DBE Narrative Pro (dbenarrativepro.com) is an AI service that writes DBE personal narratives: a guided chat interviews you about your background and drafts the complete 4,000–6,000-word package — personal narrative, economic disadvantage statement, cover letter, and evidence checklist — for a one-time $79($149 with the AI editor and a year of the DBE Compliance Membership). You can read your narrative draft free and pay only when you download. A $49 scored section-by-section review of an already-written narrative and a $25 self-guided template are also available.
Answer ten questions
Ownership, citizenship, net worth, revenue, location. Two minutes.
See where you stand
Likely, possible, or unlikely for each program — with the reason and what to confirm.
Start the right packet
DBE applicants go straight to the narrative builder; other programs get a packet request.
Frequently asked questions
Which business certification should I get first?
Start with the one whose buyers you already sell to. Firms on highway, transit, or airport work start with DBE certification through their state UCP because it is free and required to count toward DBE goals. Firms selling to federal agencies start with the SBA programs (8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB). Firms selling to large corporations start with NMSDC or WBENC. Most firms can hold several at once.
Does my race or ethnicity affect DBE eligibility?
Not under the current rule. The October 3, 2025 Interim Final Rule removed race- and gender-based presumptions from the U.S. DOT DBE program, and the DOT final rule of September 25, 2026 confirmed it; every owner proves social and economic disadvantage individually through a written personal narrative that names at least one objective basis for the disadvantage. One exception: a firm owned by an Indian Tribe or a Native Hawaiian Organization, rather than by individuals, does not submit a narrative and does not go through reevaluation, though it must still meet the size, control, and PNW rules (49 CFR 26.63(c)(1)). Race and ethnicity still matter for NMSDC MBE certification, which is a private program with its own rules.
How much do these certifications cost?
DBE certification and the SBA programs (8(a), WOSB/EDWOSB, HUBZone, and VetCert for SDVOSB/VOSB) are free to apply for. NMSDC MBE certification costs $270 to $1,700 per year depending on revenue and regional affiliate. WBENC certification costs $350 (under $1M revenue) to $1,250 ($50M+) per year. State MBE/WBE/SBE programs are usually free.
Can a business hold DBE, 8(a), WOSB, and HUBZone at the same time?
Yes. Each program is independent, so a firm that meets each program’s own ownership, control, and size tests can hold all of them. The thresholds differ: DBE caps personal net worth at $2,047,000, while 8(a) and EDWOSB cap it at $850,000 and add income and asset limits. Keeping every certification current means tracking several renewal calendars.
Is this eligibility check official?
No. It applies each program’s published rules of thumb to your answers to show where you likely stand and what to confirm. Only the certifying agency decides eligibility. The check runs entirely in your browser; nothing you enter is sent to us or stored.