Planning for Government Contracting: Your Business First

1. Planning for Government Contracting: Your Business First

2. Who we are • Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center • We provide free consulting services to individual business owners or entrepreneurs looking to start a business • We offer a specialized program for the Tribes in the State of Michigan

3. Gov. Contracting Myths & Facts • Get a Gov. contract and then start a business • Government contracting requires solid and documented business experience • Get 8-A certified and get unlimited government contracts • 8-A requires competitive bids and experience in government contracting to be successful • Minorities get all government contracts • While there are set-aside programs, bids must be competitive and provide experienced service or exceptional products Remember: Business first, then Contracting!

4. Government contractingwhere does it start? • Similar to a chess match, where to put the pieces is where you start • The Business Idea • Talent bank • Resources • Short term game plan • Government contracting?

5. The Business idea • Ask yourself these questions: • Is this something your passionate about? • Is this an area you have demonstrated expertise? • What is the true commitment level to your idea? • What is the financial commitment you can make? • Is there a local market for the idea, outside of government contracting? • Is this an area that holds government contracting potential? • Check out www.fbo.gov

6. Talent Bank • Who has the KSA’s (knowledge, skills and abilities) • Can the Tribe’s education department assist? • Do you have to hire outside talent? • Who can you groom?

7. Resources • What are the resources you currently own for this idea? • What are the resources or assets you will have to obtain? • How much do these cost? • Do you have the financial ability do this project? • If “no” then when and what do you need to do in order to make this happen in the near future?

8. Resources continued • Who are your partners in this venture? • MEDC • MISBTDC • PTAC • MDOT • Local & Regional EDC’s • Discuss potential business ideas specifically • Geographical resources • Waterways • Railways • Interstate access

9. Short Term Game plan • How long to launch your business? • What are your milestones? • Set timelines • Are these needed before government contracting? • Start by getting local and state bids

10. Government Contracting? • Reassess the business • Are things going as planned? • Are you profitable? • Is there room for growth? • Are you ready for the government oversight and regulations? • This might require additional staff • Additional capital injections?

11. Summary • Government contracting can be very profitable • It can also be very challenging • Establishing a strong business independent of government contracting is the first and most important step in government contracting

12. www.misbtdc.org/region7 Michigan SBTDC Services • Counseling - One-on-one meetings with experienced business consultants to assist starting or growing small businesses • Training - Available through the Entrepreneurial Series: • ▪ Starting a Business ▪ Writing a Business Plan • ▪ Marketing Your Business ▪ Finance • ▪ Business Legal Issues • Research - Provide a full range of information services through the State Headquarters

13. The MI-SBTDC™ is funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Michigan Economic Development CorporationSM (MEDC) and matching funds from Local Network partners in each region. Ross Miller MISBTDC Growth Consultant Phone: 989-330-0395 millerro@gvsu.edu www.misbtdc.org The Michigan SBTDCTM