Certified Business Directory

• Forms
• External
• Tabular

To search for a business - click here

To view a glossary of terms for the directory - click here

What is this directory for?

Mayor Michelle Wu is committed to creating equal opportunities for businesses of all kinds in Boston. Through the business certification process, the City identifies businesses that are owned by women, minorities, veterans as well as those that are small or local. Once a business is certified with our office, they are included in any vendor outreach efforts for City contracting opportunities and are also connected to resources offered inside and outside of the City.

In order to provide access to more minority-owned and woman-owned businesses, small and small local businesses, and veteran and service disabled veteran-owned small businesses, the City of Boston Directory of certified businesses is now available on Analyze Boston.

If you think you might be eligible for certification, visit our website and apply today

If you have questions about obtaining certification, please contact

What does each certification category mean?

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) - means a business organization which is beneficially owned or substantially invested in by one or more minority group members as follows:

• The business must be at least 51% beneficially owned by minority group members.
• The minority owners must demonstrate that they have control over management.
• The firm has not been solely established for the purpose of taking advantage of a special program which has been developed to assist minority-owned businesses.

Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) - means a business organization which is beneficially owned or substantially invested in by one or more women meeting the following criteria:

• The business must be at least 51% beneficially owned by a woman.
• The woman owner must demonstrate that she has control over management.
• The firm has not been solely established for the purpose of taking advantage of a special program which has been developed to assist woman-owned businesses.

Small Business Enterprise (SBE) - means a business with gross receipts, that when averaged over a three-year period do not exceed gross income limitations for that particular industry as defined by the Small Local Business Enterprise Office.

Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) - means a business which is a Small Business Enterprise, as defined above, and whose principal office is physically located in the City of Boston, as defined by the SLBE certification regulations.

A Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) and a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) is a business that has already been verified as such by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

Can a business hold multiple certifications at the same time?

Yes, businesses may qualify for more than one certification.

How long are these certifications valid for?

Businesses are required to renew their certification every three years.