Chapter Adm 83

Adm 83.20 Adm 83.20 Certification criteria. In order to become certified as a woman-owned business enterprise, a business shall meet all of the following eligibility standards:

Adm 83.20(1) (1) The business satisfies all of the criteria in the WBE definition in s. Adm 83.12 (53).

Adm 83.20(2) (2) If the business is a sole proprietorship, a woman owns 100% of the company assets.

Adm 83.20(3) (3) 

Adm 83.20(3)(a) (a) If the business is a partnership, 2 or more persons agree to carry on a business or venture together, upon the terms of mutual participation in the profits and losses of the business. The partnership is a contract of mutual agency, each partner acting as a principal in her or his own behalf and as agent of his or her co-partners, and general rules of law applicable to agents shall apply with equal force in determining rights and liabilities of partners.

Adm 83.20(3)(b) (b) If the business is a general partnership, one or more women own at least 51% of the partnership interests.

Adm 83.20(3)(c) (c) If the business is a limited partnership, one or more women general partners own at least 51% of the general partnership interest and exert at least 51% of the control among general partners. The women general partners receive at least 51% of the profits and benefits, including tax credits, deductions and postponements. In addition, the women limited partners shall own at least 51% of the limited partnership interests and receive at least 51% of the profits and benefits, including tax credits, deductions and postponements.

Adm 83.20(4) (4) If the business is a limited liability company, one or more women own at least 51% of membership interests in the LLC organization, and exert at least 51% of the management and control among the members. The women owners also participate in all risks and profits of the organization at a rate commensurate with their membership interests.

Adm 83.20(5) (5) If the business has a corporate form of organization, one or more women own at least 51% of all voting stock of the corporation. Any voting agreements among the shareholders do not dilute the beneficial ownership, the rights, or the influence of the women owners of the stock or classes of stock of the corporation. The women owners possess the right to all customary incidents of ownership, such as the ability to transfer stock, title possession, and enter binding agreements.

Adm 83.20 Note Note: Nonprofit corporations do not meet the requirements in sub. (5) and are therefore not eligible for certification.

Adm 83.20(6) (6) If the business is a joint venture, one or more woman-owned businesses hold at least 51% of the beneficial ownership interest in the joint venture, and exert at least 51% of the control and management of the joint venture. The woman-owned business partners of the joint venture are certified or are eligible for certification as woman-owned business enterprises.

Adm 83.20(7) (7) If the business is a subsidiary or affiliate, one or more women own at least 51% of the parent company.

Adm 83.20 History History: CR 06-113: cr. Register May 2007 No. 617, eff. 6-1-07; correction in (1) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672.

Adm 83.22 Adm 83.22 Documentation of gender. An applicant shall provide one of the following to verify the gender of each of the woman owners of a business:

Adm 83.22(1) (1) A birth certificate.

Adm 83.22(2) (2) A passport.

Adm 83.22(3) (3) A state-issued, motor vehicle operator’s license or identification card.

Adm 83.22 History History: CR 06-113: cr. Register May 2007 No. 617, eff. 6-1-07.

Adm 83.24 Adm 83.24 Determination of ownership.

Adm 83.24(1) (1) An applicant shall meet all of the following eligibility standards:

Adm 83.24(1)(a) (a)

Adm 83.24(1)(a)1. 1. The ownership by one or more women is real, substantial and continuing, going beyond the pro-forma ownership of the business as reflected in its ownership documents.

Adm 83.24(1)(a)2. 2. Each woman owner shares in all risk and profits commensurate with her ownership interest as demonstrated by a detailed examination of the substance of her business arrangements with others.

Adm 83.24(1)(a)3. 3. Each woman owner receives the customary incidents of ownership, such as salary, rights to dividends, ownership of assets and ownership of intangible assets such as copyrights and patents.

Adm 83.24(1)(b) (b) The contributions of capital and expertise by the woman owner or owners to acquire their interest in the business is real and substantial, and in proportion to the interest acquired.

Adm 83.24(2) (2) Contributions of personal or professional services alone are not real and substantial for the purposes of this section, except these contributions shall receive consideration when given in conjunction with other tangible forms of investment. Other insufficient contributions include, but are not limited to, promises to contribute capital or expertise in the future, a note payable to the business or to its owners who are not women, or the mere participation as an employee.

Adm 83.24(3) (3) Women shall hold at least 51% of the securities that constitute ownership of a business.

Adm 83.24(4) (4) Securities or assets of a business that are held in trust are not considered as held by a woman in determining the ownership of a business, except under the following circumstances:

Adm 83.24(4)(a) (a) The beneficial owner of the securities or assets held in trust is a woman, and the trustee is a woman.

Adm 83.24(4)(b) (b) A woman is the sole grantor of assets held in a revocable living trust, and a woman is the beneficiary and trustee.

Adm 83.24(5) (5) The department may not consider securities that are held by any guardian for a minor, in determining ownership and control.

Adm 83.24(6) (6) An ownership interest arising in a male spouse solely because of the operation of marital property laws may not disqualify an applicant from certification if both spouses certify that the female performs the majority of the control and management of the business.

Adm 83.24 History History: CR 06-113: cr. Register May 2007 No. 617, eff. 6-1-07.

Adm 83.25 Adm 83.25 Documentation of ownership.

Adm 83.25(1) (1) 

Adm 83.25(1)(a) (a) An applicant shall submit documentation showing ownership of at least 51% of the business by a woman. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, the three preceding years of business taxes, a current business financial statement, business licenses, buy-out agreements and financial agreements.

Adm 83.25(1)(b) (b) For a sole proprietorship, additional documentation may include, but is not limited to, canceled checks used to purchase ownership.

Adm 83.25(1)(c) (c) For a partnership, additional documentation may include, but is not limited to, partnership agreements, purchase agreements, and salary and profit-sharing records.

Adm 83.25(1)(d) (d) For a corporation, additional documentation may include, but is not limited to, articles of incorporation, corporate by-laws, a corporate-borrowing resolution, stock certificates, stock-affirmation forms, and salary and profit-sharing records.

Adm 83.25(1)(e) (e) For a joint venture, additional documentation may include, but is not limited to, a joint venture agreement that is written and signed by all of the joint venturers. Each joint venture agreement shall specify all of the following:

Adm 83.25(1)(e)1. 1. The capital contribution made by each joint venturer, the control each will exercise, and the distribution of profit and loss. The agreement shall allocate the control and the distribution of profit and loss in proportion to the contributions of the joint venturers.

Adm 83.25(1)(e)2. 2. The useful business function the joint venture will perform and the part of the work each joint venturer will do.

Adm 83.25(2) (2) The department may require documentation showing how and when the woman’s interest in the business was acquired.

Adm 83.25(3) (3) 

Adm 83.25(3)(a) (a) The department shall apply the following rules in situations in which marital assets form a basis for ownership of a business:

Adm 83.25(3)(a)1. 1. When marital assets other than the assets of the business in question are held jointly or as marital property by both spouses, and are used to acquire the ownership interest asserted by the woman, the department shall conclude that the woman acquired her ownership interest in the enterprise with her own individual resources, provided that the other spouse irrevocably renounces and transfers all rights in the ownership interest in the manner sanctioned by the laws of the state in which either spouse or the enterprise is domiciled. The department may not count a greater portion of joint or marital property assets toward ownership than state law would recognize as belonging to the qualifying member of the business.

Adm 83.25(3)(a)2. 2. The application for WBE certification shall include a copy of the document that is used for legally transferring and renouncing the rights as required in subd. 1.

Adm 83.25(3)(b) (b) In instances where marital ownership is not clearly established, the department may request a marital-property waiver form in which both spouses certify that only the female spouse controls and manages the business, or an affidavit stating that the spouses have signed a marital-property agreement in which the male spouse relinquishes control and management of the business.

Adm 83.25 History History: CR 06-113: cr. Register May 2007 No. 617, eff. 6-1-07.

Adm 83.28 Adm 83.28 Determination of control.

Adm 83.28(1) (1) Factors that the department shall consider in determining whether one or more women owners control a business include, but are not limited to, the following:

Adm 83.28(1)(a) (a) Authority and restrictions as indicated in the articles of incorporation, by-laws, minutes of corporate meetings, bank signature cards, partnership and joint venture agreements and other business agreements and documents.

Adm 83.28(1)(b) (b) Membership of one or more women owners on the board of directors.

Adm 83.28(1)(c) (c) Holdings by women owners of the voting interests in the business.

Adm 83.28(1)(d) (d) The managerial experience, knowledge and expertise of the women owners in such areas as finance, budgeting, personnel, production, marketing and research.

Adm 83.28(1)(e) (e) Whether the women owners have the authority to make policy decisions in such areas as finance, budgeting, personnel, production, marketing and research.

Adm 83.28(2) (2) An applicant’s assertion of being independent from a male-owned business may not rest solely on recognition of the women owners by governmental taxing authorities. Other test criteria include, but are not limited to, the following:

Adm 83.28(2)(a) (a) An applicant’s relationship with any male-owned business, that involves any long-term contract or lease agreements.

Adm 83.28(2)(b) (b) The existence of working agreements with any male-owned business.

Adm 83.28(2)(c) (c) An applicant’s status as a party to any contract or lease agreement on terms at variance with industry standards or prudent business practices.

Adm 83.28(2)(d) (d) The existence of restrictive financing agreements with any male-owned business or financial institution that impose undue limitations on the applicant.

Adm 83.28(2)(e) (e) Interlocking stock ownership of the applicant and any male-owned business in the same industry.

Adm 83.28(2)(f) (f) Common directors or officers between the applicant and any male-owned business.

Adm 83.28(2)(g) (g) An applicant’s use of employees, equipment, expertise, facilities, or other resources from a male-owned business.

Adm 83.28(2)(h) (h) The receipt by a male-owned business of financial benefits, such as profits and wages, that are not commensurate with the duties performed.

Adm 83.28(2)(i) (i) An applicant that cannot operate without licenses, permits or insurance held by another business.

Adm 83.28(2)(j) (j) An applicant that does not possess all legal requirements necessary to its operation.

Adm 83.28 History History: CR 06-113: cr. Register May 2007 No. 617, eff. 6-1-07.

Adm 83.29 Adm 83.29 Documentation of control.

Adm 83.29(1) (1) An applicant shall submit evidence that one or more women owners have control over the business. Such evidence shall include, but is not limited, to the following:

Adm 83.29(1)(a) (a) Signed bids and contracts.

Adm 83.29(1)(b) (b) Signed debt instruments.

Adm 83.29(1)(c) (c) Signed hiring decisions.

Adm 83.29(1)(d) (d) Bank signature cards and bank resolution authorizations, for savings, checking and other financial accounts.

Adm 83.29(1)(e) (e) Written proof that the organizational and governing documents of an applicant, such as limited liability company operating agreements, partnership agreements, or articles of incorporation and by-laws, do not contain any provision which restricts the woman owner from exercising control of the business.

Adm 83.29(1)(f) (f)

Adm 83.29(1)(f)1. 1. Documentation, such as résumés, showing that the women owners have the managerial experience, knowledge and expertise – in such areas as finance, budgeting, personnel, production, marketing and research — needed for exercising day-to-day control over the business.

Adm 83.29(1)(f)2. 2. The department may waive the managerial experience required in subd. 1., when a woman is starting a woman-owned business.

Adm 83.29(2) (2) The managerial experience, knowledge and expertise of the women owners substantially demonstrates their ability to make independent and unilateral business decisions necessary to guide the future and destiny of the business. The applicant may document this ability and control in a number of ways. For a woman owner to demonstrate the extent of this control, the department may consider the following or other aspects of a business:

Adm 83.29(2)(a) (a) Authority to sign payroll checks and letters of credit.

Adm 83.29(2)(b) (b) Signature responsibility for insurance or bonds.

Adm 83.29(2)(c) (c) Authority to negotiate and execute contracts and financial services agreements.

Adm 83.29(2)(d) (d) Ability to obtain bank authorization resolutions.

Adm 83.29(3) (3) Agreements for support services are permitted as long as the power of the woman owner to control the company is not restricted or impaired, as determined by the department.

Adm 83.29 History History: CR 06-113: cr. Register May 2007 No. 617, eff. 6-1-07.

Adm 83.32 Adm 83.32 Determination of active management. Factors that the department shall consider in determining whether one or more women owners actively manage a business include, but are not limited to, the following:

Adm 83.32(1) (1) Direct operational management.

Adm 83.32(1)(a) (a) The operational management of the woman owner is the demonstrated extent to which the woman owner actually operates the day-to-day business.

Adm 83.32(1)(b) (b) Departmental assessments of operational management shall rest upon the peculiarities of the industry of which the business is a part. In order to clarify the level of operational management of the woman owner, the department may consider each of the following: