Your Action Plan for DBE Success

Before You Apply

90 Days Before Application:

✅Calculate personal net worth using official DOT form

✅Review bylaws/operating agreement for control language

✅Gather three complete years of tax returns (personal and business)

✅Document your work history by NAICS code

✅Address any outside employment or independence concerns

60 Days Before Application:

✅Amend corporate documents if needed (bylaws, operating agreement)

✅Reconcile any discrepancies in financial documents

✅Collect evidence for each NAICS code (contracts, photos, equipment)

✅File any missing or amended tax returns

✅Organize all documentation in clear files

30 Days Before Application:

✅Complete full application draft

✅Have someone review for completeness (consultant, attorney)

✅Prepare written explanations for any red flags

✅Organize physical files in your business location

✅Schedule any needed corporate meetings to document decisions

During Application Review

While Your Application Is Pending:

✅Respond to agency requests within 48 hours

✅Keep copies of all correspondence

✅Maintain accurate records of current business operations

✅Avoid making major business changes (ownership, structure, location)

✅Prepare for on-site visit as soon as application is submitted

When On-Site Visit Is Scheduled:

✅Clear your calendar—make yourself fully available

✅Organize physical documentation

✅Brief employees who might be interviewed

✅Ensure business location is professional and organized

✅Review your application to remember what you submitted

After Certification

Maintaining Your Certification:

✅Submit annual affidavits on time

✅Report material changes within 30 days

✅Keep documentation organized year-round (not just at renewal)

✅Track your gross receipts to ensure you stay under size limits

✅Monitor your personal net worth—don't accidentally exceed the limit

Ready to Start Your Certification Journey?

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of DBE certification requirements, you're not alone. The process is genuinely complicated—which is exactly why Equal Footing Consulting exists.

We help women- and minority-owned businesses navigate DBE certification with:

- 95% first-time approval rate (vs. 60% for DIY applications)

- Insider expertise from a former WMATA certification analyst

- Complete application preparation and documentation review

- Personal net worth calculations and verification

- On-site visit preparation and coaching

- Transparent flat-rate pricing with no hidden fees

Schedule a free 30-minute assessment to review your eligibility, identify potential issues, and get a clear roadmap to certification—no pressure, no obligation.

📞 Call: (571) 473-8127

📧 Email: hannah@equal-footing.com

🌐 Visit: www.equal-footing.com

Don't let preventable mistakes cost you months of delays or a denied application. Get it right from the start.

References

1. U.S. Department of Transportation. (2023). "49 CFR Part 26 - Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in Department of Transportation Financial Assistance Programs." Code of Federal Regulations. Available at: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-A/part-26

2. Small Business Administration. (2024). "Small Business Size Standards." SBA Office of Size Standards. Available at: https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide/size-standards

3. U.S. Census Bureau. (2023). "North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)." Available at: https://www.census.gov/naics/

4. Transportation Research Board. (2022). "DBE Program Implementation: Best Practices and Common Challenges." National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

5. Minority Business Development Agency. (2023). "Certification Requirements for Minority Business Enterprises." U.S. Department of Commerce. Available at: https://www.mbda.gov/

About the Author:

Hannah Follweiler is the founder of Equal Footing Consulting LLC, a DBE certification consulting firm based in Alexandria, Virginia. As a former WMATA Small Business Analyst, Hannah reviewed hundreds of certification applications and conducted on-site visits, giving her unique insider perspective on what agencies scrutinize and how businesses can successfully navigate the process. She has helped over 100 businesses achieve DBE, MBE, WOSB, and SBE certification with a 95% first-time approval rate.

Equal Footing Consulting

Alexandria, VA | Serving Clients Nationwide

📞 (571) 473-8127

📧 hannah@equal-footing.com

🌐 www.equal-footing.com