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Helping Businesses Certify

Date postedJanuary 23, 2025
Blog , Business, Featured Blog Posts,

Accountants and CPAs in Pennsylvania get asked by their small business clients for help with many different business needs, one of which is fulfilling various certifications. Since many small businesses and entrepreneurs can benefit significantly through various certifications, consider creating a certification package to add to your list of small business services. 

Creating your certification-application package

First, consider your existing small business clients and your ideal clients. What goods or services do they offer? What are the demographics of the owners and their business locations? These qualities determine what certifications they can get. Some companies may want to pursue multiple certifications. 

Do a survey and ask your clients what certifications they have or what they would like to have. Simultaneously, do some research of your own, as you think through your package. Some common certifications include:

WBENC – The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council is the most widely recognized and respected national certification for women-owned businesses in the U.S.
SBA – The Small Business Association certification allows small businesses to apply for set-aside opportunities for government contracts.
SBA WOSB – The SBA’s Women-Owned Small Business federal contract program allows a women-owned business to compete for the 5%-minimum federal contracting dollars set aside each year for women-owned small businesses. 
VetCert – The Veterans Small Business Certification program offers vet-owned businesses the opportunity to qualify for certain advantages when bidding on government contracts, along with access to other resources and support.
State of PA certification – Registering as a small business in PA allows a company to join the Small Business Contracting Program to help it compete for Commonwealth of PA government contracts. 
Many other certifications are available for specific classifications, such as minority-owned businesses, small disadvantaged businesses (owned and controlled by socially or economically disadvantaged individuals), and businesses within historically underutilized business zones (HUBZones).
EDMC - The EDM Council provides e-learning opportunities and certification in an array of data management specializations
B Corp Certification – This certification requires companies to consider the effects of their actions on all stakeholders, including the surrounding public, and to use their business as a force of positive change.
LEED Certification – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a green building certification program to encourage businesses to adopt green design.

Many other certifications are industry-specific. Your self-employed clients may need help completing certification in their trade, such as certifications for electrician, HVAC, auto-repair, etc. 

An independent contractor or self-employed individual who can point to several certifications will provide a level of confidence for potential clients and thereby increase business. Helping your entrepreneur clients through the certification process would be a tremendous service to them. 

Pricing your package

Your package should include an evaluation of your client’s business to determine which certifications your client qualifies for, the business advantages of each certification, the cost of each (some have a fee), and the frequency of re-certification. The client can then determine which certifications he or she wishes to pursue. Your package cost could be on a sliding scale, based on the number of certifications the client chooses. The minimum price should cover the value of your expertise and the evaluation process, with different price points for additional certification applications. 

Some certification processes are simpler than others, but they all take time. As you determine your price points, review not only the time each certification takes but also the level of expertise it takes to complete the application most advantageously for your clients. Consider as well the business benefits it will offer your clients. Don’t just charge for the hours: charge for the value. This strategy will make cert-application services a worthwhile offering.

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