Emerging Business Enterprise (EBE) Certification Program

• Resumes for everyone who has ownership interest in the business.
• Bank letters including account numbers, a list of those authorized to sign on the account, and any limitations to a signer's authority.
• A financial statement detailing the most recent fiscal year, including a balance sheet or profit-and-loss statement, and describing all cash flows.
• The business' federal, state, and city signed tax returns for the most recent three tax years, including all schedules.
• Personal federal, state, and city signed tax returns of each owner for the prior two tax years, including all schedules. All W-2 forms must total to the amount listed on Line 7 of the IRS form 1040, including spouse's W-2s.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent resident alien status for each owner.
• Licenses and permits which the business holds.
• Lease agreements or proof of ownership for all business locations, which must be valid for at least six months after the date of application.
• Two or more business contracts and invoices completed and signed, along with proof of payment.
• Vehicle registration(s) for any vehicle used for business purposes.
• Proof of bonding capacity, if applicable.
• Proof of three or more investment sources/capitalization in the business within the past two years (e.g. major purchase receipts, loan agreements, payroll records).
• Proof of contributions used to acquire majority ownership, for each owner, if applicable. Include copies of both sides of canceled checks.
• Proof of any transfers of assets to or from your firm, and/or to or from any of its owners, over the past two years, if applicable.
• Schedule of salaries and other compensation and remuneration paid to owners, managers, directors, and/or officers of the firm, if applicable.

The following documents are also required based on the structure of your business:

• Sole Proprietors must provide a "Business Certificate" filed with the County Clerk if operating under a DBA name.
• Partnerships must provide a partnership agreement, and a business certificate as filed with county clerk.
• Limited Partnerships (LPs) and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) must provide a partnership agreement and a state filing receipt, including any amended receipts.
• Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) must provide an LLC Organizational Agreement and LLC Articles of Organization, a state filing receipt, including any amended receipts, and any membership certificates, front and back, as well as the next un-issued certificate.
• Corporations must provide Articles of Incorporation, corporate bylaws, a state filing receipt, including any amended receipts, and stock certificates, front and back, as well as the next un-issued certificate.
• Businesses operating under a trade name or doing-business-as name (DBA) must provide a Certificate of Assumed Name, as filed with the County Clerk. Learn more here.