Free tool

Set-Aside Eligibility Checker

Answer a few questions about your business and see which federal set-aside programs you may qualify for — small business, 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB/EDWOSB, and SDVOSB — with the requirements you meet, what to verify, and where to certify for free with the SBA.

23%
of federal prime-contract dollars reserved for small businesses (statutory goal)
5
programs screened in one pass
$0
SBA certification application cost — applying is always free

Check your eligibility

Results update live as you answer. Nothing you enter is sent or stored — the screening runs entirely in your browser.

Is your business small under the SBA size standard for its primary NAICS code?

1.Is your business small under the SBA size standard for its primary NAICS code?

Size standards are set per NAICS code (a revenue or employee cap). Find your NAICS code and check the SBA's size-standards table if you're unsure.

Is it a for-profit business located in the U.S., majority-owned by U.S. citizens?

2.Is it a for-profit business located in the U.S., majority-owned by U.S. citizens?

All of these programs are for U.S. for-profit small businesses; 8(a) and HUBZone specifically require ownership by U.S. citizens.

Is the business at least 51% owned AND controlled by one or more women?

3.Is the business at least 51% owned AND controlled by one or more women?

Control means the women owners manage day-to-day operations and make the long-term decisions — ownership on paper alone doesn't qualify.

Is the business at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more veterans?

4.Is the business at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more veterans?

Ownership and control must be direct and unconditional.

Is the business at least 51% owned and controlled by individuals who are socially disadvantaged?

5.Is the business at least 51% owned and controlled by individuals who are socially disadvantaged?

For 8(a), the SBA requires a written social-disadvantage narrative describing the bias or prejudice the owner has experienced and its impact on the business.

Is your principal office in a designated HUBZone, with at least 35% of employees living in a HUBZone?

6.Is your principal office in a designated HUBZone, with at least 35% of employees living in a HUBZone?

Both conditions must hold. Check addresses on the SBA HUBZone map.

0/6 answered · answers stay in your browser — nothing is sent or stored.

Your screening results

Answer the first two questions and your per-program results will appear here, updating live as you go.

How to read these results

This is a screening guide, not an eligibility determination— only the SBA certifies firms, and it applies detailed rules (affiliation, control, ostensible-subcontractor, and more) that a short quiz can't capture. Figures reflect the SBA's published criteria as of mid-2026: the economic-disadvantage limits ($850K net worth / $400K average AGI / $6.5M assets) apply to 8(a) and EDWOSB, and sole-source ceilings are periodically adjusted for inflation (an increase from $4.5M/$7M to $5.5M/$8.5M has been in rulemaking). Verify current rules at certifications.sba.gov before making decisions. Note that the SBA has significantly increased 8(a) eligibility scrutiny.

Certified (or about to be)? Now find the set-aside contracts.

BidSparq scans 14,000+ federal, state, local, and education sources and scores every opportunity against your business — including set-aside fit — so the contracts your certifications unlock actually reach you.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a set-aside contract?

A set-aside is a government contract that only certain businesses may compete for. The federal government reserves categories of contracts for small businesses generally, and for specific certified groups: 8(a) firms (socially and economically disadvantaged owners), HUBZone firms (located in historically underutilized business zones), women-owned small businesses (WOSB/EDWOSB), and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB). Set-asides exist because the government has statutory goals — 23% of prime-contract dollars to small businesses, with sub-goals for each program.

What is an 8(a) sole source contract?

A direct award to a certified 8(a) firm without competition, permitted under the 8(a) Business Development program up to dollar ceilings — long-standing thresholds are $4.5 million ($7 million for manufacturing), with an inflation adjustment to $5.5M/$8.5M in rulemaking; confirm the current FAR Part 19 figures. For firms holding the certification, it is one of the fastest paths to a first federal contract.

How much does SBA certification cost?

Applying is free. All SBA certifications — 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB/EDWOSB, and veteran-owned (VetCert) — are submitted at no cost through certifications.sba.gov. Consultants who prepare applications charge fees, but no payment to the SBA is ever required, and no third party can get you certified faster than a complete, accurate application.

Can a business hold more than one set-aside certification?

Yes — certifications stack. A service-disabled veteran whose business sits in a HUBZone can hold both SDVOSB and HUBZone status, qualifying for both programs' set-asides and counting toward multiple agency goals, which makes the firm more attractive to contracting officers.

Do these programs apply to state and local contracts?

No — 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, and SDVOSB are federal programs. Many states and cities run their own preference programs (often MBE/WBE/DBE certifications) with separate applications and rules. State and local solicitations are a large share of the market, which is why BidSparq tracks them alongside federal opportunities.

Is this checker an official eligibility determination?

No. It is a free screening guide based on the SBA's published criteria. Only the SBA (via certifications.sba.gov) makes eligibility determinations, and program rules and dollar thresholds change over time. Use this to see which programs are worth pursuing, then verify against the SBA's current requirements.

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