Why Do the Most Successful Minority Businesses Get Certified? Because certification works!
What Is MBE Certification?
- Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Certification through the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) network—administered locally by ChicagoMSDC—is the national gold standard for verifying that your company is majority owned, operated, and controlled by minority entrepreneurs.
- Certification provides trusted, independent confirmation recognized by hundreds of major corporations, government agencies, and institutions across the country.
Why Certify Your Business?
- Unlock New Business Opportunities
Think of certification as a license to hunt.
Large corporations, universities, hospitals, and public agencies are actively seeking qualified minority-owned suppliers—but many will only engage with certified MBEs.
Certification opens the door to procurement pipelines you can’t access otherwise. - Expand Your Network
People do business with people they know.
Certification instantly plugs you into a powerful ecosystem of minority businesses, corporate buyers, and industry leaders—along with exclusive invitations to Chicago-area networking events, matchmaking sessions, and corporate roundtables. - Build New Skills to Grow Your Company
Whether you’re scaling operations, strengthening your marketing, or preparing for a major contract, you need the right tools.
Certified MBEs get access to ChicagoMSDC’s in-person and online training, business academies, workshops, and executive education tailored to high-growth companies. - Increase Your Visibility With Buyers
ChicagoMSDC promotes certified MBEs across our network of hundreds of corporations and institutions.
Buyers searching for vendors use our database every day—and when they have an opportunity, they can find and contact you directly. - Join a Network of Over 1,000 Certified Minority Businesses
Across Chicagoland, more than 1,000 MBEs have already leveraged certification to compete, grow, and win.
Ready to take the next step?
if you have any questions, please contact certification team at certification@chicagomsdc.org or certification@nmsdc.org
| Chicago Certification Fees | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certification | Recertification | Late Fee | Sales | |
| Class 1 – $550 | $330 | $125 | Gross annual sales under 1 million | |
| Class 2 – $825 | $745 | $175 | Gross annual sales between 1 & 10 million | |
| Class 3 – $1,050 | $825 | $200 | Gross annual sales between 10 & 50 million | |
| Class 4 – $1,275 | $1,050 | $225 | Gross annual sales over 50 million | |
Chicago Subscription Services
If you want access to regional affiliate events and opportunities in areas outside your home region,you can subscribe to services from multiple regions. Regional corporations, local government, and quasi-government agencies sometimes choose to become local corporate members, interacting only with locally certified MBEs. All MBEs are automatically included in their home region, but you can include yourself in more local conversations and opportunities by subscribing to additional regions.
If you want access to regional affiliate events and opportunities in areas outside your home region,you can subscribe to services from multiple regions. Regional corporations, local government, and quasi-government agencies sometimes choose to become local corporate members, interacting only with locally certified MBEs. All MBEs are automatically included in their home region, but you can include yourself in more local conversations and opportunities by subscribing to additional regions.
| Chicago Subscription Fees | ||
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | $300 | Gross annual sales under 1 million |
| Class 2 | $550 | Gross annual sales between 1 & 10 million |
| Class 3 | $675 | Gross annual sales between 10 & 50 million |
| Class 4 | $875 | Gross annual sales over 50 million |