What should an SDVOSB, 8(a) or WOSB contractor website include?
It should show your set-aside status clearly and accurately, explain what you do in plain language, list your NAICS codes and identifiers, and give buyers a named contact. The website does not replace your certification or your SAM.gov registration. It supports them by making your status and your capabilities easy to confirm.
Why does set-aside status matter on the website?
Set-aside programs let agencies reserve some contracts for specific kinds of small business. Contracting officers and prime contractors often search for companies that fit a particular status, so showing yours plainly saves them time. A buyer who has to dig for it may move on to the next company.
The common statuses are:
- SDVOSB: Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business.
- VOSB: Veteran-Owned Small Business.
- 8(a): Companies in the SBA's 8(a) Business Development Program.
- WOSB and EDWOSB: Women-Owned and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business.
- HUBZone: Small businesses in historically underutilized business zones.
Requirements and certification processes change over time, so check the SBA's current guidance for the status you hold.
What are the rules for showing a status on my site?
Show only what you are currently certified or eligible to claim, and keep the website consistent with your registrations. If a status lapses or you graduate from a program, update the site. Never use an agency logo or an official seal in a way that suggests endorsement. A short, honest status line is stronger than a wall of badges.
What belongs on the page, section by section?
| Section | What to include | Why buyers care |
|---|---|---|
| Header or hero | Company name, one line on what you do, your main status | Tells them in seconds if you fit |
| Status block | The set-aside status you hold, in plain text | Easy to confirm and easy to search |
| Capabilities | One short section for each core service | Shows you match the requirement |
| Capability statement | Page plus downloadable PDF | The document buyers actually pass around |
| Company data | UEI, CAGE code, NAICS codes, contract vehicles | Lets them verify you in federal systems |
| Past performance | Contracts you may share, described accurately | Evidence you can deliver |
| Teaming | A note on how you work with primes and partners | Many small firms win through teaming |
| Contact | A named person, email and phone | Removes friction |
Our guide to what belongs on a capability statement page goes deeper on the data block and the PDF.
How do I keep the website consistent with my registrations?
Make your SAM.gov profile the source of truth and copy from it. Check that your legal name, address, UEI, CAGE code, NAICS codes and status match on the website. Set a reminder to review the site whenever you renew your registration. Buyers who see a mismatch tend to trust neither source.
What design choices help a small contractor look credible?
- A clean, conventional layout. Federal buyers scan quickly, so favor clarity over novelty. Many agency sites follow the U.S. Web Design System, and borrowing its conventions helps your site feel familiar.
- Your own domain. A company domain looks established. A free builder subdomain looks temporary.
- Accessible design. Strong contrast and keyboard support signal care. See our Section 508 checklist.
- Fast, mobile friendly pages. Buyers check on phones too.
- Real content. Replace placeholder text and stock claims with specifics about what you deliver.
If you want help, we build government contractor websites for SDVOSB, VOSB, 8(a), WOSB and GSA small businesses, and we start with a free mockup so you can judge the direction first.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put my certification badge on my website?
Only if you hold the status, and only in a way that is accurate and not misleading. A plain text statement of your status is often clearer than a graphic, and never imply that an agency endorses you.
Does a website help me win set-aside contracts?
A website does not win contracts on its own. It supports the rest of your work by making you easy to verify and easy to understand when a buyer searches for you.
What if I hold more than one status?
List each one you hold, clearly and without exaggeration, and keep the list consistent with your SAM.gov profile.
