But Is There Real Opportunity for You?

Although you may be starting to get an idea of the magnitude of government contracting opportunities for small businesses, you may be wondering, and possibly even doubting, whether the government has any need for your particular product or service. Of course, we can't tell you with certainty that it does, but what we can tell you is that the government needs, and stands ready to buy, more types of products and services than you can imagine.

If you think this is too difficult for you, maybe this data will encourage you. In fiscal year 2007, out of 6,675,895 actions or contracts, small business received 3,964,375, not bad for a bunch of small businesses that don't do much. So, what's the difference between someone that just complains about not getting anywhere or not getting contracts? Basically, they didn't quit when they didn't win the first one. They kept going until they learned why they lost and what they needed to do to win. It's a learning process and the only way to learn is to bid and lose.

By learning process, we mean that they not only don't give up, they go to all the workshops, conferences, matchmaker events that are in their local area, but they also meet with the Small Business Advocate's at local arsenals, go the extra mile, giving information and helping the contracting office or buyer get what they need. They learn about the "old boys" and how they do it. And they never, ever, give up.

So, just what is this "government" we're talking about? Here are some interesting figures:

• 3,034 counties
• 19,429 municipalities
• 16,504 townships
• 13,506 school districts
• 50 states
• 6 U.S. territories, and
• 1, yes, only 1, federal government

There are over 300,000,000 people in this United States and, according to the US Census Bureau, one in eight people work for some level of the "government." When most people talk about the government they don't realize that there are many levels of it and each of them are buying agencies, so if you're in the right market, you can sell to many or all of them. The myth of the "government not paying" is usually reserved for any level other then the Federal government. The Feds usually pay electronically in less then 30 days.

• What the Government Needs
• What Contracting Can Do For You
• What Contracting Can't Do For You