Size of Business

Small businesses play a vital role in federal contracting. From set-aside contracts, to socioeconomic program eligibility, to working as key subcontractors, opportunities abound for small businesses. To be considered, business concerns must meet the size standard assigned to a NAICS code. A business concern may be organized as an individual proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, trust or cooperative.

Knowing whether your business can avail itself of these benefits depends on whether it qualifies as a small business. Unfortunately, business size isn’t always easily calculated. This is especially true if a business has an affiliate, which can turn an otherwise-small business large.

Concerns and entities are affiliated with each other when one controls or has the
power to control the other, or a third party or parties controls or has the power
to control both. It does not matter whether the control is exercised, so long as
the power to control exists

Schoonover & Moriarty counsels clients on all matter of business size issues, including: ​

  • Helping clients understand their business size, including their risk of affiliation;
  • Developing strategies to keep a business small;
  • Representing clients in size protests and appeals (either as a protester or in responding to allegations); and
  • Assisting with small business recertifications.