Certifications – Taking Your Business to The Next Level | 32

Felicia Harris, Principal Owner of EverythingHR and EverythingHR Financial Services, interviews Pamela Smith, Owner and Managing Member of PTS Compliance Consulting. PTS Compliance Consulting, based in Belleville Michigan, focuses on providing certification documentation review for women and minority businesses with corporations that possess initiatives for supplier diversity. Pamela discusses how companies can qualify for their certifications, what the benefits of certifications are, and how to navigate the business world as a minority or women certified company.

3 Key Points:

1. 4 out of 10 businesses in the United States are women-owned.

2. Make sure to investigate the validity of businesses that offer you services and ask for references.

3. Your business certifications can be written off as a tax deduction.
 

Show Notes:

• Pamela gained expertise working with the Women Business Enterprise (WBE)
• Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) is another third-party certification that provides assistance
• What are the criteria for the WBE and the MBE certifications
• How do certifications help a business stand out from their competitors
• The certification fees based on a company revenue
• Certifications don’t guarantee you automatic business
• Why is so much information required during the certification process
• How should businesses handle site visits during the certification process
• Suppliers talk and negative news spreads fast
• You don’t just walk up to people in networking events and hand them business cards
• People do business with people they trust and like
• What information do you need to qualify for federal business contracts
• Pamela Smith is also available to home-based businesses