Month: April 2014

10 Resume Tips for SBA 8(a) Applicants

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Every individual claiming disadvantage status, as well as each officer, director, partner, member, key employee or holder of 10% or more ownership interest in the firm applying for the 8(a) Program must submit a detailed personal resume.

Here are 10 important tips to make sure these individual’s resume contain all information required by the SBA.

1. Make sure that all employment information on the resume matches any W-2 Forms submitted with your 8(a) Application.

2. Explain any gaps in employment. If previously unemployed, state that for the gap of employment on the resume. All gaps of employment, regardless, must be explained.

3. Ensure the resume clearly outlines the respective title of the individual and corresponds with all other pertinent information contained with the 8(a) Application. Examples (all 8(a) electronic application forms, organizational chart, contracts, taxes, etc.)

4. Fully explain all current and past employment management duties and responsibilities. Not just technical duties. and responsibilities.

5. Provide a listing of all formal and informal education, courses and professional licenses or certifications. Including any major study areas in which may be applicable to your primary industry you are seeking 8(a) Certification for

6. Note any past ownership in any other business. This includes ownership in a business for holding real estate.

7. Ensure that resume for the individual claiming disadvantage status is the highest ranking officer and notes that they run the day to day operations of the business.

8. Ensure that the resume for anyone other the individual claiming disadvantage status does not indicate that they can cause negative control with the applicant firm.

9. If anyone received a W-2 from any source, other than the applicant firm, in the most recent tax year, provide a letter from each employer indicating their final date of employment to prove full time devotion.

10. Check the resumes one last time before submitting to make sure items 1-9 above have been completed.

Need assistance with your 8(a) Application? With 20 years and over 3,000 successful applications under our belt, we can assure you that no matter which option you choose, Cloveer will work harder and faster to get your business SBA 8a certified.  Contact us today at 813-333-5800 or visit our website at www.cloveer.com to discover what Cloveer can do for you. We also offer these options for further assistance in completing your 8(a) Application.

Option 1 – 8(a) Application Review

  • For those who wish to complete the application on their own we offer an 8(a) Application Review service.  Here, one of our 8a program experts will review your entire application, checking it for missing documents and potential eligibility issues.  We will then advise you as to how best to modify your application to ensure it will be approved an SBA reviewer.

Option 2 – 8a Application Completion Service

  • The majority of our clients however, prefer a little more of a hands-on approach.  They recognize the expertise we have accumulated in the over 20 years we’ve been assisting clients obtain 8(a) certification, and want us to put it to use for them.  If you opt for our 8(a) Application Completion Service, we will work one-on-one with you to ensure that your 8(a) Application is 100% complete and compliant so the SBA can review and accept it the first time.

How to understand and interpret the HUBZone Application Submission Timeline

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Below is the typical HUBZone Application timeline including how to interpret any messages you receive from the SBA after submitting your HUBZone Application.

Step Message From SBA Details Length of Time
Application Submitted Your Application has been submitted, but not authorized for processing. You should receive and email Nominal. As long as it takes for you to check your email and authorize the application.
Received You authorized your HUBZone Application, but is not complete until SBA requests and receives all supporting documents. Do not send any supporting documents prior to the SBA’s formal request. After you receive the SBA’s formal request, you have 10 business days to submit all of the requested documents. If you need an extension, you can email hubzonedocuments@sba.gov. Once the SBA receives your supporting documents, your HUBZone case will be assigned to a SBA reviewer. SBA may decline your application if any of the supporting documents are not received on or before the submission date. The day that you authorized the HUBZone application is your electronic verification date. This is the date that all of your supporting documents must cover. Typically 7-14 days.
On Hold Documents Your application is on hold awaiting additional information or documentation. After you submit the supporting documents, your application status may still show this message until your application is assigned to a SBA reviewer Typically 1-4 weeks.
First Level Review Your application has been assigned to an SBA analyst and is under first level review. Your first level reviewer may or may not request additional documentation from you. If additional documentation is required, your status may reverse back to On Hold Documents Typically 3-5 weeks.
Second Level Review Your application is under second level review. The first level review is complete and is being reviewed by a second set of eyes. Typically 1-3 weeks.
Final Review Your application is under final review. Final review will end with a final agency decision Typically 2-4 weeks.
Final Determination
(One or the other will occur)		 Your application has been declined. You can view the details in your online correspondence history. If your firm is declined, you may reapply after 90 days. There is no reconsideration of HUBZone Applications. The decision to approve or decline is the final agency decision Complete – Determination rendered
Your application has been approved. You can view the details in your online correspondence history. Congratulations.

Special Statuses not listed above

Step Message From SBA Details Length of Time
Size Review Your application was forwarded to SBA’s Area Size Office for additional review. Some HUBZone Applications require a review by a SBA size specialist. Additional information may be requested by the SBA size Specialist. Varies
Legal Review Your application was forwarded to SBA’s Office of General Counsel for a legal review. Some HUBZone Application require a review by an SBA attorney. Additional information may be requested by the SBA. Varies
Withdrawn Your application has been withdrawn. You may reapply at any time. Complete
No Authorization Received – Withdrawn Your application was automatically withdrawn because no one from your firm authorized it for processing. You failed to follow the Received Step above. Complete
System Rejected Your application was rejected because according to your responses in the online application, your firm does not meet the HUBZone Eligibility requirements. Check your responses within your online application Complete

Need assistance with your HUBZone Application?

Why should you choose Cloveer Inc. to prepare your HUBZone Application?

1. We live and breath HUBZone Certification!

  • We keep up to date on all of the latest daily SBA HUBZone Program changes.
  • We have a detailed understanding of the current SBA HUBZone Regulations.

2. We have a very strong success rate!

  • We maintain a success rate of over 99% for clients we pre-qualify.
  • We have assisted hundreds of small businesses to achieve and maintain their HUBZone Program Certification.
  • We have real references to back up our success rate, that you can contact.

3. We have 15+ years of experience within the HUBZone Program!

  • All services performed are by Cloveer employees, not outside contractors, like some of our competitors.
  • Our principals (Rick and Monica Otero) worked in their family’s 8(a) Certified business. It was one of the country’s most successful 8(a), high-tech, information technology and electronics concerns. It was recognized for five consecutive years as one of the fastest growing companies in the nation, by Inc. Magazine

4. We won’t waste your time!

  • We pre-qualify all potential clients for our full HUBZone Application Service. We are not interested in wasting your time or ours if you do not qualify.
  • When you as a question, you will get a straight answer with no double talk.
  • Even if you don’t qualify currently we will identify the workaround to your specific issue(s) so you can apply down the road.

5. We believe in Customer Service!

  • We believe in treating every client with respect they deserve as a small business.
  • Our service agreements guarantee protection of their confidential information.
  • All information provided to us is protected on our secure services and will never be shared with anyone.

Finally. We are the best HUBZone Program consultant that is available on the market. The others just try to emulate us.

Visit the Cloveer HUBZone Website or call us at 813-333-5800 for more information.

Do you qualify for the SBA 8(a) Program?

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There are many eligibility criteria that a small business must meet to qualify for the SBA 8(a) Program. We have developed a free online 8(a) eligibility questionnaire that anyone can use to see if their business meets the 8(a) eligibility criteria.

http://www.cloveer.com/8aquestionnaire.html Screenshot

Cloveer.com 8a Program Eligibility Questionnaire

This free online 8(a) Certification Eligibility Questionnaire should generally be completed by the individual who primary 8(a) Program Eligibility will be based upon.

The questionnaire will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and as you answer most of the questions, it will automatically inform you if you have a potential eligibility issue.

If you find that you do qualify, we have three 8(a) Application Completion options:

Option 1 – 8(a) Application Review

  • For those who wish to complete the application on their own we offer an 8(a) Application Review service.  Here, one of our 8a program experts will review your entire application, checking it for missing documents and potential eligibility issues.  We will then advise you as to how best to modify your application to ensure it will be approved an SBA reviewer.

Option 2 – 8a Application Completion Service

  • The majority of our clients however, prefer a little more of a hands-on approach.  They recognize the expertise we have accumulated in the over 20 years we’ve been assisting clients obtain 8(a) certification, and want us to put it to use for them.  If you opt for our 8(a) Application Completion Service, we will work one-on-one with you to ensure that your 8(a) Application is 100% complete and compliant so the SBA can review and accept it the first time.

With 20 years and over 3,000 successful applications under our belt, we can assure you that no matter which option you choose, Cloveer will work harder and faster to get your business SBA 8a certified.  Contact us today to discover what Cloveer can do for you.