DBE Business Is Good Business Companies that are not minority-owned have myriad opportunities to participate in projects with DBE requirements by buying goods and services from DBE-certified companies. While car rental firms may have limited DBE options when it comes to buying fleet, there are significant opportunities for other expenditures such as insurance, employee benefits, legal and accounting services, janitorial services and supplies, towing, uniforms, cleaning products, tools, maintenance supplies and equipment and power-washing services, just to name a few. Organizations looking to do business or subcontract with DBE firms can obtain directories of certified companies by contacting the state department of transportation or airport authority or by searching their Web sites. When airport authorities announce new projects and send out RFPs, they will often include a list of certified DBEs for consideration for possible subcontracting and partnering. Many authorities will include bid-specific provisions related to DBEs for the contract. While this practice varies significantly, special consideration may be given to certified DBE firms or companies that sub-contract with DBEs. Many small businesses and DBE- and W/MBE-certified companies are surprised by the number of organizations that have set aggressive woman- and minority-owned business development goals. Newly certified firms should reach out to people and organizations with which they are currently doing business. Car rental companies that have corporate accounts and agreements to provide car and truck rental services to other local, regional and national businesses, banks and financial institutions and public utilities should make enquiries about their DBE and W/MBE policies.
To Qualify as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise: - a firm must be a small business, as defined by the DOT
- must be at least 51 percent owned by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, including women, African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, Asian-Pacific Americans and Subcontinent Asian Americans
- must control the management and daily business operations of the company
- personal net worth of disadvantaged owners cannot exceed $750,000 for companies that provide professional services (airport concessions are currently set at $52.5 million in gross revenue)
- may be structured as a sole proprietorship, S corporation, LLC or joint venture
Leslie A. Saunders owns Leslie Saunders Insurance and Marketing International (LSIMI), which has been a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise-certified (DBE) firm since 1994. Headquartered in the Tampa metro area with satellite offices in Virginia and Kansas City, Mo., her firm is the only woman-owned insurance company to be certified in all 50 states. The Women’s Business Enterprise/DBE agency is also certified in Unified Certification Programs in 240 airports and nationally by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Prior to the implementation of Unified Certification, Saunders maintained more than 200 certifications in order to do business on a national scale with car rental companies Avis, Budget and Dollar Rent a Car. Today, LSIMI is Avis/Budget Group’s largest diversity supplier. For more information, visit www.saundersbenefits.com.