What No One Tells You About SBA 8(a) Certification (But Should)

When I started my small business, I didn’t know a thing about federal contracts. I was just trying to find clients, stay afloat, and hopefully get some cash coming in without maxing out another credit card. Then someone at a local business meetup said something about SBA 8a certification and how it helped them land a $400,000 federal contract. That caught my attention real quick. I didn’t even know the government wanted to work with small businesses like mine. Turns out—they do. They just don’t make it easy. If you're in the same boat—running a minority- or disadvantaged-owned business and trying to grow—this is something you should really look into. It's not just paperwork. It's access. Let’s Get Real: What Is SBA 8(a) Certification? So, let me try to explain this like someone who’s not trying to sell you anything. SBA 8a certification is a federal business development program. It's designed for small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged fo...