So, you have your GSA Schedule—what’s next? Getting your foot in the door may be difficult at the start, and certain requirements are needed to maintain your GSA Schedule. It's crucial to not only market actively but to market well. We know what you may be thinking, how is a small business supposed to have all the resources to sell to a whole new marketplace? Luckily, there are lots of free tools at your disposal that can give your small business every advantage possible. You just need to know what they are and how to use them, which we’ll cover in this blog.

As of January 9, 2023, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has begun accepting applications for Veteran Small Business Certification. This certification process used to be done through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), but as part of the federal government’s commitment to strengthen interagency collaboration, it has been moved over to the SBA since they handle all the other socioeconomic contracting programs for small businesses. Whether you are looking to get certified, or are certified already through the VA, here’s what you need to know.

So, you have been recently awarded with a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) and are probably wondering what tools are available to you as a GSA Schedule contractor. While there are several websites and resources at your fingertips, we’re going to focus on GSA eBuy, an online procurement tool that allows eligible government agencies to procure products, solutions, and services from GSA contract holders registered on the eBuy platform. Let’s cover what GSA eBuy is and how you can use it your advantage.

In 2016, the General Services Administration (GSA) rolled out a program that allows Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) on GSA Schedule orders for contractors who opt in (and are eligible). GSA Schedule holders who opt into TDR exchange additional data when reporting on sales through GSA contracts for less burdensome regulatory compliance. This is seen as a win-win by GSA since it provides them with more data on government purchasing decisions in exchange for allowing greater discounting flexibility on GSA contracts.

With over 135 federal agencies in existence, the government has tremendous purchasing power in the federal marketplace. Some agencies may be purchasing your products and services in bulk, and some maybe not so much. It’s up to you to ensure that you’re doing your part in conducting market research to identify potential buyers in agencies. Thankfully, GSA has some tools to help you conduct market research. SAM.gov’s Data Bank tool helps you focus your marketing efforts and understand federal purchasing trends.

With government spending on a steady incline year over year, increasing your company’s footprint in the public sector with a GSA Schedule and other government contracts can help to grow your business’ revenue—but how do you actually invoice and receive payment from these agencies? In the private sector, it can be relatively straightforward in most cases, where the seller will specify the invoicing and payment schedule, and the buyer will (normally) oblige the established schedule for payment. However, in the government market, payment functions differently. Government buyers will reserve payment for something until it’s received.