Maintaining the HUBZone Certification

If your business is HUBZone certified and there are no changes during your certification, you have no reporting obligations to SBA. However, you must report all “material changes” to SBA because they may affect your eligibility in the HUBZone Program.

What is considered a "material change?" For example:

Change in the ownership
Change in business structure
Change in principal office
Failure to meet the 35% HUBZone residency requirement

There is no limit to the length of time you are qualified as a HUBZone small business concern. You may remain certified as long as you continue to follow the HUBZone regulations, notify SBA of any changes, and you properly recertify the business.

The HUBZone office has a 35% and principal office calculator that you can use; but please make sure that before you use it, you review the HUBZone regulatory definition for the terms “principal office” and “employee.”

Recertifying your HUBZone Certification

Even though there is no limit to the length of time you may qualify as a HUBZone firm, your certification is not a lifetime certification.

If you wish to retain your HUBZone certification, you must recertify every three years to SBA, indicating that the firm is still located a qualified HUBZone and is still a small business concern.

To recertify for HUBZone click here.

To view program examination click here.

Voluntary Decertifying your HUBZone Certification

You can voluntarily decertify your HUBZone application at any time by completing the Voluntary Decertification form in the HUBZone Application section and mailing it to:

U.S. Small Business Administration
409 3rd Street SW, 8th floor
Washington, DC 20416
ATTN: HUBZone Program – Voluntary Decertification

If you voluntary decertify your HUBZone application, you may reapply for the HUBZone certification no sooner than 90 days from the date your firm was decertified, providing your business still meets all the eligibility criteria.