resourced Business

Get recognized as the small business you are, wherever you’re based.

Verified URB status gives corporate, university, and government buyers a trusted way to count your business as small, even if you are based outside their state.

Applications open soon. Please check back.

How you qualify

Eligibility is about your business, never about you.

You qualify on facts we can verify from your documents: size, independence, and good standing. No question that decides eligibility asks about the owner’s race, ethnicity, or gender.

  • A for-profit business, with every owner 18 or older
  • In good standing in your home state
  • Independently owned and operated, and not dominant in your field
  • Within the size standards of the state you’re applying for, including affiliates. The exact numbers appear once you pick a state.
  • Federal tax returns available for the last three years
How it works

Four steps from pre-qualification to decision

  1. Complete pre-qualification

    Eight yes-or-no questions tell you right away whether you can apply.

  2. Complete your application

    Answer the Resource Profile, including how circular your business already is, and upload your documents.

  3. Pay and submit

    Pay the annual fee for your revenue class. You get a tracking ID right away.

  4. Get your decision

    10 business days on the Reciprocity Track, 20 on the Standard Track, from a complete file.

What you get when approved

  • A one-year Verified URB letter naming the standard applied
  • A listing in the universal directory, which any approved business or corporate or government partner can view
  • A Business Gap Report written for your business
  • Free access to resources and tools matched to your business

What it is not

  • A state or SBA certification
  • An ownership-based or identity-based certification
  • A bid preference. If your own state offers a small business certification, you should still get it.
Who recognizes it

Each state sets the size standard

You choose the state you’re applying for verification for at the start of pre-qualification, and the exact employee and receipts limits appear then.

Applying forSize standard applied
CaliforniaCalifornia Standard (Gov. Code §14837(d))
Another state or programThat state’s or program’s size standard
No specific state yetSBA size standard for your NAICS code (13 CFR §121.201)

Annual fee by revenue class

Class3-year average receiptsStandard TrackReciprocity TrackRenewal
Class 1Under $1 million$275$150$150
Class 2$1 million to $6 million$450$250$250
Class 3$6 million to $12 million$650$350$350
Class 4$12 million to $19 million$850$450$450

The Reciprocity Track is for businesses already certified by an organization such as SBA, NMSDC, WBENC, NaVOBA, Disability:IN, or the CPUC Supplier Clearinghouse. Buyers pay nothing to search or confirm verified businesses.

Frequently asked questions

Why are there questions about circular business practices?

Many corporate, university, and government buyers have zero-waste and sustainability goals. These questions show what your business already does, such as buying from local businesses, reusing equipment, or reducing waste, so we can point you to the right help. Simple, informal practices count.

Do my Resource Profile answers affect approval?

No. Only the eligibility requirements decide approval. Your answers are used to match you with resources after you are approved.

What if my business doesn’t pre-qualify?

You’ll see which requirement isn’t met and what would change it. You can complete pre-qualification again any time. Whether you are approved or denied, you can still access the other resources and tools available to micro and small businesses.

What if I’m denied?

Every denial names the reason, the evidence, and a remedy. You can appeal once within 30 days, and a different analyst will review it.