Majority owner(s) must be socially disadvantaged based on ethnicity (minorities), gender (female), etc. Majority owner(s) must be economically disadvantaged, meaning they possess a net-worth that does not exceed $250,000 (or $500k if married) excluding equity in the primary residence, equity in retirement accounts, and equity in the business. Must be in business for a minimum of two years and can show two tax returns (requirement is waiver able). Majority owner(s) must be able to show experience/education in the company's industry in order to manage and control the firm. Majority owner(s) must possess the license/certification required to operate the business if required (i.e. electrical license, etc.). It is recommend that the majority owner(s) devote full time to the business and not have outside employment (should not be employed by another company in the same industry). It is recommended that no more than 50% of the company's income be derived from one non-governmental customer in order to show economic independence. Majority owner(s) and the company must not have delinquent federal taxes, or at least be able to show that a payment plan with the IRS has been established. It is recommended that the majority owner(s) not have filed bankruptcy in the past 7 years. It is recommended that the majority owner(s) not have been recently arrested and convicted of a felony. If the majority owner(s) own other businesses, those businesses will be deemed as "affiliated companies." When the revenue amounts and number of employees of these other businesses are added to the amount of revenue and number of employees of the firm applying for the 8(a) program, the revenue amounts and the number of employees must not exceed the size standard of the applicant firm's primary NAICS code.