For many small businesses—especially minority-owned firms—obtaining certifications such as DBE, MBE, or WOSB is seen as the gateway to government contracting opportunities. While certification is an important milestone, it is not the finish line. One of the most common challenges we see is this: businesses become certified but are not prepared to compete. At Spellman Consulting Group, we refer to this as the “certification gap”—the space between being recognized as eligible and being truly re...

From Certified to Contract-Ready: Why Small Businesses Still Struggle—and How to Fix It