Florida Women-Owned Business Certification and Funding (2026)

Last verified: 4 November 2026. Written by the BusinessHer.com editorial team from the Florida Senate’s bill pages, Florida Department of Management Services (DMS) materials and public reporting. This is general information, not legal advice.

Quick answer: Florida still certifies women-owned businesses through a state office inside the Department of Management Services. In 2026 lawmakers tried to end that program, but the bills died, so the certification remains in state law for now. The office is now often called the Office of Supplier Development, and you will see both that name and its older name, the Office of Supplier Diversity. Florida does not run a state grant program that is only for women. The money available to women-owned businesses there comes mainly from national grants such as the Amber Grant, local city and county programs, loans, and free advising.

What happened to Florida’s certification program in 2026?

Lawmakers filed bills that would have renamed the Office of Supplier Diversity as the Office of Supplier Development and removed the state’s certification of minority business enterprises. In Florida law, women count as a “minority person,” so women-owned firms are certified under that same program. That is why a bill about minority businesses mattered to women-owned firms too. The table shows what the Florida Senate’s own bill pages record.

The practical result is that the state certification still exists, but its future is uncertain, because similar bills could return in a later session. Many guides online were written before the bills died, so some of them say the program is ending. When we checked, it was not.

Who qualifies for Florida’s state certification?

According to a DMS documentation checklist from 2024, a business must be legally registered with the Florida Department of State as a for-profit organization, be based in Florida, and be at least 51% owned and controlled by a woman, a veteran or a minority. Certification is renewed every two years, and the same checklist says recertification is done online and is free. Rules in Florida’s administrative code (Rule 60A-9) set the full criteria, so read them or ask DMS before you apply.

We could not find a fee for the initial application on the pages we read. Some third-party guides say it is free, but ask DMS to confirm.

What does certification do for you?

State certification lets a woman-owned firm be listed in the state’s directory of certified businesses, which agencies and prime contractors use when they look for diverse suppliers. It does not guarantee a contract. Some cities, counties, school districts and universities in Florida also accept state certification, so one set of paperwork can help with more than one buyer, although each has its own rules.

How do you apply?

1. Register as a vendor in MyFloridaMarketPlace, the state’s purchasing system. Registration is the first step to sell to the state.
2. Check that you meet the basic requirements: for-profit, registered in Florida, based in Florida and at least 51% women-owned and controlled.
3. Collect your documents from DMS’s documentation checklist. Typical items include proof of ownership, business and tax records, and any professional license your industry requires in the owner’s name.
4. Submit your application and documents to the Office of Supplier Development (the office that was called the Office of Supplier Diversity) using the method DMS currently lists, which has included email and mail.
5. Answer follow-up questions quickly, because an incomplete file slows the review.
6. Put your renewal date in your calendar. You will need to recertify every two years.

Which other certifications do Florida buyers accept?

• WBENC certification. This is a private certification used by corporate buyers. Several Florida universities and local governments list it as an accepted certification for women-owned firms. See how to apply for WBE certification.
• SBA certification. This is a federal certification for federal set-aside contracts. See our guides to EDWOSB certification and to SBA’s 2026 EDWOSB review.
• The state’s transportation program (DBE). Since October 3, 2025 the U.S. Department of Transportation no longer assumes that women-owned businesses are disadvantaged. You now have to show disadvantage individually. Our Texas HUB explainer describes the federal change.

What does the January 2027 local-government ban mean?

SB 1134 bans cities and counties from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Some local small-business programs that gave women-owned or minority-owned firms special help may change or end when it takes effect. We cannot predict which ones. If you rely on a city or county program, ask that office what it plans to do after January 2027, and consider getting a WBENC or SBA certification as a backup, because those are not run by local governments.

What grants and funding exist for women-owned businesses in Florida?

• The Amber Grant. This national grant, run by WomensNet, is open to women-owned businesses in the U.S. and Canada, including Florida. According to its home page, it awards three $15,000 grants every month (the Amber Grant, a Startup Grant and a Business Category Grant) and three $75,000 year-end grants for monthly winners. Many older Florida guides still list $10,000 and $50,000, which is outdated. Check the program’s own page for fees and rules before you apply.
• Local grants. Florida grant guides list city and county programs such as the Miami-Dade Mom and Pop Small Business Grant, a City of Tampa microgrant and an Orlando business assistance program. Most of these are for small businesses in general, not only women-owned ones, and their open dates change, so confirm each on its own website.
• Loans and community lenders. The Black Business Investment Fund and other community lenders offer loans to Florida businesses. Read each lender’s current terms.
• Federal and national options. See our guides to grants for women entrepreneurs and SBA loans for female-owned businesses.

Where can you get free help?

• The Florida Small Business Development Center Network. Free advising on business plans, financing and certification paperwork.
• The Florida Procurement Technical Assistance Center (APEX Accelerator). Help for businesses that want to sell to government.
• SBA Women’s Business Centers. Use the SBA’s locator to find the center nearest you.

What could still change?

Three things are worth watching. First, lawmakers could bring the repeal back in the 2027 session. Second, the name Office of Supplier Development is being used while the law still says Office of Supplier Diversity, so documents and websites will keep mixing the names. Third, local programs may change after January 2027. We update this page when any of these changes.

Frequently asked questions

Is Florida ending its women-owned business certification?

Not yet. Bills to end it passed one chamber or reached a late stage but died, and the certification remains in state law.

Does Florida have grants only for women-owned businesses?

We found no state grant program reserved for women-owned businesses. National grants such as the Amber Grant and some local programs are the main sources.

How long does Florida certification last?

Two years, and recertification is online and free, according to a DMS checklist.

What is the Office of Supplier Development?

It is the name DMS now uses for the Office of Supplier Diversity, the office that certifies woman-, veteran- and minority-owned businesses. Older documents use the old name.

Do I need Florida certification to sell to the state?

No. Any registered vendor can bid, but certified firms can be counted toward diverse-spending goals, which can help with some buyers.

Sources and how we checked

• Florida Senate, HB 5207-E (2026 special session): bill history, died in conference committee May 29, 2026.
• Florida Senate, HB 5207 (2026 regular session): passed the House Feb. 19, died in the Senate Mar. 13, 2026.
• WUSF, February 2026: reporting on the proposal to rename the office.
• DMS documentation checklist (2024), hosted by FGCU SBDC: eligibility and recertification.
• WomensNet Amber Grant home page: current grant amounts.

We read the Florida Senate’s bill pages and DMS materials and compared them with published guides. Where they differed we used the official source. Rules change, so confirm details with DMS before you apply. See a mistake? Email contact@businessher.com and we will correct it.

Related Reading

• Texas HUB Certification for Women-Owned Businesses in 2026
• EDWOSB Certification in 2026: Requirements and How to Apply
• How to Get Certified as a Woman-Owned Business
• Women-Owned Business Guide