A WBE (Women’s Business Enterprise) is an independent business that is at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by one or more women. The business must be legally established in Canada, with its principal place of business located in Canada, and its daily operations directed by one or more women.

WBE Canada certifies legally established, for-profit businesses that meet these ownership and control requirements. Businesses must either be formed and principally located in Canada, or be majority owned, managed, and controlled by women who are Canadian citizens or lawful permanent residents.

All applicable taxes must be current in order to receive and maintain WBE Certification.

An eligible company is an independent business that is at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by one or more women, whose business formation and principal place of business are in Canada or they are majority owned, managed and controlled by woman/women who are Canadian citizens or lawful permanent residents. Your taxes must be current to receive and retain your WBE certification.  Click here to access our WBE Certification Policy.

This depends on whether your business is a sole proprietorship, partnership, or incorporated company. Our online application has the functionality to upload all the required documents. You need to upload all the required documentation which we will review in advance of your site visit. Documentation required to be made available by uploading into the application and/or made available during the site visit: Incorporated Companies | Partnerships | Sole Proprietorship. WBE Canada may require additional documentation beyond the list depending on the circumstances of your business. Once certification is confirmed, a confirmation package including a Certificate will be sent to you. The certification process entails an audit of a number of documents in order to confirm the eligibility of your business. All information and documents submitted by your business are kept completely confidential.

The annual fee is currently set at $750, plus applicable taxes according to your province of headquartered operation, and is subject to change. This a non-refundable processing fee.

Upon receipt of your completed application and fee, you will be contacted to set up a mutually convenient time for the virtual site visit with the owner(s). Generally the process can be completed within 6 weeks, however, the time frame is highly dependent upon the applicant’s ability to prepare documentation and be available for the site visit.

WBE Canada certificates are recognized by all our Corporate Members as well as many other Fortune 1000 companies. WBE Canada was formed in 2009. That said, it is up to the individual corporations to determine if they will include the foreign contracts in their diversity spend tracking. In addition to our corporate members, there are many companies that measure diversity spend and are keen to source from certified women business enterprises. WBE Canada continues to actively build recognition of Canadian certification in corporations and government organizations. List of organizations recognizing our certification is shared internally with all certified WBEs.