FAQs

The Women Owned Business Directory is a voluntary listing and is designed to feature consumer-facing physical products. If your business has a product sold to general consumers, please contact us and a member of our team will get back to you with details on how to get listed.

Any WBENC-Certified or WEConnect International certified business in good standing may utilize the Women Owned Logo under trademark. This means any business using the Logo is at least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women.

Certification validates that a business is at least 51 percent owned, operated, controlled and managed by a woman or women. For additional details on eligibility and the certification process, please visit wbenc.org/certification for a U.S.- based business, or visit weconnectinternational.org/about-women-owned-businesses/ for an internationally based business.

Companies headquartered within the U.S. must receive WBENC Certification to use the Women Owned Logo and be featured through the Women Owned Program. Visit wbenc.org/certification to learn more about the eligibility, cost, process and benefits of WBENC Certification.

Companies headquartered outside of the U.S., must receive WEConnect International Certification to use the Women Owned Logo and be featured through the Women Owned Program. Visit weconnectinternational.org/about-women-owned-businesses/ to learn more about the eligibility, cost, process and benefits of WEConnect International Certification.

WBE stands for Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) and is the term we use for a women-owned business that has a current certification from WBENC or WEConnect International.

A WBENC-Certified WBE is a business that has gone through a rigorous and stringent certification process to confirm the business is owned, managed, and controlled by a woman or women.

WBENC-Certified WBEs use their certification credentials to gain access to WBENC Corporate Members, as well as a number of federal, state, and local government agencies.

NOTE: The business is certified, not the individual.

The Women Owned Logo was created to bring consumer recognition of products created by women-owned businesses on store shelves both in the U.S. and international markets. The goal of the Women Owned Logo is to increase awareness with consumers around the world of the great products and services from Women Owned businesses, and in turn, help these women continue to grow their businesses.

You can obtain the Women Owned Logo and guidelines on how to use it through your certifying organization. If you are certified through WBENC, access the Women Owned Logo and guidelines on WBENCLink2.0. If you are certified through WEConnect International request the Logo by emailing logo@weconnectinternational.org.

No, use of the Women Owned Logo is an exclusive benefit of businesses certified by WBENC or WEConnect International. Learn more about certification.

While we love promoting all of our WBEs, the Women Owned Directory on the Women Owned website was specifically created for a consumer audience and thus our business listings are currently reserved for consumer-facing physical products. That said, as a WBENC-Certified WBE, you are already listed in the most important place for our Corporate and Government Members to find you – WBENCLink2.0. There are also a few other ways we can help promote you and your business within the WBENC Network – contribute content here.

WEConnect International certified WBEs with services can be listed within WEConnect International’s WECommunity network directory, which is open to all certified women-owned businesses that service worldwide.

The WBENC online database of WBENC-Certified Women’s Business Enterprises (WBENCLink2.0) is an exclusive benefit of WBENC Corporate Members and other WBEs. Once logged in, you can search all certified vendors. Not a member? Learn more about National Corporate Membership and the dues structure.

WEConnect International certified WBEs with services can be listed within WEConnect International’s WECommunity network directory, which is open to all certified women-owned businesses that service worldwide.