If you are a service-disabled veteran running a trades business, SDVOSB certification lets you compete for federal contracts that are set aside just for service-disabled-veteran-owned firms, so you are not going head to head with the big established contractors. Since 2024 you can no longer self-certify. You have to be formally certified through the SBA's VetCert system before you can win those set-aside contracts. Here is what it unlocks, whether you qualify, and the exact steps to get certified.
What SDVOSB certification gets you
Certification opens the door to federal set-aside and sole-source contracts reserved for service-disabled-veteran-owned small businesses. The federal government's goal is to award at least 5% of all federal contracting dollars to SDVOSBs every year, raised from 3% by the 2024 defense bill. The VA goes further, reserving at least 7% of its own contracts for veteran-owned firms under its "Vets First" program. For a plumbing, electrical, HVAC, landscaping, or general contracting company, that is a lane with far less competition than open bidding.
VOSB (veteran-owned but not service-disabled) certification is the same idea, used mainly for the VA's veteran set-asides. Note that SDVOSB opens federal work specifically. Many states, and some private buyers, also run their own veteran-owned business preferences with different rules, so check Working in Your State for those.
Are you eligible?
To qualify as an SDVOSB, your business must be:
- A small business under the SBA size standard for your line of work. Size limits are set per NAICS code and vary a lot, so check your specific code at sba.gov rather than assuming a single revenue cutoff applies.
- At least 51% owned and controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans.
- Run day to day by a service-disabled veteran, who also makes the long-term decisions. This is about real control, not a veteran's name on paper over someone else's business.
- Backed by a service-connected disability, confirmed by a VA disability rating letter or a DoD disability determination.
For VOSB, the requirements are identical except a general veteran status letter from the VA replaces the service-connected disability requirement.
The 2024 change: self-certification is gone
This is the big one people miss. The National Defense Authorization Act for FY2024 eliminated SDVOSB self-certification. Any firm that had not filed an SBA certification application by December 22, 2024 can no longer self-certify for federal contracts. Everyone now has to go through the SBA VetCert process. If you were relying on old self-certification to chase set-aside work, you need to actually get certified before you can bid it.
Step 1: Register on SAM.gov
Register your business on SAM.gov (the System for Award Management). It is free and required before you can contract with the federal government or apply for certification. Allow about 10 to 12 business days for the registration to be approved, so start here first. Have your entity details, banking information, and NAICS codes ready to go.
Step 2: Verify your veteran and disability status with the VA
Confirm your veteran status, and for SDVOSB your service-connected disability rating, through va.gov using a Login.gov or ID.me account. The certification portal pulls this information in directly, so it needs to be squared away before you apply.
Step 3: Confirm your size standard and NAICS codes
Identify the NAICS codes that describe your trade, then check that your business counts as "small" under the SBA size standard for each one, using SBA's size standards tool at sba.gov. Some standards are based on revenue and some on employee count, and they vary by code, so verify rather than guess.
Step 4: Apply through SBA VetCert
Apply at MySBA Certifications, certifications.sba.gov. The portal imports your data from the VA and SAM.gov and walks you through the document upload. For an LLC, the documents typically requested include your articles of organization or certificate of formation, your operating agreement, and evidence of the veteran owner's compensation and control. Submit it and wait for the SBA to review.
Keeping your certification
Certification is not set-and-forget. You must recertify every three years, and you must notify the SBA within 30 calendar days of any material change in ownership or control. Let it lapse, or miss a change, and you can lose eligibility in the middle of a contract. If you get stuck, the SBA runs a dedicated VetCert line at 866-SBA-HELP (866-722-4357) and an inbox at certifications@sba.gov.
Common questions
Can I still self-certify as an SDVOSB?
No. The 2024 National Defense Authorization Act ended SDVOSB self-certification. Any firm that had not filed an SBA certification application by December 22, 2024 can no longer self-certify for federal contracts. To win SDVOSB set-aside or sole-source federal work now, you have to be formally certified through the SBA's VetCert system (MySBA Certifications). Verify the current process at sba.gov.
What does SDVOSB certification actually get me?
It lets you compete for federal contracts set aside specifically for service-disabled-veteran-owned small businesses, away from the largest contractors. The federal goal is to award at least 5% of all federal contracting dollars to SDVOSBs each year, and the VA reserves at least 7% of its own contracts for veteran-owned firms. For a trades business, that is a lane with much less competition than open bidding.
Do I have to be 100% disabled to qualify for SDVOSB?
No. There is no minimum disability percentage. You need a service-connected disability confirmed by a VA rating letter or a DoD disability determination, plus at least 51% ownership and actual control of the business by one or more service-disabled veterans. Even a low rating can qualify you, as long as the ownership, control, and small-business-size requirements are also met.
How long does SDVOSB certification take?
It varies, and a lot depends on your prep. Registering on SAM.gov alone typically takes about 10 to 12 business days to approve, and that has to happen before you apply. Verifying your VA status and gathering your formation documents adds time, and then the SBA reviews your VetCert application. Start early, get your paperwork clean, and expect the whole thing to take weeks, not days.
What is the difference between VOSB and SDVOSB?
SDVOSB is for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and opens set-aside contracts across the federal government. VOSB is for veteran-owned small businesses without a service-connected disability and is used mainly for the VA's own veteran set-asides. The certification process is the same, except VOSB uses a general veteran status letter from the VA where SDVOSB requires a service-connected disability rating.
The honest bit
- The end of self-certification, the SBA VetCert process, the 5% federal goal, and the VA's 7% set-aside are federal and current for 2026. Verify at sba.gov and va.gov.
- SBA size standards are set per NAICS code and change over time, so check your specific code at sba.gov rather than assuming one revenue cutoff applies to your trade.
- Many states and some private buyers run their own veteran-owned business preferences with different rules. Check those in Working in Your State.
- This is general guidance, not legal or procurement advice. For a complex ownership structure or a contract dispute, talk to a small-business or government-contracts attorney.
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