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LSDBE Business Center
Business Certification—Application Packet Checklist

IMPORTANT: You must submit supporting documents and information to complete the business certification application packet. These items are necessary even if you have submitted the online application.

Select the type of business from the list below to see all required supporting documents and information:
  • Sole Proprietorship
  • Partnership
  • Corporation
  • Limited Liability Corporation (LLC)
  • Select all categories that apply to your business to see all required supporting documents:
  • Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
  • All Businesses Less than One Year Old  
  • If other than initial certification, select the certification type for which you are applying to see all required documents:
  • Recertification
  • Upgrade
  • Upgrade with Address Change
  • Joint Venture
  • NOTE: If not applying online, please include a copy of the application form. Mail or deliver the documents along with a copy of the application to:

    Department of Small and Local Business Development
    Attention: LSDBE Certification Program
    441 4th Street, NW, Suite 970N
    Washington, DC 20001


  • Affidavit
  • Business, professional and/or trade licenses
  • Certificate of occupancy or home occupancy permit
  • Most recent Certificate(s) of Good Standing issued by Office of Tax and Revenue
  • Company profile, including a brief description of products or services
  • District or state and federal tax returns, last three years, and all schedules (signed)
  • Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS)
  • Financial Statement (no older than 90 days)
  • Lease or deed for business site (signed)
  • Most recent Form UC-30 (Employer's Quarterly Contribution and Wage Report) (if applicable)
  • Proof of citizenship (e.g. birth certificate, passport or permanent resident card)
  • Proof of residency (e.g. copy of driver's license or DMV picture ID and copy of current utility bill or voter registration card)
  • Resumes of key personnel
  •  
  • Affidavit
  • Brief description of business or an abbreviated business plan (e.g. executive summary, operation plan, organizational structure and marketing outline)
  • Business, professional and/or trade licenses
  • Most recent Certificate(s) of Good Standing issued by Office of Tax and Revenue
  • Most recent Certificate(s) of Good Standing issued by Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
  • Certificate of occupancy or home occupancy permit
  • District or state and federal tax returns for each partner, or Business Partnership Tax Returns, last three years, and all schedules (signed)
  • Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS)
  • Financial Statement (no older than 90 days)
  • Lease or deed for business site (signed)
  • Partnership agreement, buy-out rights and profit sharing agreement
  • Proof of citizenship (e.g. birth certificate, passport or permanent resident cardsubmit only one)
  • Proof of residency (e.g. copy of driver's license or DMV picture ID and copy of current utility bill or voter registration card)
  • Resume for each partner
  •  
  • Affidavit
  • Articles of incorporation
  • Articles of organization (LLC only)
  • Business, professional and/or trade license(s) 
  • By-laws of corporation and any amendments
  • Certificate of incorporation
  • Certificate of occupancy or home occupancy permit
  • Company profile, including a brief description of the products or services
  • District or state and federal tax returns, last three years, and all schedules (signed)
  • Copy of each stock certificate issued (front and back) and stock ledger
  • Current financial statement (no older that 90 days)
  • Dun & Bradstreet number (DUNS)
  • Lease or deed for business site (signed)
  • Minutes of first and most recent organizational meeting
  • Most recent Certificate(s) of Good Standing issued by Office of Tax and Revenue
  • Most recent Certificate(s) of Good Standing issued by Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs 
  • Most recent Form UC-30 (Employer's Quarterly Contribution and Wage Report) (if applicable) 
  • Resumes of key personnel
  • Proof of citizenship of principal owner(s) (e.g. birth certificate, copy of passport, or permanent resident card)
  • Proof of residency of principal owner(s) (e.g. copy of driver's license or DMV picture ID and copy of current utility bill or voter registration card)
  •  
  • Affidavit
  • Articles of organization
  • Articles of organization (LLC only)
  • Business, professional and/or trade license(s) (if applicable)
  • By-laws of corporation and any amendments
  • Certificate of Organizations
  • Certificate of occupancy or home occupancy permit
  • Company profile, including a brief description of the products or services
  • District or state and federal tax returns, last three years, and all schedules (signed)
  • Copy of each stock certificate issued (front and back) and stock ledger
  • Current financial statement (no older that 90 days)
  • Dun & Bradstreet number (DUNS)
  • Lease or deed for business site (signed)
  • Minutes of first and most recent organizational meeting
  • Most recent Certificate(s) of Good Standing issued by Office of Tax and Revenue
  • Most recent Certificate(s) of Good Standing issued by Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs 
  • Most recent Form UC-30 (Employer's Quarterly Contribution and Wage Report) (if applicable)
  • Operating agreement
  • Resumes of key personnel
  • Proof of citizenship of principal owner(s) (e.g. birth certificate, copy of passport, or permanent resident card)
  • Proof of residency of principal owner(s) (e.g. copy of driver's license or DMV picture ID and copy of current utility bill or voter registration card)


  • DBE Form
  • DBE Letter
  • Submit personal District or state and federal tax returns for the last year (signed)
  • Personal Financial Statement


  • Business Plan
  • Proof of capital injection (e.g. current bank statement)
  • Submit personal District or state and federal tax returns for the last three years (signed)


  • Recertification
  • Business, professional and/or trade licenses
  • Most recent Certificate(s) of Good Standing issued by Office of Tax and Revenue
  • Most recent Certificate(s) of Good Standing issued by Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs(except sole proprietors) 
  • District or state and federal tax returns, last two years, and all schedules (signed)
  • Financial Statement (no older than 90 days)
  • Lease or deed for business site (signed)
  • Most recent Form UC-30 (Employer's Quarterly Contribution and Wage Report) (if applicable)

  •  
  • Copies of brochures, resumes, contracts, certificates and degrees
  •  
     
    Upgrade with Address Change
  • Copies of brochures, resumes, contracts, certificates and degrees 
  • Copy of the lease
  • Copy of the occupancy permit
  •  
     
    Joint Venture
  • Joint Venture Agreement
  • Copy of solicitation
  • Current financial statement for the non-LSDBE partner



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