Advancing Entrepreneurs in Corporate & Government Supply Chains

WBENC National Members help to set the agenda for our entrepreneurial network by providing industry-specific expertise, valuable business resources, and access to procurement opportunities.

WBENC offers its Members a variety of benefits, including exclusive access to our online database of over 21,000 entrepreneurs and a network of peers for best practice sharing. Please see below for a complete list of Membership Benefits.

Ready to become a Member? Contact us to get started.

Membership Guidance & Eligibility

All corporations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations that are seeking to do business with entrepreneurs as suppliers are eligible to become WBENC National Members.

WBENC is a national leader in Business Inclusion Programs and the growth and development of entrepreneurs as suppliers to Corporate America. Although it is not a mandatory membership requirement for your business to have an active Business Inclusion Initiative, our team of experts is prepared to assist you with these services should you choose to implement one. Proactively promoting the products and services capabilities of entrepreneurs, small, and mid-size businesses to your supply chain management or purchasing organization is an essential factor in the growth of economic and community impact.

**Please note, all Members must adhere to the WBENC Terms & Conditions to access WBENCLink 2.0.

Benefits
  • Access to 21,000+ certified WBEs through WBENCLink2.0, our fully-digitized, password-protected, searchable database created to assist in identifying small businesses and suppliers.
    • Search for procurement needs based on NAICS code or keywords.
    • Pull certification and business information for thousands of potential suppliers.
  • Assistance with the development or expansion of your business inclusion programs by:
    • Utilizing the WBENC Ambassador Program, to help educate you on the role WBENC can play in helping to achieve your business goals, share best practices, and connect with other Corporate Members who have achieved impact for the communities where they, and their employees, live and work.
    • Participating in ongoing education and idea-sharing series that address the critical issues your supply chain team faces daily.
    • Participating in our Industry-Specific Programming and Advisory Councils, which serves to educate WBEs on the distinct differences of the industries they are seeking to do business with for overall best alignment and prepare them for what is to come, and to provide insight on best practices to our Corporate Members within those industries.
    • Uncovering disparities that exist within your supply chain and creating impactful programs to close those gaps.
  • Creating Impact through internal support and championship of your efforts:
    • Training for procurement and commodity buyers on best practices for identifying suppliers for upcoming RFPs.
    • Understanding how to tie your supply chain goals to your overall corporate objectives to maximize impact.
    • Leadership development and speaker opportunities on the importance of a top-down approach to business inclusion.
  • National recognition as a member and supporter of WBEs:
    • Eligibility for national awards, including our prestigious America’s Top Corporation for Women’s Business Enterprises award.
    • Corporate Members have the opportunity for cross-promotion and recognition through the various WBENC communication channels regarding pertinent business information.
    • Use of the WBENC Logo on your marketing materials and website showing your support for women and small entrepreneurs.
    • Recognition as subject matter experts and industry leaders during events, programs, media opportunities, and public awareness campaigns.
  • Opportunity to lead and/or sponsor game-changing business development programs for WBEs to help develop, increase scalability, enhance growth, provide access to funding and mentorship, and connect WBEs with valuable resources to grow their business.
  • Discounted conference registration and exclusive participation as an exhibitor and/or sponsor at WBENC national events.
Dues

National Member Dues Structure

National Member dues are based on global revenues of the entity. WBENC Membership runs the calendar year, January 1 – December 31, and WBENC will prorate new members for the quarter in which they join.

  • $70B+: $31,000
  • $35B – $69.9B: $26,000
  • $25B – $34.9B: $21,000
  • $13B – $24.9B: $16,000
  • $6B – $12.9B: $10,500
  • $1B – $5.9B: $8,500
  • <$1B: $6,500

Government agencies and nonprofit entities pay a flat rate of $2,500 annually.

Questions about membership eligibility or benefits?
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FAQs
What are the mission and goals of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)?

WBENC is dedicated to advancing the success of its network of entrepreneurs and National Members, in partnership with its Regional Partner Organizations.

WBENC works to foster inclusion in the world of commerce. Our programs and policies are designed to expand opportunities and eliminate barriers in the marketplace for all entrepreneurs, with an emphasis on the unique challenges faced by women business owners. WBENC works with its network to encourage the use and expansion of Business Inclusion Programs to further economic and community impact.

Learn more about WBENC.

Who is eligible to join?

Corporations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations that are seeking to do business with entrepreneurs as suppliers are eligible to become WBENC National Members.

What is the value of a WBENC National Membership?

National Membership with WBENC provides you not only with unlimited national access to 21,000+ Certified WBEs and WOSBs** to fulfill your contracting needs, but you will also work directly with us to receive the tools and resources needed to build the type of Business Inclusion Program that best fits your company’s needs. From a strong traditional program, to an advanced or world class program, the programs and services offered through your National Member Benefits will help you achieve this goal. As a new Member, your company joins over 500 major corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit entities that have discovered the value of including entrepreneurs in their vendor pool.

Is Business Inclusion or entrepreneurial utilization guidance provided?

Yes, guidance is provided in a number of ways from one-on-one meetings, peer-to-peer sessions, and educational programming, the WBENC Network is prepared to assist you with the creation, implementation, and best practice sharing of your Business Inclusion Program.

How can my company participate?

WBENC offers many high visibility opportunities for participation. Two-thirds of WBENC’s Board seats are held by corporations, and corporate representatives are eligible to serve on standing committees of the Board. National Members are also eligible to sponsor WBENC programs and events, participate in procurement opportunity connections, and serve as SMEs and mentors to our network of entrepreneurs.

Are corporate sponsorship opportunities available?

Yes, sponsorship is available for events and programs. Notable opportunities include our annual WBENC National Conference, the largest conference for WBEs in the country, held each year in June; various WBENC programs and opportunities; the Dorothy B. Brothers Executive Scholarship Program; WBENC publications and many others, all offering significant visibility, educational, and branding opportunities. In addition to the events and programs listed above, WBENC also undertakes research and other special projects each year, each with well-established benefits and attractive outreach opportunities.

Please contact valuedsponsors@wbenc.org for more information.

What is the certification process and how do I know it is reliable?

WBENC provides a national standard for the certification of women-owned companies. Our 14 Regional Partner Organizations implement this standard utilizing professional staff and trained volunteer certification committees. The process begins when a woman applies through the WBENCLink2.0 website. After completion of the online application, she must then submit the required documents to complete her file and send it to the designated Regional Partner Organization. A regional Certification Review Committee reviews the file and directs the next step, a site visit, be conducted.

The Certification Review Committee outlines specific questions for the site visit, and the result of the site visit is reported during the next monthly Certification Review Committee meeting. If the file review and site visit have led the committee to determine that the business meets all of WBENC’s criteria, certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) will be issued. While approximately 23% of applications are denied, an appeal process is in place that provides a review at both the regional and, if appropriate, the national level.

National Members can track a WBE through the certification process, access, and download a PDF version of the WBE Certificate via WBENCLink2.0, the WBENC online database of WBEs. The national Board of Directors’ Certification Committee maintains the standards. WBENC oversees the standards and training for Certification Committee members and Regional Partner Organization program staff. WBENC staff conduct an annual audit of each Regional Partner Organization’s processes to ensure that each is following the WBENC certification standards.

How many Women's Business Enterprises (WBEs) does WBENC have and what is the profile of these businesses?

As of January 2025, there are over 21,000 Certified WBEs in WBENCLink2.0. As the Certification process addresses extensive criteria, many applicants do not meet WBENC’s thorough requirements and do not complete the process.

** Please note, all Members must adhere to the WBENC Terms & Conditions to access WBENCLink 2.0.

Where are the Regional Partner Organizations located? What is their relationship to WBENC?

There are 14 Regional Partner Organizations located around the country. Together, they cover all 50 states and U.S. Territories. The following is a list of the states covered by WBENC’s Regional Partner Organizations. Click here to view an interactive Regional Partner Organization Territory map. 

A detailed listing of presidents/executive directors of the organizations is included on the Regional Partner Organization webpage. In addition to conducting WBENC certification, many of the Regional Partner Organizations offer separately funded programs designed to help women establish and grow businesses. Others only handle certification, provide local Women’s Enterprise Leadership Forums, and host events to connect buyers and WBE suppliers. WBENC has a Designation Agreement with each Regional Partner Organization that details the relationship and the territory covered.