Free Birds United

I received official notice from NATIONAL WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS CORPORATION that my application for certification of a WOMAN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE has been received and forwarded to the “appropriate certification committee.”

To follow is a list of documents required for the application.  As an LLC, my list of  documents differed from that required for a sole proprietor or for an S-corp.  There is also a seven-page form to complete for general info, history, external relationships, legal structure, etc.

1.  Credit authorization and signature authority (had to ask my bank for this)

2.  Current financial institution statements for all deposit accounts and loans (2009 files)

3.  Signature cards authenticated by financial institutions (back to the bank)

4.  Birth certificate (couldn’t find = $12 to city of Baltimore via mail)

5. Driver’s licenses or other legal photo identification of all women owners (scanned)

6.  Financial statement, including balance sheet and profit and loss statement, for current period … and for three immediately preceding fiscal years.  (thanks to QuickBooks and my Federal tax returns 2008, 2007, 2006)

7.  Statement of Information (showing officers and directors of corporation, managers or members of LLC, or general partners) filed with the Secretary of State (included a note)

8.  Tax returns for the three previous fiscal years (Federal tax forms including schedules)

9.  LLC Operating Agreement/Management Agreement (included a note since it’s just me)

10. LLC Articles of Organization (back to my files from 2001)

11.  Authority to conduct business in state of operation and certificate of good standing (I incorrectly thought a tax return would suffice)

12.  Documentation (e.g., canceled checks, bank deposit slips, promissory notes, purchase agreements, wills, gift notes, judgments, settlement agreements) of how Applicant is capitalized (this was tough….but I dug up my very first checking account statement)

13.  Resumes of all owners, directors, partners, officers and other key personnel

14.  IRS Form SS-4 application and IRS letter providing Employer’s taxpayer identification number (back to my files from 2001)

15.  Lease/rental agreement for business site(s)/office(s) (I pulled my 2008 Tax form 8829 – use of residence for business)

Since I am the only member of WalkeWorks LLC, I did not have to supply records regarding management services, sharing agreements, proxies, voting trust agreements, etc.

In spite of my most diligent efforts to follow directions, I was contacted via email to provide some additional items including an official Status of Good Standing from the State of Maryland and proof of a business license.

Fortunately, I am up-to-date on my Maryland taxes (including sales, personal property and income tax) and my status was “Active” on the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation website/Taxpayer Services Division.  I had wrongly assumed that proof of WalkeWorks LLC’s “good standing” would be demonstrated in my assorted tax returns.

I was nervous about the “license” request and went to the Comptroller of Maryland site and researched State Business Licenses.

Had I been operating illegally for the past 8 years? Luckily for me, graphic designers, advertisers, creative directors or whatever else I can call myself do not require a license.  However, if I was a HAWKER or PEDDLER or owned a JUKEBOX, I would have had to fork over between $15 and $800 for a license.

So I forwarded screen shots of both the WalkeWorks LLC Active Good Standing Status and the FAQ page of the Maryland State Business Licenses.  Within 3 days I received my letter of application receipt.

Now I wait for 90 days for review/approval.

Did I mention that there a sight visit might be part of the certification process?

Good opportunity to clean up the office.