Thinking about getting certified as a minority-owned, woman-owned, veteran-owned, or HUBZone business? In this episode, learn the core qualifications you need to know before you apply. Whether you're eyeing federal or state-level program certifications, this episode lays out the essentials in a clear, no-nonsense way.

• What “small business” really means
• Why ownership and control matter — and what can trip you up
• The role of licenses, income, and decision-making
• Special rules for citizenship vs. green card holders
• Quick intro to HUBZone requirements

Rick also shares a quick preview of upcoming deep dives into each certification and invites your questions to help guide future episodes.

👍 Like, share, and hit Subscribe to stay ahead of the competition.

Check out our books on Amazon - click the title below.

• The Sole Source Advantage: How Small Businesses Can Bypass Competition to Win Federal Contracts
• Writing Proposals for Government Contracts: Strategies for Small and Medium Businesses

🎧 Episode Summary: 

What if you could turn a struggling business into a $1M success in just 60 days? That’s exactly what Chuck did—with no special certifications and a limited budget. In this episode, find out the step-by-step process that helped Chuck land over $1M in government contracts in just two months. From finding the right opportunities on SAM.gov to writing proposals that win, this story is packed with insights you can apply to your own business today. 

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• How Chuck went from $0 to $1M in 60 days
• How to search SAM.gov for real, winnable opportunities
• How to filter out bad bids and wired contracts
• A simple proposal formatting trick that boosts your chances
• Why taking smart action is better than waiting for the perfect moment

 🔗 Resources & Links:

➡️ Visit: www.WinningGovernmentContracts.com
 
📬 Check out our books on Amazon:

• The Sole Source Advantage
• Writing Proposals for Government Contracts

📣 Support the Show:

✅ Subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share with business owners who want to win.

🔥 Quote of the Episode:

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” — Colin Powell

🎧 Episode Summary:

Just listening won’t land you contracts—action does. In this episode, Rick challenges you to step up and stop waiting. Want to grow your business? The #1 way to do it is by making the U.S. Government your customer.

Small business certifications like 8(a), WOSB, SDVOSB, and HUBZone open doors to powerful contracting opportunities. But do you qualify?

Rick breaks down the common qualifications, including ownership, control, net worth limits, citizenship, and more. He also clears up common misconceptions and gives practical tips for checking your eligibility today.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why certified small businesses are 9x more likely to hit $1M in revenue
• What “small business” really means by SBA standards
• Ownership, control, and citizenship requirements
• Net worth limits—and what doesn’t count against them
• How to check if you're in a HUBZone
• Why action beats perfection—every time

🔗 Resources & Links:

➡️ Visit: www.WinningGovernmentContracts.com
📬 Check out our books on Amazon Click below: 

• The Sole Source Advantage
• Writing Proposals for Government Contracts

📣 Support the Show:

✅ Subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share with other business owners ready to grow.

🔥 Quote of the Episode:

This is an old episode that I am re-posting.  (An oldie but goodie you might say).  

A lot of people have questions about certifications - how they benefit you, how you qualify etc.  

One of the best ways I have seen in my 40 plus years as a consultant, to accelerate your growth in the government market, ios to get a certification and know how to leverage it. This podcast helps you with that.

For more help, check out my new book on Amazon, The Sole Source Advantage: How Small Businesses Can Bypass Competition to Win Federal Contracts

Visit our website for more info or help - Winning Government Contracts

 Visit www.winninggovernmentcontracts.com for more info and help with proposals and certifications. 

Choosing the right certification is a key to success in winning government contracts!  In this episode, find out:

• How to choose the best certification for your business?
• What to do if you don't qualify for a certification?
• Plus, answers to listener submitted questions.

As always, you get much more including inspiration for targeting the government market.  So listen and act on what you are hearing. 

Please like, subscribe, leave a five star review, and send your questions to me at [email protected]. 

Visit my website at www.winninggovernmentcontracts.com.

 Visit www.winninggovernmentcontracts.com for more info and help with proposals and certifications.

"What is the best approach, in sequence to get started with winning government contracts?" 

That's a great question and there is a three step road map that I take clients through that takes them from having never done work with the Government to success in the Government market.  In this podcast episode, I will share this road map with you, and you can use it to win in the Government market.

Visit my website at www.winninggovernmentcontracts.com - use the links there to call me.

Visit www.winninggovernmentcontracts.com for more info and help with proposals and certifications.

Small Business Certifications are keys that open doors to winning government contracts.  Many people don't understand what certifications are, or how they can benefit them in business.  Find out in this episode! 

As always, there will be practical advice, tips for success, and motivation.  Listen and be inspired to pursue Winning Government Contracts

We will cover -

• What is certification?
• How can certification benefit your business?
• Tips for leveraging certifications to win contracts.
• Can you succeed if you don't have a certification?
• A brief overview of the various types of certifications.

Thanks for listening.  Please subscribe and share and leave a five star review!.

The Government market presents the best opportunity for small business growth.  Learn why in this podcast.

1. Why Government Contracts Are Your Path to Success

• Statistics reveal a 48% chance of hitting $1 million in annual sales
• Real-world success stories: From $150K to $33M and beyond
• The government market advantage: Reliable payments, preference programs, and more

2. Debunking the Myths: Why Many Shy Away from Government Contracts

• Fear of the unfamiliar
• Reluctance to learn new systems
• How to overcome these mental barriers

3. The Numbers Don't Lie: Government as the Ultimate Client

• $562 billion spent annually - world's largest customer
• Level playing field with open solicitations
• Prompt payments and preference programs for small businesses

Join us as we unlock the secrets to building wealth through government contracts and learn why this often-overlooked market could be your ticket to becoming a millionaire!

For help writing proposals or with getting certified, visit winninggovernmentcontracts.com.

In this episode, we dive deep into writing two crucial sections of your government contract proposal – The Executive Summary and Technical Approach.

 1. Executive Summary

• Key components:
•  Tips for addressing agency needs
•  Highlighting key benefits

 2. Technical Approach

•  Detailed plan development
•  Addressing RFP requirements
•  Proposing innovative solutions
•  Review and editing process

 When writing a government contract proposal, focus on these key elements: craft a brief, powerful executive summary; align your solution with agency needs; mirror RFP language in your technical approach; innovate to stand out; and meticulously review your work. These steps will significantly boost your proposal's effectiveness and competitiveness.

 Check out my new book on Amazon – just click the title: "Writing Proposals For Government Contracts: Strategies for Small and Medium Businesses" by Rick Porterfield

Writing government proposals can be intimidating, but with the a common sense, structured approach, you can do it! This episode breaks down the initial steps of proposal writing, offering practical strategies to overcome writer's block and start crafting a winning proposal. 

• Break it down: Learn how to approach proposal writing in manageable steps
•  Free writing technique: A method to overcome writer's block and generate ideas
•  Key sections decoded: Master the Executive Summary, Technical Approach, and Past Performance
•  From draft to polish: Tips for reviewing, editing, and perfecting your proposal

 Key Points:

• Create an outline based on the RFP structure
• Use free writing to get your ideas flowing
• Craft a compelling Executive Summary
• Develop a detailed Technical Approach
• Showcase your track record in the Past Performance section
• Review and edit your proposal thoroughly
• Conduct a final compliance check

 Resources:

• For proposal writing assistance and certification help, visit winninggovernmentcontracts.com
• For proposal templates and samples, visit proposalandcertificationsamples.com
• Email [email protected] for more info

Check out my new book on Amazon – just click the title: "Writing Proposals For Government Contracts: Strategies for Small and Medium Businesses" by Rick Porterfield