There is nothing more sought after than finding a roadmap to riches...Or a Playbook that guarantees you success if you just follow the checklist.  
And that is how franchisors prey on aspiring entrepreneurs!  The old saying that if it's too good to be true, then well...it usually is.  Franchise Disclosure Documents provide real up-front costs.  And these costs are usually BRUTAL.  However, people are will to pay them for the "secret roadmap to riches" because Franchise Disclosure Documents will frequently list estimated potential annual income like this 
Estimated Income: "3,000 to $300,000."
Here's the FACTS:
The AVERAGE income of all franchises is $66,000.
The crown jewels of the franchising industry are restaurants...OVER HALF of all food service franchises make LESS THAN $50,000.  I'm not going to disparage $50K, but restaurant franchises frequently require up to $1 MILLION just to have less than a 50% chance of making $50K.  
If franchises were SOOOOO profitable, why don't the franchisors keep them to themselves?  Why do many franchisors only own a few of their own companies?
  

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To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:
https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/
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Would you do what 88% of the MOST SUCCESSFUL GovCon small businesses are doing?  

99% of small business owners don't...

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To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:
https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/
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Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:
GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/
Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/
The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/
Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45
Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy

This is a recording of the Government Contracting Academy's Webinar, How to Win Government Set Aside Contracts. 

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To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:
https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/
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Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:
GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/
Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/
The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/
Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45
Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy

It all begins at the top with great leaders. However, leadership doesn’t always look like people think it does.  Being a great CEO does NOT mean that you must be able to come through with heroics, time and again, to be successful.  In fact, the opposite is true.
 
The driving forces behind business success are documented processes, well-defined roles & responsibilities, management oversight, and data-driven decision-making. Good leadership is documented. Bad leaders heroically respond to non-existent policies, undocumented processes, and ill-defined corporate roles.   

As a first-time CEO, I learned this the hard way when I discovered that my company could not grow beyond our first large contract award. I relied upon the structured construct of becoming ISO 9001 Quality Management certified to achieve my business goals.   

It worked...we won hundreds of millions of dollars in set aside contracts, leading to a successful acquisition.   

_________________
To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:
https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/
_________________
Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:
GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/
Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/
The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/
Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45
Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy

The transition management plan section, whether explicitly or implicitly required in the RFP, can be a major discriminator...if you write a great one!  In fact, small businesses usually win their first prime contract by demonstrating their ability to transition the contract AND successfully rebadge the incumbent employees...while pricing the proposal significantly less that the incumbent.  The Source Selection Board will accept the risk of going with a "new company's" if they feel confident of getting the same incumbent people at a worthwhile discount!   

_________________
To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:
https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/
_________________
Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:
GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/
Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/
The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/
Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45
Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy

The only thing more terrifying than the first day of a large prime contract transition period is the first day after a poorly managed transition period...

Transition management is vitally important to the success of any contract award.  In fact, the 30-day transition period is the time with the highest probability of being terminated by the customer, especially if the losing incumbent contractor isn't playing nicely...which is most of the time.  Listen in to learn the risks and critical components of a successful transition management plan.  This podcast discusses the importance of an infrastructure plan, a knowledge transfer plan, a continuity of service plan, and a rapid staffing plan.  

_________________
To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:
https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/
_________________
Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:
GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/
Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/
The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/
Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45
Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy

The New Year is an ideal time to rejuvenate your entrepreneurial efforts, pursue ambitious small business goals and affect positive changes in your company!  However, you must have "better" resolutions to produce "better" results!  Here are three tips that will significantly improve entrepreneurial goals:
1.  Create "resolutions with bite!"  Or, as I call it, "Dream with Consequences."  You should fully document the NEGATIVE repercussions of NOT attaining your resolution/dream/goal.  If you consider your resolutions as simply "icing on the cake" then they have very little probability of accomplishing them.   Either you're woefully wrong or your resolutions are relatively meaningly otherwise. 
2.  Don't make the desired outcome your resolution.  Instead make the ROUTINE self-assessment of your progress your resolution.  For example, to lose weight, don't make your resolution to "lose weight." Instead, make your resolution to weigh yourself every week. 
3.  Create enablers for success.  Include a partner or family as part of your resolution.  Join a class.  Earmark designated time in your schedule to accomplish your goal.  Join a cohort.  Etc., etc.

_________________
To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:
https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/
_________________
Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:
GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/
Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/
The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/
Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45
Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy

FIVE FACTS that every veteran should know about Government Contracting:
FACT 1.  A MASSIVE amount of spending occurs each year in areas that are  most relevant to Veterans’ experiences (DoD, Intel Community, DHS, VA, DoE and DoS)
FACT 2.The Small Business Set Aside Program of 23% of all GovCon dollars being awarded to small businesses is being EXCEEDED! The FY2020 SBA Scorecard reports small businesses were awarded:
a.$145B in PRIME contracts
b.$83B in SUB contracts
FACT 3.However, over HALF of the 24 Government organizations that fall under the purview of Small Business Set Aside Program FAILED to meet their SDVOSB Earmarks in 2020!  That means that earmarks were LEFT ON THE TABLE because easily identifiable QUALIFED SDVOSBs could not be found! 
a.14 failed to meet their SDVOSB Subcontracting Goal because Prime contractors could not find appropriately qualified SDVOSBs
b.5 failed to meet their SDVOSB Prime Goal
FACT 4.Only 5% of US Companies are pursuing FedGov Contracts…Why?  The FedGov contracting industry is “different” than most markets…HOWEVER VETERANS ARE NATURALLY AHEAD OF NON-Veterans in understanding this industry!  Here’s why…
FACT 5. As a Veteran,  you possess the following to position yourself to win a piece of the GovCon pie:
a.The MOST RELEVANT education and training in the world
b.5-25 years of the MOST RELEVANT industry experience in the world
c.5-25 years of the MOST RELEVANT leadership experience in the world
d.And, the people that you’re speaking with now…The MOST RELEVANT network in the world

_________________
To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:
https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/
_________________
Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:
GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/
Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/
The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/
Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45
Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy

Supporting a Federal Government customer can be one of the most rewarding professional experiences that you may have has a billable contractor.  However, it can also be challenging.  Like any industry, you can always have "difficult" customers.  Knowing and following these three "Contractor Commandments" will provide you the mindset to excel, regardless of your alignment with your customer.   However, the mindset they they engender is the most important thing.  This mindset will have you cheerfully supporting even the most challenging customers on your way to achieving your real goals and objectives! 

_________________
To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:
https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/
_________________
Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:
GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/
Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/
The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/
Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45
Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy

Engendering trust is one of the most important, unstated aspects of any proposal effort.  If the Source Selection Board does not trust your company or your bid, then they will find away to lower your score.  Low trust usually results in a lower confidence assessment, enabling the Source Selection Board to award the contract to a trusted bidder!  Trust and confidence are very closely related. 
The five Cs of trust include:   

1. Care
2. Communication
3. Character
4. Consistency
5. Competence

These components of trust are not always easy to convey...however, one easy way to engender trust is through the attainment of ISO 9001 Quality Management System Certification.  ISO 9001 Certification includes Program Management Reviews and a Customer Satisfaction Program that shows your customers that you're committed to meeting their performance needs.  

With an ISO 9001 Program, Communication of key performance indicators and customer satisfaction is both routine and DATA DRIVEN, providing 100% actionable insights! 

Character is best defined by how you operate when nobody is watching.  In an ISO 9001 Certified company, you are focused on the quality of internal performance and deliverables, making your claims that you will be committed to ensuring the highest possible performance for your customers more believable.   

At the core of any ISO 9001 Program are repeatable, documented and version-controlled processes that ensure Consistency providing high-quality deliverables.

Finally, Competence is PROVEN with the prestigious ISO Certification through verified adherence to globally-accepted industry best practices!  In fact, less than 1% of US companies possess ISO Certification.   

_________________
To get on the fast track to government contracting success, visit our website at:
https://governmentcontractingacademy.com/
_________________
Follow us on other platforms to stay up to date on the latest GovCon tips and tricks:
GCA’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/company/governmentcontractingacademy/
Randy’s Linkedin ▶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-wimmer/
The Entrepreneurial Times ▶ https://theentrepreneurialtimes.com/
Our Podcast ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4T2hq4ymWn4v9hI2hmdxuk?si=0e2aa77541b34b45
Our YouTube▶ https://youtube.com/@GovConAcademy