NaVOBA certifies Veteran Business Enterprises through a single national review, and the fee schedule, verified at navoba.org on August 7, 2026, tiers from $350 for firms under $1 million in annual revenue up to $2,000 for firms at $50 million and above. The ownership and control test requires at least 51 percent ownership, operation, and control by one or more U.S. military veterans. Certification runs three years, and a complete file, including the required on-site interview, takes about 90 days to clear review.
Lenders build financing programs around VBE certification the same way they do MBE and WBE: a public NaVOBA record is a faster ownership check than diligence built from scratch. SupplierDiversity.com's lender directory currently lists 28 financing programs, out of 53 total, that name VBE certification as a qualifying credential.
The SBA 7(a) program is the federal financing route most of those lenders point certified VBEs toward. Verified at sba.gov on August 7, 2026: the maximum loan amount is $5 million, SBA guarantees up to 85 percent of loans of $150,000 or less and up to 75 percent of loans above that amount, and maturities run up to 10 years for working capital and up to 25 years for real estate or equipment with a longer useful life.
