“The government spends over $500 billion a year on contracts. And guess what? They are legally required to set aside a chunk of that for small businesses owned by women, minorities, and veterans. Yeah, that includes YOU.”
Sis, I know what you are thinking. Government contracts? That sounds like something for people in suits with briefcases and decades of experience. Not for a 22-year-old trying to figure out how to pay rent while her roommate’s boyfriend basically lives in their apartment now.
But listen. I am going to tell you something that changed my entire financial life. Something nobody taught me in school, nobody mentioned in any career workshop, and definitely something your parents probably do not even know about. You can literally get paid by the U.S. government to do what you are already good at. And it all starts with one website: SAM.gov.
I am not talking about some shady side hustle or a “get rich quick” scheme. I am talking about real, legit money that the federal government has to spend on small businesses every single year. And girl, you qualify. Let me break this down for you like we are on FaceTime and you are stress-eating chips on my couch.
Wait, What Even Are Government Contracts?
Okay so here is the deal. The government needs stuff. Like, a LOT of stuff. They need someone to design their websites, clean their buildings, provide consulting services, write training manuals, create marketing materials, manage social media accounts, do data entry, and even provide tutoring for military families. And they do not have employees to do all of that. So they hire private businesses — small businesses — to do the work.
The federal government has a goal to award at least 5% of all federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses every single year. That is billions of dollars, girl. BILLIONS. And most women do not even know this exists. You showing up and registering is literally the first step to getting a piece of that pie.
And here is the thing — you do not need to be some massive corporation. You can be a one-woman show. Freelancers, consultants, virtual assistants, graphic designers, writers, photographers, event planners — all of these are services the government pays for. You just need to know how to get in the door.
💡 Quick Tip
You do not need a registered business yet to start the SAM.gov registration process. You can register your business as a sole proprietor with just your Social Security number. Do not let the “I need an LLC first” myth stop you. You can start TODAY.
How to Register on SAM.gov (The Real Step-by-Step, Not the Complicated BS)
Alright, here is where most people quit. SAM.gov is not the most user-friendly website. I am not going to lie to you. It looks like it was designed in 2005 and nobody told them. But you are Gen Z. You have navigated worse. Remember trying to change your password on WebAssign during finals week? Yeah. You got this.
First things first — you need a Unique Entity ID (UEI). This used to be called a DUNS number, but they changed it in 2022. You will get your UEI for free when you register on SAM.gov. Do NOT pay anyone to get this for you. Scammers love to charge people $200 for something that is literally free. Do not fall for it.
Here is the step-by-step, sis. Save this in your notes app because you will need it.
Step 1: Go to SAM.gov and click “Register” or “Get Started.” You will need to create a login.gov account first. This is the same system used for other government websites. It is secure. It is fine. Do not let the two-factor authentication scare you.
Step 2: Once you are logged in, start your Entity Registration. You will fill out basic info about your business — your name, your address, your EIN or SSN if you are a sole proprietor, and what kind of work you do.
Step 3: This is the part that makes people want to throw their laptop. You have to select your NAICS codes. These are just industry codes that tell the government what services you provide. If you are a writer, you pick “711510” for independent artists and writers. If you do graphic design, you pick “541430.” Do not overthink this. You can pick multiple codes. Pick everything that even remotely applies to what you do.
Step 4: Fill out your representations and certifications. This is the boring legal stuff where you confirm you are a small business, you are not a terrorist, you pay your taxes, etc. Standard stuff.
Step 5: Submit and wait. It takes about 3-5 business days for the government to process your registration. Sometimes longer if there are issues. Check your email for notifications. Do not just submit and forget.
Women-owned businesses win over $20 billion in federal contracts every single year. That money is sitting there. Go get yours.
What You Need Before You Start
Okay let me be real with you. There are a few things you need to have ready before you sit down to do this. Nothing crazy, but do not start this process on your phone while you are waiting for the bus. Set aside an hour. Maybe two. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb and lock in.
You will need your Social Security number or your Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. If you do not have an EIN, you can get one for free on the IRS website in like 10 minutes. It is not hard. I promise. You just fill out a form and they give you a number immediately.
You will also need your bank account information for direct deposit. Because when you win a government contract, they pay you electronically. No paper checks. No waiting for the mail. Just direct deposit straight into your account. That is how you know this is real.
And you need your business address. If you do not have a separate business address, you can use your home address. Thousands of women run government-contracted businesses from their kitchen tables. You are not too small. You are exactly the right size.
💊 What Works: “Government Contracts for Dummies” by L. B. Smith – This book breaks down the entire process in plain English. No jargon. No confusing government speak. Just real steps you can follow. I read this when I was starting out and it saved me hours of confusion.
How to Actually WIN Government Contracts (Not Just Register)
Registering on SAM.gov is step one. But registering alone does not mean contracts are going to fall into your lap. You have to actually look for opportunities and submit bids. And I know the word “bid” sounds scary, but it is literally just a proposal. You are telling the government what you can do and how much it will cost.
Here is where most people mess up. They register and then they wait. They think the government is going to find them. Girl, no. The government has thousands of vendors. You have to go find the opportunities. You have to be proactive. This is not a “if you build it they will come” situation. This is a “if you build it AND you tell them about it AND you apply” situation.
Use the contract opportunity search on SAM.gov. You can filter by location, by industry, by set-aside type (like women-owned small business set-asides), and by dollar amount. Start with smaller contracts — under $25,000. These are often less competitive and easier to win. Do not go after a $5 million contract your first time. Start small. Build your confidence. Build your track record.
And here is a secret that nobody tells you. A lot of government contracts go unfilled because nobody bids on them. Seriously. The government posts an opportunity, nobody responds, and they have to repost it or find another way to get the work done. If you are the only person who bids, you win. Period. That is not a hack. That is just showing up when everybody else is asleep.
Why This Works:
✅ The government pays on time. No chasing clients for 90 days. No “the check is in the mail.” Government payments are reliable.
✅ You build a portfolio that opens doors. Winning one government contract makes it easier to win the next one. Agencies talk to each other.
✅ You set your own rates. You decide how much to charge. The government does not set your price — you do. And they will pay it if your proposal is solid.
The Truth Nobody Tells You About Government Contracts
Okay, I am going to keep it all the way real with you. Government contracting is not a get-rich-overnight thing. It takes time. It takes patience. You might submit ten bids before you win one. That is normal. That does not mean you are failing. That means you are learning the system.
And the paperwork? Yeah, there is paperwork. But here is the thing — the government has resources to help you. There are Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) in every state that will help you for FREE. They will review your bids, help you understand the process, and answer your questions. You are not alone in this. There are literally people paid to help you win government contracts.
Also, you need to certify as a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) if you want access to the contracts set aside specifically for women. This is an extra step, but it is worth it. It opens up a whole category of contracts that only women can bid on. Less competition. Better odds. More money in your pocket.
And do not forget about subcontracting. Even if you do not win a prime contract, you can work as a subcontractor for a larger company that won a government contract. They need help too. You can find subcontracting opportunities on SAM.gov and through networking with other small business owners.
“The biggest myth about government contracts is that you have to know somebody. You don’t. You just have to show up, follow the rules, and submit a good proposal. That’s it. That’s the secret.”
What You Can Do RIGHT NOW (Like, Today)
I do not want you to read this whole post, feel inspired, and then close your phone and never think about it again. That is not why I wrote this. I wrote this because I want you to actually take action. So here is your one thing to do today.
Go to SAM.gov and create your login.gov account. That is it. That is the only thing you need to do today. Just create the account. Do not even start the registration yet if you are not ready. Just get the account set up. That is one step. One step closer to winning your first government contract.
Tomorrow, gather your documents. Your SSN or EIN. Your bank info. Your business address. The day after that, start your registration. One step at a time. You do not have to do it all in one day. But you do have to start.
And when you win your first contract? When that first payment hits your bank account? I want you to remember this moment. The moment you decided you were not too small, not too young, and not too inexperienced to go after what is yours. Because that is exactly what you are doing. You are claiming your place in an industry that has been gatekept for way too long.
This is the kind of stuff women talk about inside TechMae every single day. No judgment, just real ones keeping it real. We talk about money, careers, relationships, mental health, and all the messy in-between. You do not have to figure this out alone.
Related: This post is a must-read for women on their journey.
Start Here
Your one action for today: Go create your login.gov account at SAM.gov. That is it. Do that one thing. Then come back and tell me you did it. I am serious. This is how you build momentum. One small step at a time.
Your Next Steps:
✅ Step 1: Create your login.gov account on SAM.gov
✅ Step 2: Gather your documents (SSN/EIN, bank info, address)
✅ Step 3: Complete your entity registration
✅ Step 4: Search for contract opportunities in your industry
✅ Step 5: Submit your first bid
You might also love this article — one of our most shared.
This Is Your Sign to Stop Doing It Alone
Women inside TechMae have been exactly where you are. Come find your people. We talk about government contracts, career moves, money, and all the real stuff nobody teaches you.
