In FY2025, federal agencies recorded $6.33 million in contract obligations across three broad personal-care supply categories. That includes items such as shaving preparations, brushes, razors, and toiletries. It’s one slice of federal purchasing, not the size of the cosmetology market—and it does not include state or local buyers. Government buyers have also requested barber supplies, salon chairs, cosmetology kits, and barber or beautician services. Think about what you use in your own work. Could you reliably source combs, brushes, capes, neck strips, clipper accessories, or student kits in the quantity and format a buyer requests? You have two possible paths: PROVIDE THE SERVICE — Cut or style hair for a public facility when you meet its requirements. SUPPLY THE PRODUCTS — Source and deliver the exact products a school, correctional facility, or other buyer requests. Your action: Comment SERVICE or SUPPLIES, your state, and one product you already know well—or the service you provide. For example: “SUPPLIES | Texas | barber capes.” We’re using those answers to shape the government buyer directory we’re building. If you’re ready to research your lane and prepare your business, start with Find Your Contracting Lane in Government Ready™ Academy. Explore Government Ready™ Academy FY2025 figure: federal contract obligations recorded under PSC 8510, 8520, and 8530. The purchasing examples are past notices, not open bids.

Welcome! This community was created to help small businesses approach government contracting with a practical strategy—not just chase the biggest contracts. Here, you'll learn how to: ✓ Get your business Government Ready™ ✓ Understand what government agencies actually buy ✓ Find opportunities that fit your business ✓ Evaluate opportunities before you bid ✓ Build toward contracts with manageable risk Start Here 👉 Go to the Classroom and open Government Ready™ Start Here. You'll walk through the Government Ready™ Roadmap and identify where you are today and what you should work on next. Introduce Yourself Drop a comment below and tell us: 1. What does your business do? 2. Are you already registered in SAM.gov? 3. What do you want help with most in government contracting? Welcome to Government Ready™. Let's get to work.