Written by: Sarah Landrum, Founder, Punched Clocks

Making the decision to become a new entrepreneur can be challenging. Because there aren’t any guidelines to follow or clear paths to take when becoming an entrepreneur, you may not know where to start. It can feel like you’re not truly qualified to take on an entrepreneurial role.

Becoming qualified in certain areas can make you a better entrepreneur. From preparing you to deal with the many challenges you’ll face during your career, to giving you some extra skills to be a stronger professional, certifications can be a great addition to your resume.

If you’re an entrepreneur looking for a way to improve your skills and qualifications, here are a few certifications you should consider.

Green Business Bureau Certification

Going green is important for many businesses and their customers. Because more people are becoming conscious of the impact they’re having on the planet, many customers look for green businesses to purchase from or entrepreneurs to work with. Becoming certified with the Green Business Bureau is a great way to show you care about the environment.

You can become certified through the Green Business Bureau entirely online. Through completing a series of activities, you can get “points” for your company. You can select the activities that fit your company’s needs the most, making it easy for you to become certified through the Green Business Bureau on your own time — perfect for a busy entrepreneur.

ISO 9001 Certification

You’ll want to show you’re maintaining certain requirements for your quality management system. By taking the necessary steps to show your customers that maintaining certain standards are important for your business, you can gain credibility as a growing entrepreneur.

Becoming ISO 9001 certified is a great way to prove your quality control is important to your audience. Although many small business owners believe it may be difficult or complicated to become ISO certified, the process will pay off immensely in the end. By creating a strong image with your target audience, you can attract better customers and keep them coming back for more.

Woman Business Enterprise Certification

The Woman Business Enterprise Certification is provided by the National Women Business Owners Corporation. For women entrepreneurs, this certification can be a great way to promote your company and create a strong supportive community. Because many men and women want to support women taking leadership roles in business, becoming certified can help you show that off.

In order to become Woman Business Enterprise Certified, women must hold control or ownership of the company. There are a few ways you can prove this, including a woman holding the highest office in the company and a woman owning 100 percent of the company’s assets. To apply, you must be able to prove that you qualify and fill out a form, which can be printed off and mailed in.

Becoming certified can take some time to complete, but it can be well worth it in the end. Not only do certifications like these examples improve your skills and credibility as a new entrepreneur, it can also give you a unique way to market yourself. When you show clients and partners that you’re serious enough about something to become certified, you can make a strong first impression.

Consider the certifications that make the most sense for your company or your person. Look for options that are important for you, but also don’t require you to jump through dozens of hoops just to get your stamp of approval. Secure as many certifications as you think are necessary for your company.

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