certification

Small and Medium Business Certificate

1. What is a small business verification certificate?

The Small and Medium Business Certificate is a certificate issued by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
This is a document that officially certifies that the company meets the criteria such as sales by industry, total assets, and number of regular employees.
This certificate is required for participation in various government support projects, public institution bidding, tax benefits, etc.
It is used as the most basic qualification document.

2. Practical overview and requirements

1. Requirements

The Small and Medium Business Certificate is issued only when the company meets both the size and independence criteria.

Legal basis: Article 2 of the Framework Act on Small and Medium Enterprises and Articles 3, 4, and 7-2 of the Enforcement Decree of the same Act.
Sales criteria: Average sales by main industry range from KRW 40 billion to KRW 150 billion (differentiated by industry)
Based on total assets: Total assets must be less than 500 billion won
Independence Criteria: Must meet the requirements for substantial independence in ownership and management (e.g., not belonging to a corporate group subject to cross-shareholding restrictions)
Validity Period: Usually issued after the end of the previous fiscal year's financial statements, and must be renewed annually.

2. Issuance period and documents required

Time Required: If online submission is smooth, your certificate will be issued on the same day or within 1-2 days. However, if review of related company data or supplementary documentation is required, it may take more than a week.
Key Required Documents (For Corporations):
- Corporate tax electronic filing files for the past three years
- Electronic withholding tax return file for the past year
- Shareholder register and financial statements
Key Required Documents (Individual):
- Electronic income tax return files for the past three years
- Withholding tax and value-added tax report data for the past year

2. Type

Depending on the size of the company, it is indicated as follows on the certificate.

division	Key criteria
small business	Companies with average sales by industry of 1 billion to 12 billion won
medium-sized enterprises	A company that meets the small business standard while exceeding the small business standard
small business owners	Small businesses with fewer than 5 regular employees (less than 10 in the manufacturing, mining, transportation, and construction industries)

3. Issuance Procedure

1

Online Material Submission
Upload corporate tax/income tax return files and withholding tax return data for the past three years.
2

Data search and matching
Check whether the National Tax Service report data is properly reflected in the system.
3

Fill out the application form
Enter details such as basic company information, shareholder status, number of regular employees, and whether there are any affiliated companies.
4

Review and check results
Issuance and printing of a certificate after automatic review by the system or confirmation by the person in charge

Why Administrative Scriveners Are Needed in Procedures

Although applying for the system may seem simple,
Expert assistance is essential when the following variables occur:.

1. Analysis of complex governance structures

If there is an affiliated company that holds shares
Because the calculation must be done by adding up the sales, it is difficult to determine an accurate standard.
2. Resolving errors in data submission

If there are reasons such as revised report, late report, change in settlement month, etc.
Online automatic submission is not possible, and you must submit your application by mail with supporting documents.
3. Calculating the number of regular workers

Representatives, part-time workers, dispatched workers, etc.
It is important to clearly distinguish between exclusions and inclusions to avoid application errors.
4. Rapid supplementary response

When the deadline for a government-supported project is approaching,
We respond promptly to supplementary requests to prevent disadvantages caused by delays in issuance.

Seum thoroughly reviews the consistency of complex tax and financial data,
We specialize in handling difficult procedures such as analysis of related companies.
We save your valuable time.
As a strong supporter of small and medium-sized enterprises,
Seum will help you strengthen your business.

January 2, 2026
Seum Administrative Attorney Firm
Written by: Sangyoon Kim, Administrative Scrivener

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Which certificate should I obtain, a small business owner certificate or an SME certificate?

A: When you apply for a small business verification certificate, it will be issued automatically based on the size of your business and whether you are a small business owner or not.
Depending on the purpose, there are cases where a separate small business owner verification certificate is required, so you must check the notice.