ACDBE Required Documents

List all owners and complete every section. Write N/A for any section that does not apply.

Required for every applicant claiming disadvantaged status. It must carry a wet ink signature and date.

Each disadvantaged owner writes a personal narrative that shows, based on the owner's own experiences, that the owner is socially and economically disadvantaged. It must show this by a preponderance of the evidence, which means more likely true than not.

Give specific, real examples of economic hardship, social barriers, or denied opportunities, compared with people who are not disadvantaged and have comparable qualifications. The Office of Minority Business Enterprise (OMBE) considers the whole narrative, including your:

• Education, such as unequal access to schools, training, or honors you earned
• Employment, such as unequal treatment in hiring, promotion, or pay
• Business history, such as unequal access to credit, capital, contracts, or business organizations

There is no page limit.

Required for each disadvantaged owner whose ownership counts toward the 51% requirement. The limit is $2,047,000. Do not count retirement account assets in your net worth, but include the statements. Include:

• Your last 3 bank statements
• Your most current mortgage statement
• Your homeowners insurance declarations page
• The current statement for each loan
• Retirement account statements

Learn how to calculate your personal net worth.

Show how each owner paid for their share of the business, with documents such as:

• The business registration payment showing the owner's initial contribution
• Canceled checks (not blank or voided) showing payment for ownership interest
• Wire transfer records used to acquire ownership
• Personal or business bank statements showing personal funds moved into the business

If the business is over 5 years old and the original documents are not available: a signed, itemized statement of the personal investment, and documents showing ongoing personal contributions.

If ownership was a gift: the gift letter or legal document describing the gift (date, value, and terms), updated organizational documents showing the transfer, and proof that the disadvantaged owner supports the business now, such as recent personal deposits into it or personal payment of its expenses.

If no documents are available: a written explanation from the disadvantaged owner of why.

Each resume lists, in order by date:

• Every place of ownership or employment
• Job titles and detailed duties for each position
• Roles and duties within your firm
• Dates for each position

One of the following, plus a government-issued photo ID:

• U.S. passport
• Permanent Resident Card
• Certificate of Naturalization
• Birth certificate

Required for each owner whose ownership counts toward the 51% requirement. Include all schedules, statements, attachments, worksheets, and footnotes, with a wet ink signature and date. If you filed jointly, both signatures are required.

Include all schedules, statements, attachments, worksheets, and footnotes, with a wet ink signature and date. If you report business income on Schedule C of your Form 1040, include all pages of Schedule C for the past 5 years.

Business tax returns from the past 5 years or the life of each business, with a wet ink signature and date.

New businesses provide a current financial statement. Non-CPA statements are acceptable.

Include the summary sheet and employee list. Also include, if they apply:

• 1099s issued last tax year, if your workers are independent contractors or subcontractors
• Owner's drawings for the last year, if an owner takes drawings
• A written statement, if none of these apply

Copies of every Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) or Small Business Enterprise (SBE) certification from your home state, and any other certifications you hold, issued by a state or local government agency. Include every approval and denial.

Industry-specific licenses held by the business, and licenses or permits held by the disadvantaged owners.

A signature card or bank letter showing who can sign checks on the business account.

Full copies of leases, loan agreements, supplier contracts, distributorship agreements, and any other agreements that affect control or funding of the business.

• A list of all equipment used to do the work, such as computers, vehicles, software, machinery, and tools
• State-issued titles or registrations for all vehicles and equipment the business uses
• Current vehicle insurance and business insurance policies covering them
• The executed lease for anything leased

Signed and dated contracts or invoices, with proof of payment for each. Task orders and purchase orders are acceptable. Include the scope of work for job contracts. If your business has no contracts, provide a written statement saying so.

Any trust agreement for an owner claiming disadvantaged status, and the trust's tax documents for the most recent 5 years.

Encouraged for firms less than 1 year old, but not required.

Sole proprietorships

• Trade name registration, if you operate under a trade name

Limited liability companies (LLCs)

• Articles of Organization signed by a state official
• Original and amended Operating Agreements, with all exhibits

Corporations

• Articles of Incorporation
• Board of Directors and stockholder meeting minutes
• Stock ledger
• All stock certificates, current and canceled
• Original and amended Bylaws
• Shareholder Agreements

Partnerships

• Executed partnership agreements
• Profit-sharing agreement, with all attachments