Apply for New Small Business Enterprise Registration

This includes construction, contractual services, professional consulting services, and commodities.

Fees

There are no fees associated with applying for SBE Registration.

Eligibility

Firms must meet the following qualifications to be eligible for the SBE program:

• Headquartered in one of the following counties for at least 6 months: Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, or Hernando
• Be independently owned and operated
• Employ 50 or fewer permanent, full-time employees
• Annual gross sales averaged over the previous 3-year period does not exceed $8 million for professional consultant services, contractual services or commodities; or $12 million for construction or construction related businesses
• Been established for a period of at least 6 months
• Serve a commercially useful business function
• Subsidiaries and affiliates are not eligible for this program
• Service-disabled veterans are eligible for registration under this program as long as they meet the requirements listed above 

Benefits

• Capital Construction projects less than $1 million may be set aside for bidding by registered SBE firms only
• Project specific SBE participation goals established for eligible construction contracts valued at $200,000 and above
• Bonus Points may be awarded to proposers on eligible, professional services, contractual, professional architectural and engineering consulting services (CCNA) contracts
• Purchases of competitively bid contractual services, commodities and professional consulting services may be set aside for registered SBE firms only
• Periodic business seminars and workshops are conducted to help strengthen the managerial and financial skills of registered SBE firms(i.e., the Small Contractor Development Program)
• We may allow the issuance of joint checks to an SBE contractor and their material supplier for work performed on a County project

Things to consider

• Once registered, a business is registered for a period of three years
• All registered SBE firms must apply for Re-registration every three years to verify their continued program eligibility
• Businesses that submit a timely SBE Reregistration, will remain registered until the SBE Division has made a new determination of eligibility

How to apply

1. Go to the online vendor compliance system at HCFL.gov/SBE 
2. Click the "Apply for SBE Registration" link
3. Click "Create Account"
4. Fill out and submit the application

What's next

We will review the application and notify you of the results.

Resources

• Registration as an SBE firm and all services of the SBE Program are provided at no cost to business owners

Registro de pequeñas empresas, es un servicio proporcionado sin costo alguno para los dueños de negocio. Para asistencia personalizada en idioma español con la aplicación y documentación requerida, escribanos al SBE@HCFL.gov o contáctenos al (813) 829-2650.

Get help

Department: Economic Development - SBE Division
Email: SBE@HCFL.gov
Phone: (813) 829-2650