What if I told you that getting started in government contracting can be much easier than you think? Now, I know what you might be thinking. Derek, nothing in government contracting is easy. And I hear you. The Federal Acquisition Regulation, or FAR, is over 2,000 pages long, SAM.gov looks like a government website from the ‘90s, and everywhere you turn, people are talking about compliance, certifications, and experience requirements. It’s overwhelming, and that’s why most small businesses never even try to break into the federal market.

But here’s the truth. Winning your first government contract doesn’t have to be complicated. There’s a way to cut through the noise, avoid the red tape, and start bidding on contracts quickly—without spending thousands of dollars on business setup, without hiring employees, and without spending months buried in government regulations.

LOW BARRIERS TO ENTRY

Let’s start with the first major benefit—low barriers to entry.

A lot of people believe that starting in government contracting is expensive. They think they need a massive budget, a full office setup, or employees before they can even begin. But that’s just not the case.

One of the biggest advantages small businesses have in government contracting is low overhead costs. You don’t need to lease office space, hire a huge team, or invest in expensive equipment just to submit a bid. Many of the most successful small businesses in GovCon start lean, working with just a few key partnerships and outsourcing specific tasks as needed.

For example, I worked with a small business that wanted to get into government contracting but didn’t have a lot of capital upfront. Instead of spending money on unnecessary overhead, they focused on finding the right contract first. They targeted a low-barrier opportunity, built a small team through partnerships, and submitted a simple bid. Within a few months, they had secured their first contract—without needing to invest heavily upfront.

Another misconception is that you need special certifications before you can win government contracts. Certifications can help in certain situations, but they are not required to start winning contracts. Many businesses jump straight into bidding without any certifications—simply by knowing how to find and submit the right types of proposals.

And finally, the biggest misconception—you have to subcontract for years before winning a prime contract. That is simply not true. While subcontracting can be a great learning experience, it is not a requirement. I’ve worked with companies that skipped subcontracting altogether and landed prime contracts within their first few months simply by targeting the right contract opportunities.

LOW EFFORT

Now, let’s talk about the second major benefit—low effort.

One of the biggest concerns new government contractors have is the proposal process. People assume every proposal is a 200-page technical document filled with complex pricing models and regulatory requirements. And yes, some government contracts are like that.

But not all of them.

The contracts I’m talking about today are much simpler. Some of them literally just ask for a price quote.

For example, I helped a business bid on a contract where their entire submission was a two-page quote. No technical proposal, no complex spreadsheets—just a simple price submission.

That’s why it’s so important to start with the right types of contracts. The ones that don’t require extensive past performance, don’t involve heavy compliance requirements, and don’t take weeks or months just to prepare a bid.

Another reason these contracts require low effort is that they don’t have the same compliance burdens that larger contracts have. Some federal contracts require businesses to follow very comprehensive cybersecurity standards, complex accounting rules, and in-depth compliance audits. The contracts I’m talking about today? Much simpler.

For example, I helped a business win a janitorial contract for a federal agency. No cybersecurity audits, no compliance headaches—just a straightforward service contract that they could manage easily.

LOW RISK

Now, let’s move on to the third major benefit—low risk.

Unlike traditional businesses, where you might have to spend money on inventory, rent, or marketing before making a sale, this type of government contract often does not require any upfront investment. You win the contract first, and only then do you need to fulfill it.

Even in cases where there are upfront costs, financing options like invoice factoring and contract financing can provide the working capital you need without using your own money.

Another way these contracts are low risk is less competition and fewer protests. Large contracts often attract dozens of bidders, and when companies lose, they sometimes file protests—slowing down the entire process. But smaller contracts? Less competition, fewer delays, and a higher chance of getting awarded quickly.

FAST ACTION

And finally, let’s talk about the most important benefit—fast action.

Here’s how quickly you can start making moves in government contracting.

First, you can start looking for contract opportunities today. There is nothing stopping you from creating a free SAM.gov account, searching for open contracts, and identifying opportunities that fit your business. You don’t need to pay anyone to do this—it’s all public information and it’s totally free.

Second, you can submit a bid within the next 30 days. Many of these contracts have quick turnaround times, meaning that if you find the right opportunity today, you could be submitting your first bid before the month is over.

Third, you could win your first contract within 90 days. I’ve seen businesses go from zero to their first government contract in just three months using this exact strategy. The key is targeting the right contracts, bidding consistently, and learning from each submission.

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION CONTRACTS 

Now, I’ve built it up enough. The reason why low barrier to entry, lower effort, low risk, and fast action can be possible is because of a special category of government contracts called Simplified Acquisition Contracts, or SACs.

These contracts are designed for small businesses. They have less regulation, lower competition, and faster award processes than larger contracts.

The federal government uses Simplified Acquisition Procedures to streamline purchases under $250,000. That means less paperwork, fewer regulatory burdens, and faster contract awards—which is exactly why these are the perfect entry point for new government contractors. (b-roll entitled “SAP procedures”)

To find these contracts, here’s what you need to do:

First, search SAM.gov for contracts using keywords like "SAT" or "$250,000". SAM.gov is the federal government’s main contracting portal, where agencies post solicitations. But instead of searching randomly, use strategic keywords like “SAT” (Simplified Acquisition Threshold) or specific dollar amounts like "$250,000" to try to filter out larger, more complex contracts. When you do this, you’ll be able to find smaller contracts that are specifically designed for small businesses and have fewer competition-heavy requirements. Once you start filtering results this way, you’ll begin to see opportunities that align with the low barrier, low risk, and fast action approach we’ve been talking about. (b-roll entitled sam.gov simplified search)

Second, use FPDS.gov to track existing contracts that are ending soon and might be up for recompete. FPDS, or the Federal Procurement Data System, tracks government contract history, including who was awarded a contract, how much it was worth, and when it’s set to expire. Why does this matter? Because when a contract is ending soon, that means the agency will likely need to recompete that work. If you can identify contracts that align with your business and are set to expire within the next few months, you can reach out to the contracting officer, ask about the follow-on opportunity, and position yourself as a potential bidder before it even hits the market. This is one of the most underrated but effective strategies in government contracting. (b-roll entitled fpds completion date search)

Third, check agency forecasts on Acquisition.gov to see what contracts are coming up. Acquisition.gov provides procurement forecasts from various government agencies, showing you what contracts they plan to release in the near future. This is a powerful strategy because it allows you to position yourself ahead of the competition. Instead of scrambling to submit bids at the last minute, you can proactively research the agency’s needs, find potential teaming partners if necessary, and prepare a strong bid before the solicitation even drops. Knowing what’s coming gives you an edge—because you’re not reacting to opportunities, you’re planning for them. (b-roll entitled acquisition.gov forecast)

Disclaimer

I’m compelled to add- the word easy is subjective. So, I insist that you not listen to me or anyone else without taking it into context to your life and your business situation. I’m here to help educate and share my truths, but it’s up to you to decide how you want to apply this information to your business.

Also, use your brain. I call it the common-sense test. If it doesn’t make common sense, then I’m probably not doing it. For example, it should be common sense that what’s “easier for you” could be easier for someone else, too, like your competitors. So, this video is focused on an easy way to get started in government contracting. That also goes to say if you want to choose harder work, you may have less competition and better margins for example. But now that’s a different topic for an entirely different video. Use your brain and understand what easy really can mean, and decide if it is or isn’t the right place for you to start.

So, now…let’s recap. The easiest way to start in GovCon is by targeting Simplified Acquisition Contracts…in my opinion. These contracts offer low barriers to entry, lower effort, minimal risk, and allow you to take action quickly—making them the perfect starting point for small businesses looking to break into federal contracting.

If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines, waiting for the right time to start, this is it. The opportunities are out there, and the government is actively looking for small businesses to work with. But the only way to win is to get in the game.

Take the first step today. Go to SAM.gov, run a search for opportunities using the strategies we covered, and start getting familiar with the types of contracts that fit your business. The sooner you start looking, the sooner you can start bidding, and the sooner you could be managing your first government contract.

-Derek James 

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