Potential customers that have a social conscience have a distinct advantage to using a minority-owned business. Getting VA-certified serves to illustrate that the company has taken the time and effort to achieve certification. There are over 6 million minority-owned businesses in the United States, and yet, less than 20,000 have been certified as a Minority Business Enterprises. Many companies require certification as a minority-owned business before using a company in a corporate supplier diversity program. This allows the various benefits and advantages set aside for minority businesses to be utilized only by companies that are properly verified.