Right Choice Construction is a City of Houston WBE (Woman Business Enterprise) commercial general contractor specializing in interior and exterior remodels, build-outs, retail spaces, shopping centers, and industrial projects.
Welcome to My Weekly “Women in Construction” Blog!
Sometimes I’m asked why and how my company certified as a City of Houston Woman Business Enterprise (WBE). The short answer? It was a crucial part of building my company. Certification offers competitive advantages for women-owned businesses and equal access to procurement opportunities.
The longer answer is that certification is a rigorous process, and it takes effort to qualify. As a female who grew up on construction sites and followed my father into this profession, it made perfect sense to earn this certification.
My goal was (and is) to demonstrate that Right Choice Construction has been through a robust vetting process and is highly qualified to provide the City of Houston WBE general contracting services and federal contracting services as well. The certification also brings advantages to my customers.
Benefits of Certification for Your Business
Building a relationship with your city can bring opportunities. I visited the online Office of Business Opportunity at the City of Houston to learn more about their requirements. Chances are, there is a version of this program in your city and state.
I joined the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) to pursue certification. The WBENC is the “gold standard” for women-owned businesses in the U.S. and is an approved third-party certifier for the SBA’s Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contracting program.
Certified firms with the City of Houston are eligible to fulfill goal requirements on City contracts, and certified businesses (like mine) are listed in the City’s Online Directory of Certified Vendors. In addition, my company has formal and informal opportunities to pursue business with 1.) other WBENC-Certified WBEs and 2.) supplier diversity and procurement executives at hundreds of major U.S. corporations and federal, state, and local government entities that accept WBENC Certification.
I encourage you to check out the links and explore the advantages for your business. Below I’ll talk about how my customers can benefit from hiring a WBE.
Benefits of Certification for Your Customers
Going through the process of becoming a certified WBE shows potential customers that you are a serious contender in the bidding process. These customers can verify that you are vetted and certified—in my case, as a general commercial contractor—bringing trust and expertise to each project. Some companies have diversity goals that can be achieved by hiring a WBE. Depending on a customer’s state, there may be tax advantages for hiring a WBE. Certainly, customers with federal projects can check out several government tax incentives that come with hiring women-owned businesses.
Connect With a City of Houston WBE Commercial Construction Company
I hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about Right Choice and our services, and I look forward to hearing from you.
We are located at:
Houston, TX 77005
Until next time, consider WBE certification to enhance your company’s profile and reach!