What is MBE? Minority Business Enterprise is a certification intended for businesses to show their diversity. In order to qualify for this certification, you must have a for-profit business which has been running for at least a year in the United States. The main requirement is that at least 51% of the owners should have minority background such as African American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian, and more. The company’s day to day operations must also be controlled by a person of color. To ensure all this the business goes through the application process including a site visit from the organization. How can I get my MBE Certification? A lot of different organizations can provide the certification. To get started, you must fill out the related documents and take them to the organization you choose. After completing the application process, the business must also receive a visit from the organization to get an idea of how the business operates. This certification will be valid for 5 years before having to renew. Benefits of Being MBE Certified After obtaining the certification a whole new world is revealed! As part of the MBE community, you receive a lot of networking connections including events.