This guide breaks down the critical differences between Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and County Business Enterprise (CBE) certifications, helping you decide which path leads to your next big Broward County contract.
Broward County offers two powerful local small business certifications—Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and County Business Enterprise (CBE)—and understanding the difference is critical if you want to win County contracts.
Both are managed by the Office of Economic and Small Business Development (OESBD) and both are treated as “gates” you must pass through before you can fully benefit from Broward’s set‑asides and participation goals.
The SBE program is designed to reserve entire smaller County projects for qualified small firms, so you compete only against other local small businesses.
The CBE program is designed to insert certified small firms into larger County contracts as required subcontractors, using participation goals (often at least 25%) on eligible solicitations.
Under the SBE “Reserves Program,” Broward can reserve County contracts under a certain dollar threshold (historically around $250,000) exclusively for SBE‑certified firms.
Under the CBE program, the County sets minimum percentage goals for CBE participation on eligible prime contracts, and primes must bring in CBE subs to meet those goals.
Both SBE and CBE are local small business programs that focus on firms with limited size, local presence, and independent ownership.
Key elements commonly include: low personal net worth per owner (around $1.32 million, excluding primary residence), a physical business location in Broward County, one year in business, and a limited number of permanent full‑time employees.
SBE certification can give you access to entire solicitations that are reserved just for SBE firms, meaning significantly reduced competition versus open County bids.