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Would you actually qualify?

Published by the Honest MOS Editorial DeskVerified against DoD/.gov sourcesUpdated August 2026Editorial standards

Nine questions, checked against the real eligibility rules in 13 CFR part 128. You get the full result on this page — which requirement you'd fail, why, and what to do about it. No email, no account, nothing sent to us. The whole thing runs in your browser, which matters when the questions are about your discharge and your disability status.

Certification moved from the VA to the SBA on 1 January 2023. If you were verified under the old VA CVE process, or you're reading a guide that tells you to use vetbiz.va.gov, that guide is out of date — the program is now SBA VetCert at certifications.sba.gov.

0 of 9 answered

1.Did you serve in the active military, naval, air, or space service?
Reserve and National Guard count if you were called to federal active duty, or if you were disabled from an injury or disease incurred or aggravated in line of duty during training.
Rule: 38 U.S.C. 101(2)
2.Was your discharge anything other than dishonorable?
Only a dishonorable discharge disqualifies you here. Honorable, general, OTH, and bad conduct all clear this specific bar — this is a lower threshold than a lot of VA benefits, and people rule themselves out unnecessarily.
Rule: 38 U.S.C. 101(2)
3.Does the VA already have you on record as service-disabled?
SBA does not rate disability — it reads the VA's record. There is no minimum percentage anywhere in the regulation, so a 10% rating counts the same as 100% for eligibility. Answer no if you have a claim pending but no rating yet.
Rule: 13 CFR 128.102
4.Do one or more veterans own at least 51% of the business?
Straight percentage test. If you own exactly 50/50 with a non-veteran partner, you do not qualify — and this is the single most common structural problem.
Rule: 13 CFR 128.200(a)
5.Is that ownership held directly by the veteran, in their own name?
Ownership through another company, a holding entity, or an ESOP does not count. The one exception is a revocable living trust where the veteran is the grantor, the trustee, and the beneficiary.
Rule: 13 CFR 128.202(a)
6.Does a qualifying veteran hold the highest officer position — President or CEO?
Owning it is not enough; a veteran has to hold the top job and have managerial experience matching the complexity of the business. A veteran owner with a non-veteran CEO fails this.
Rule: 13 CFR 128.203
7.Does that veteran work the business full time during normal business hours?
If you work fewer hours, SBA starts from the assumption that you do not control the company. That presumption can be rebutted, but you carry the burden — this is the question that catches people still on active duty or working a day job.
Rule: 13 CFR 128.203
8.Is the business small under the SBA size standard for at least one of its NAICS codes?
Measured against any NAICS code listed in your SAM profile. Most new businesses clear this easily. Separately, at contract time you must be small for the NAICS code assigned to that specific contract.
Rule: 13 CFR 128.204
9.Are you and the business free of SAM exclusions and unresolved federal debt?
An active suspension or debarment in SAM disqualifies you, as does failing to pay significant federal obligations — unresolved tax liens, defaulted federal loans. Being on an approved repayment plan is fine.
Rule: 13 CFR 128.201

Your answers stay in your browser. Nothing here is sent to us, stored, or attached to your name — which matters given what a couple of these questions ask about.

Questions people actually ask

Is there a minimum disability rating for SDVOSB?

No. There is no minimum percentage anywhere in 13 CFR part 128. A 10 percent service-connected rating qualifies exactly the same as a 100 percent rating. What matters is that the VA has you on record as service-disabled — SBA reads that record rather than rating you itself.

Does an other-than-honorable discharge disqualify me?

No. Only a dishonorable discharge disqualifies you for this purpose. The definition at 38 U.S.C. 101(2) requires discharge under conditions other than dishonorable, which means honorable, general, and other-than-honorable all clear this particular bar. Many veterans rule themselves out unnecessarily here.

How long does SDVOSB certification take?

There is no legal processing deadline — neither 13 CFR part 128 nor 15 U.S.C. 657f sets one. SBA has published operational averages that moved a great deal: about 30 days at program launch, 81 days by the end of 2024, and 12 days as of November 2025. The widely repeated "90 days" figure is a misreading of the 90-day waiting period to reapply after a denial.

Does it cost anything to apply?

No. SBA states it does not charge any cost for applying to its certification programs, and registering in SAM.gov is free as well. Anyone charging you a fee to register in SAM or to "get you certified" is selling you assistance with a free government process.

Next: how the application actually works, or what your state adds on top.