When it comes time to take advantage of your minority-owned business status, you'll need a fairly comprehensive set of documents to qualify and certify to begin the application process at your local NMSDC affiliate.

Here's Skip's Big List for your reference. Read this section first, then skip to your business entity type for specifics.

Business Entity Specific Documents

Corporations
LLCs
Partnerships
Franchises

The Big List

• A completed certification application
• Notarized affidavit/declaration page, dated and signed
• Fictitious Business Statement or DBA, if applicable
• Driver’s license or valid picture ID
• Proof of U.S. citizenship
• Proof of Ethnicity that includes race for: Owner(s), Partners, and Shareholders
• Indian/Native Americans Blood Degree Certificate (i.e. tribal registry letter, tribal roll register number)
• Two years of federal business tax returns
• Current financial statements (P&L , statement of cash flows, balance sheet)
• Notes payable (if any)
• Business license and/or permits or Occupational Licenses (when applicable)
• Lease Agreement (if premises are leased/rented)
• Signature page of homeowners deed or mortgage receipt if property is owned or home based
• Resume(s) of owner(s), partners, shareholders or key employees (including current enterprise, and defined roles)
• Bank Signature Card
• Equipment Rental and Purchase Agreements (when applicable)
• Current invoice receivables with proof of payment (minimum of  two), cancelled check, deposit slip, and bank statement with matching amount
• Equipment owned or available, including their description(s), date(s) acquired, and current value
• Proof of Bonding Capacity (if applicable)
• Valid EIN
• Certificate of Authority to Transact Business or Foreign Entity Certificate (when applicable)

Corporations

• Assumed Name Certificate filed with the Secretary of State
• Certificate of Corporation
• Stamped Articles of Incorporation or Certificate of Formation from the Secretary of State
• Articles of Amendment or Certificate of Amendment (if applicable)
• Corporate bylaws or Governing documents
• Proof of capital investment, e.g. both sides of a cancelled check(s), equipment receipts, initial deposits, bank statements
• Minutes from first and last meeting of the Board of Directors (BOD)
• Minutes from BOD election meeting
• Copies, front and back, of all stock certificates issued (no specimens)
• Copies, front and back, of the next consecutive unissued stock certificate
• Current stock ledger
• Proof of Stock purchase, both sides of cancelled checks, deposit slips, bank statements
• Copy of the purchase or buy|sell agreement with the corresponding proof of payments (when applicable)
• Copy of stock options or outstanding ownership options, or agreements restricting ownership or control of minority owners, when applicable

LLCs

• Assumed Name Certificate filed with the Secretary of State
• Certificate of organization
• Stamped copies of the Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation from the Secretary of State
• Articles of Amendment or Certificate of amendment (when applicable)
• Operating Agreement
• Proof of capital investment, e.g. both sides of a cancelled check(s), equipment receipts, initial deposits, and bank statements
• Organization meeting minutes
• Minutes of the last meeting where members were identified and elected
• Copy of both sides of all certificates of ownership issued (no specimen)
• Copy of both sides of next consecutive membership unit certificate not issued
• Copy of ownership transfer ledger or copy of membership transfer ledger
• Proof of unit purchase, e.g. both sides of cancelled checks, deposit slips, and bank statements
• Copy of the purchase or buy|sell agreement with the corresponding proof of payments (when applicable)
• Copy of any membership unit options or other ownership options outstanding; agreements restricting ownership or control of minority owners (when applicable)

Partnerships

If your MBE is a limited liability partnership, or Ltd., applicants must submit legal documents for all the companies involved in the partnership including:

• Articles of Partnership(for LLP|Ltd)
• Certificate of limited partnership or certificate of formation (for LLP|Ltd)
• Partnership Agreements (including buy-out rights and profit sharing)
• Proof of Capital Investment, e.g. both sides of a cancelled check(s), initial deposits, bank statements
• Proof of Partnership purchase, e.g. both sides of cancelled check(s), deposit slips, and bank statements

Franchises

• Franchise agreement

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