Start here: are you a small business at all?
Every set-aside program requires you to first qualify as a "small business" under SBA size standards — and that definition varies by industry. It's usually based on either your average annual revenue over the last five years or your number of employees, and the exact threshold depends on your primary NAICS code. Most service businesses fall under a revenue cap somewhere between $9.5 million and $34 million; most manufacturers are measured by employee count instead. If you're not sure where you land, our eligibility quiz handles this calculation for you — but if your business has fewer than about 500 employees or under $20 million in typical annual revenue, there's a good chance you clear this first bar.
8(a) Business Development checklist
☐ Your business is at least 51% owned, controlled, and managed by one or more individuals who qualify as socially and economically disadvantaged (this includes specific groups presumed disadvantaged under SBA rules, as well as individuals who can document disadvantage on a case-by-case basis).
☐ The disadvantaged owner(s) have a personal net worth under the SBA's threshold, excluding the value of their primary residence and their ownership in the business itself.
☐ You (or the disadvantaged owner) have not previously participated in the 8(a) program with a different business.
☐ You're prepared to submit a formal application — 8(a) certification is not self-certified, and the process typically takes several months.
Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) checklist
☐ Your business is at least 51% owned by one or more women who are U.S. citizens.
☐ Women also control the day-to-day management and long-term decision-making of the business — ownership on paper alone isn't enough.
☐ If you're pursuing set-aside contracts specifically in industries the SBA has identified as underrepresented for women-owned businesses, you may need third-party certification rather than self-certification — check the current list before you register.
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) checklist
☐ Your business is at least 51% owned by one or more veterans.
☐ At least one of those veteran owners has a service-connected disability rating documented by the VA (any rating percentage qualifies for ownership purposes — there's no minimum percentage requirement).
☐ A service-disabled veteran holds the highest officer position and controls daily operations and long-term decisions.
☐ You're ready to self-certify through SAM.gov, or pursue VA verification if you plan to pursue VA-specific set-asides.
HUBZone checklist
☐ Your business's principal office is physically located within an SBA-designated HUBZone.
☐ At least 35% of your employees live in a HUBZone (not necessarily the same one your office is in).
☐ You're a U.S.-owned business, and ownership demographics don't matter here — this program is entirely about location.
☐ You're prepared to keep meeting the 35% residency requirement on an ongoing basis, since HUBZone status is reverified periodically, not granted permanently.
What to do with this list
If you checked most of the boxes in one or more sections, it's worth pursuing that certification seriously. If you're unsure about several items — especially the HUBZone address question or the 8(a) disadvantage criteria — that's normal; these are the exact judgment calls SetAsideScout's quiz is built to walk you through in plain language, then match you to real, currently open contracts in the programs you're likely to qualify for.
See what your business qualifies for
Free eligibility check, six questions, no sign-up required to see results.