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Certification Checklist

DOCUMENTATION ATTACHMENTS – Please include appropriate documentation with the application and please indicate which documents are attached. The documentation required for certification is listed below, but is not limited to:

ALL BUSINESSES ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT :

  • Completed certification application
  • Signed, dated and notarized affidavit/declaration page
  • Fictitious Business Statement – DBA (if applicable)
  • Proof of U.S. Citizenship (US passport, long form original birth certificate, driver’s license and voter’s registration card, naturalization certificate)
  • Proof of Ethnicity for Owner(s), Partners, Shareholders (Foreign passport, long form original birth certificate (that include race), parent’s birth/death certificate)
  • Indian/Native Americans Blood Degree Certificate (i.e. tribal registry letter, tribal roll register number) [if applicable]
  • Two Years of Federal Tax Returns (Business)*1
  • Current Financial Statements (P &L , statement of cash flows, balance sheet, income statement)*2
  • Notes Payable (if any)
  • Applicable Operating Business License and/or permits
  • Lease Agreement
  • Signature page of homeowners deed or mortgage receipt (only if home based)
  • Resume(s) of owner(s), partners, shareholders or key employees (to include current enterprise and the definition of role within)
  • Bank Signature Card (or letter from bank identifying signatures on the account and type of account)
  • Equipment Rental and Purchase Agreements (if applicable)
  • Current invoice receivables with proof of payment (at least two) (i.e. cancelled check, deposit slip, bank statement with matching amount)
  • Equipment owned or available (include description of equipment, year acquired, and current value)
  • Proof of Bonding Capacity (if applicable)
  • Proof of EIN
  • Non-refundable application processing fee based on annual gross revenue sales

CITY OF HOUSTON CERTIFED MBEs SUBMIT :

  • Current City of Houston Certification Certificate
  • Authority for Release of Information Affidavit
  • Signed, dated and notarized affidavit/declaration page
  • Proof of U.S. Citizenship (US passport, long form original birth certificate, driver’s license and voter’s registration card, naturalization certificate)
  • Proof of Ethnicity for Owner(s), Partners, Shareholders (Foreign passport, long form original birth certificate (that include race), parent’s birth/death certificate)
  • Non-refundable application processing fee based on annual gross revenue sales

FRANCHISES SUBMIT :

  • Franchise Agreement

PARTNERSHIPS SUBMIT :

  • Partnership Agreements
  • Buy Out Rights
  • Profit Sharing
  • Proof of Capital Investment (i.e. both side of cancelled checks, initial deposits, bank statements)
  • Third-party agreements: management service agreements
  • Certificate of Authority to Transact Business (if applicable)
  • Certificate of limited partnership or certificate of formation
  • General/Limited Partnership corporate documents (see LLCs/Corporations must submit) if applicable

LLCs SUBMIT :

  • Assumed Name Certificate (filed with the Secretary of State) – if applicable
  • Certificate of organization
  • Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation (stamped copy from the Secretary of State)
  • Articles of Amendment or Certificate of amendment – if applicable
  • Operating Agreement
  • Proof of Capital Investment (i.e. both side of cancelled checks, equipment receipts, initial deposits, bank statements)
  • Minutes of the organizational meeting or minutes of the meeting
  • Minutes of the last meeting where members were identified and elected
  • Copy of both sides of all certificates of ownership issued (no specimen) plus the next consecutive certificate not issued
  • Copy of ownership transfer ledger or copy of membership transfer ledger
  • Copy of any membership unit options or other ownership options outstanding as well as agreements which restrict ownership or control of minority owners
  • Proof of unit purchase (i.e. both sides of cancelled checks, deposit slips, bank statements)
  • Certificate of Authority to Transact Business – Foreign Entity Certificate (if applicable)

CORPORATIONS SUBMIT :

  • Assumed Name Certificate (filed with the Secretary of State) – if applicable
  • Certificate of Corporation
  • Article of Incorporation or Certificate of formation (stamped copy from the Secretary of State)
  • Articles of Amendment or Certificate of Amendment – if applicable
  • Corporate Bylaws or Governing documents
  • Proof of Capital Investment (i.e. both side of cancelled checks, equipment receipts, initial deposits, bank statements)
  • Minutes of 1st Organizational Board Meeting
  • Minutes of the last Board meeting
  • Minutes of the last meeting where officers were elected
  • Copies of both sides of all stock certificates issued as well as the next consecutive certificate not issued
  • Current Stock Ledger
  • Proof of Stock purchase (i.e. both sides of cancelled checks, deposit slips, bank statements)
  • Copy of any stock options or other ownership options outstanding as well as agreements which restrict ownership or control of minority owners
  • Certificate of Authority to Transact Business (if applicable)

Certification Fee Schedule

Category Online Amount
Class 1: < $1M $400
Class 2: $1M – $9.99M $650
Class 3: $10M – $49.9M $1,050
Class 4: $50M – above $1,400
Expedited (additional) $350

*1 Personal taxes if in business less than 1 year or if you do not file business tax returns.
*2 Financial statements must be Proforma statements to GAAP standards (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and signed by the President.
*3 Expedited certification is guaranteed to be completed in 10 business days. The process begins once a completed application and all supporting documents are submitted to HMSDC.

IMPORTANT NOTE : Please submit only required documents in chronological order. The submission of a neatly organized application accompanied with the required documents will expedite the processing of your application. Please provide an explanation for any documentation you cannot provide. If items listed are not applicable to your company, please let us know by stating NA.