California Department of General Services
California DVBE Certification (Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise)
Who's eligible
At least 51% owned and operated by one or more disabled veterans with a VA service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher. IMPORTANT: LLCs must be WHOLLY owned (100%) by disabled veterans, not just 51%.
How to claim
Apply through California DGS Office of Small Business and DVBE Services. Provide VA disability rating documentation, ownership records, and business formation docs. Certification is free and lasts 24 months.
Editor's take
California-based disabled veterans (10%+ rating) doing or planning state contracting work. The 5% bid incentive is real and can win contracts.
You have no VA disability rating (DVBE requires 10%+). Or you are not pursuing California state contracts.
LLC 100% ownership rule is the catch. If you formed an LLC with a non-veteran partner at ANY equity level, you do not qualify for DVBE even at 51%+ veteran ownership. Corporations and partnerships only need 51%. Structure your entity accordingly BEFORE forming.
California DVBE is separate from federal SDVOSB. Certification does NOT waive LLC formation fees (common misconception). The value is the state contracting bid preference. California state agencies must direct at least 3% of contract dollars to DVBE firms.