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Government Contracting
3% federal set-aside · price preference 10%

Win contracts in your HUBZone. 3% set-aside. 10% price preference.

HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zone) certification is for small businesses with their principal office in a designated HUBZone and at least 35% of employees living in a HUBZone. Federal target is 3% of contract dollars to HUBZone firms; HUBZone firms get a 10% price evaluation preference in unrestricted competitions. The application requires mapping your principal office, documenting employee residency, and submitting through certify.SBA.gov.

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How it works

How we handle HUBZone Certification, end-to-end.

HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zone) certification is for small businesses with their principal office in a designated HUBZone and at least 35% of employees living in a HUBZone.

1

Principal office mapping

We map your principal office address (where the majority of employees work) against the SBA HUBZone Map. The zone designations are updated annually; we use the current map.

2

35% employee residency check

We analyze your employee roster against HUBZone residency: each employee's home address mapped to the SBA HUBZone Map. At least 35% must live in a HUBZone.

3

Eligibility documentation

Documentation of small-business size (NAICS-specific size standard), 51%+ US citizen ownership, and supporting employee residency data. Compiled into the SBA application package.

4

SBA submission + tracking

Submission through certify.SBA.gov. SBA reviews within 90 days. We respond to examiner questions and finalize certification. Annual recertification handled at $499/year.

What we'll set up for you

A clean handoff, in four steps.

You give us the basics. We handle the state, the IRS, and the compliance clock so you can focus on the business.

01 · Name + Brand

A name that's actually available.

Real-time check against the state register, USPTO trademark database, and matching domains.

02 · State filing

Filed with the Secretary of State.

We submit your Articles, pay the state fee on your behalf, and return the stamped certificate.

03 · Federal IDs

EIN + the right tax setup.

Federal Employer ID with the IRS, plus state tax accounts when your business needs them.

04 · Stay compliant

Registered Agent + deadline tracking.

Your agent on file in every state, with every renewal and annual report tracked in one calendar.

Pricing

Transparent hubzone certification pricing.

Government fees pass through at cost. No upsells.

Combined certs

$6999
HUBZone + WOSB or 8(a).

HUBZone plus one other certification (WOSB or 8(a)) prepared in parallel. Coordinated documentation and pricing strategy across both certifications.

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Plus relocation planning

$5999
HUBZone application + office relocation guidance.

If you do not currently qualify because your office is outside a HUBZone, we model relocation options: HUBZone availability near your current location, employee impact, and timing to certification. Plus the full application once you relocate.

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FAQ

About the HUBZone Certification Service.

What is a HUBZone?
Historically Underutilized Business Zone - a geographic area designated by SBA as needing economic revitalization. Includes census tracts with high poverty or unemployment, certain rural counties, qualified Indian reservations, and base realignment areas (BRAC).
Does my office have to be in a HUBZone?
Yes. Your principal office (where the majority of employees work) must be located in a HUBZone. Remote-first businesses can have challenges; we model the test in eligibility review.
What is the 35% employee residency requirement?
At least 35% of your full-time and part-time employees must live in a HUBZone (any HUBZone, not necessarily your principal-office HUBZone). Required at the time of application and at every annual recertification.
How long does HUBZone certification take?
90 days from submission. SBA examiner queue determines pacing. Applications with incomplete documentation take longer; we minimize back-and-forth by submitting complete the first time.
What is the 10% price preference?
In federal contract competitions, HUBZone firms can bid up to 10% higher than non-HUBZone bidders and still be evaluated as competitive. The price preference is automatic in any federal competition.
What happens if I lose 35% employee residency?
SBA can decertify. We recommend monitoring residency continuously; some HUBZone firms have residency policies (requiring HUBZone residency for certain roles, or paying residency relocation bonuses) to maintain the 35%.
Why File.Business

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Premium experience competitors cannot match

Transparent pricing across every filing. $99 LLC formation, $99/yr Registered Agent, $19/mo Compliance Monitoring, $599 Business Complete Bundle. No hidden upsells, no surprise state-fee markups, no obstruction at checkout.

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