Small business certification programs Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsborough County’s Small Business Encouragement (SBE) program aims to provide full opportunity for small businesses to participate in the County’s procurement process, including construction, contractual services, professional consulting services, and commodities.
There are no costs or fees to apply.
The processing time is generally 30 days from the date the application and all required documentation have been received.
The SBE registration is valid for three years (36 months) from the date of approval.
Applying for and renewing SBE registration is free and easy to do online. We’ll send the business an email reminder 60 days before the registration expires, followed by a second reminder 30 days before the expiration date. Businesses must ensure that our office has a current email address on file. To avoid any delays, businesses should submit their renewal at least two weeks before the expiration date to allow enough time for processing.
Yes. You are encouraged to apply because SBE registration may provide access to opportunities with other government agencies and/or private companies. Additional benefits include being eligible to attend our trainings and your business listed in the SBE Online Directory.
No. Any business may register as a vendor in the County’s Procurement Services Department’s online vendor portal to do business with Hillsborough County. SBE registration allows your business to participate in the SBE programs.
No. Registration in Hillsborough County’s online vendor portal is the first step in seeking an SBE registration. After which, you must submit the online application for SBE registration for review of eligibility and determination of approval.
You can register your business as a vendor with Hillsborough County in the County’s online vendor portal.
Once registered, your business will be able to:
- Receive email notifications of relevant bid opportunities
- Download bid/solicitation documents
- View document takers list (list of vendors who have accessed specific solicitations, specifications and documents)
- Submit bids online
- Participate in online discussions
No. The service-marked Hillsborough County logo cannot be used to promote any outside entity. You may use your County-issued certificate to show your SBE registration.
Yes. We offer various trainings throughout the year to increase registered business knowledge of County contracting and ways to leverage (or maximize) their SBE registration. Upcoming events and programs are available on the Vendor Compliance System website under the “View Outreach Opportunities” tab. Additional resources, including confidential no-cost consulting and professional training, are available through the Florida Small Business Development Center at Hillsborough County.
Yes, the Small Business Encouragement (SBE) Program provides full opportunity for small businesses to participate in the County’s procurement programs. The program includes consideration on Hillsborough County projects, such as SBE Set-Aside contracts. The Eligibility Requirements and Documentation section of this page provides details about eligibility requirements and supporting documentation.
An SBE Set-Aside is used to reserve certain contracts exclusively for registered Small Business Enterprises (SBEs). “Set-aside" means only registered SBE’s are allowed to compete for those specific contracts, larger businesses are excluded.
- Business has been organized as a Florida for-profit business for a period of at least six months and serves a commercially useful business function
- Principally domiciled (headquartered) for at least six months in Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Pasco County, or Hernando County
- Is independently owned and operated
- Employs 50 or fewer permanent full-time employees
- Whose annual gross sales averaged over the previous three-year period do not exceed $8 million for professional consultant services, contractual services, or commodities, or does not exceed $12 million for construction or construction-related businesses
- Subsidiaries, and affiliates are not eligible for the SBE Program
- Service-Disabled Veteran Businesses are eligible for SBE registration if they comply with program requirements and eligibility standards
- Application Affidavit
- Proof that the business has been principally domiciled (headquartered) in Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Pasco County, or Hernando County for at least six months (i.e., business tax receipts, utility bills, lease/rental agreements, property tax receipts, etc.)
- Licenses to do business in Florida (i.e. Business Tax/Occupational, professional, trade/permit, specialty, DBPR, etc.) If you want to perform construction-related work or operate a construction-related business, you must have a contractor’s license.
- Proof of Florida residency for all owners
- Resume for all owners showing education, training, and employment experience with dates
- Registration as a vendor in Hillsborough County’s eProcurement system (Euna)
- Last three years of your business’s federal tax returns, including all schedules and attachments. If less than three years in business, provide returns for years filed.
- If applying as a service-disabled veteran-owned business, official documentation of the Business owner’s service-connected disability
- Affidavit of No Employees - This document is required if the firm has no employees
- Employer’s Quarterly Wage report for last eight quarters or recent payroll for permanent, full-time employees. Include owners and officers. If none, complete and submit the Affidavit of No Employees.
- Additional supporting documents not listed above may be needed