I hope everyone had a productive week! This week has been extremely busy for me, and it rolled right into Saturday, so we will not have our community call today. Instead, let's meet tomorrow, Sunday, September 13, around 3:00 PM PT. Our team will send the meeting link later today, so please keep an eye out for it. Tomorrow I want to change our conversation up a little. We talk a lot about government contracting — finding opportunities, submitting bids, building relationships and positioning ourselves for contracts. But I also want to talk about something equally important: BUILDING A SOLID BUSINESS. Government contracting can take time. While you're waiting for contracts to kick in, what is happening with the rest of your business? What are you selling commercially? Who are your customers? Do you have recurring revenue? Are you marketing? Are you building systems? Are you developing relationships? Maybe you're still working a 9-to-5 while building your business and pursuing government contracts on the side. That counts too. There is no rule saying your journey has to look like someone else's. And let's talk about the NUMBERS. This week gave me a reminder that I want to share with every business owner in this community: Even when you have a bookkeeper and a CPA, you still need to understand your own numbers. As entrepreneurs, we can become so busy building, selling, servicing customers, pursuing opportunities and managing day-to-day operations that we don't spend enough time looking underneath the revenue. Last year our company crossed seven figures in sales, which was a HUGE milestone and something I am incredibly grateful for. But here's the other side of growth: Revenue is only one number. As I'm going back through our numbers, I'm reminded how important it is to understand: Cost of goods sold. Gross profit. Margins. Operating expenses. Inventory. Cash flow. Debt. And ultimately — what the business is actually keeping. You can have a bookkeeper. You can have a CPA.

In government contracting, a prime partner usually means a company that holds—or plans to pursue—the government contract as the prime contractor, while working with companies like Caregiver Relief as part of its team. Think of the structure this way: Government Agency → Prime Contractor → Subcontractor/Teaming Partner. I am , with the help of AI, developing a list of companies that would I could be a possible subcontractor or they could be my possible sub contractor. I am slowly doing the research, going to the sites of these companies. Each of these companies, I am learning, has a small business liaison,. This is the person I must develop a relationship with. I have started by sending an introductory email, along with a capability statement that is made specific for that partnership. I must tell you, I have had such success. so far, people are responsive. They seem to want to learn more about me and my business. I have already scheduled zoom calls with 2 potential partners. This is one aspect of the business. Since I am just starting out, I am making this a priority. I spend my time looking for possible bids. Then, while I am waiting for responses, I make contacts. I am making a list of the top 100. Can't take any thing for granted. Planting seeds for the future.

I look for potential bids on many things- even if it is outside my present NAICS codes. The things I had the potential bids vary. Here are just a few- pork with barbeque sauce ( 40,000 lbs of pork over a year) 26,000 tulip bulbs, Christmas lighting for a cty and a wrestling mat ( $40, 000 for one mat!) There is no reason for anyone not to succeed in the venture. Anyone can do this Amaxing

H! All. While I am new to contracting, I am not new to networking. But, I hae a website that supports seniors and their caregivers. So, my networking is very limited. I was feeling overwhelmed with all the things I need to get organized and started. I guess I don't know what I don't know. I am in the process of creating the top prime companies for my skills. IT is my goal to make them aware that I am available to do subcontracting, it the need fits. Then, I created specific capability statements based on what they have been awarded in the past. I have been sending the introductory email with the capability statement. It is my goal to make phone calls to follow up. THis week, I have 2 scheduled zoom meetings for 2 potential partners. I am excited. I have also taken another approach, as well, I am seeing in my forecasting of bids that will be live in the next year. I have started contacting companies to make them aware of possible opportunities . I send an introductory email out and offer consulting support if they are interested in pursuing government contracts for their business. That has resulted in 3 companies reaching out to me. I am so excited. I am running my business, as well as trying to build my contracting business. It is my goal to make the contracting my full time job. There is so much possibility here,

Need Help? Start Here! One of the best free resources available to small business owners is the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Answer Desk. 📞 SBA Answer Desk: 1-800-827-5722 The SBA Answer Desk can assist with general questions about: ✅ Starting a business ✅ Growing your business ✅ SBA loan programs ✅ SBA certifications ✅ Finding your local SBA District Office ✅ Government contracting resources ✅ Small business training and educational programs ✅ Referrals to SBA resource partners such as SCORE, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), and Women's Business Centers https://www.sba.gov/sba-newsroom/#featured If they can't answer your question directly, they can connect you with the appropriate SBA office or resource. The Answer Desk is available for general small business inquiries Monday through Friday during normal business hours (Eastern Time).