GOVCONJun 24, 202637:46
How to make your first $20K in government contracting with no experience or money | EP: 330
Your host
Eric Coffie
Eric Coffie built a construction company from zero to $20M+ in federal sales, then founded GovCon Giants to teach everyday people how to win government contracts.
About this episode
Making your first $20K in government contracting with no experience, no past performance, and no capital is not just possible Eric Coffie has done it with complete beginners, including a kindergarten teacher who went on to earn six figures in the federal market. In this episode, Eric pulls a module directly out of GovCon Giants' consulting program and teaches it live, completely free, walking you through the exact five-step process he used to train Maria Martinez and his son Brandon to land their first govcon dollars. What you'll learn in this episode: The two-path approach to getting started: Whether you find the company first (like Maria) or the opportunity first (like Brandon), Eric breaks down both strategies and explains why there is no wrong answer as long as you reach the end result
Show notes & timestamps
- 0:00Mindy AI and Encore Funding sponsor intro
- 0:44GovCon Giants welcome and host introduction
- 1:10Maria Martinez origin story and the $20K course reveal
- 2:25First 20K overview: the five-step process explained
- 4:42What you actually need to get started in govcon
- 5:30Step one: finding the right government opportunity
- 7:16How to choose your industry using the frequency rule
- 10:06Step two: finding and evaluating 8a companies to partner with
- 13:55How to reach out and start the conversation with potential partners
- 17:37Elle's referral networking approach and how to rank companies
- 21:03Setting up your first meeting: TML research, presentation tips, and discussing money
- 23:54Step three: presenting the opportunity and testing the relationship
- 27:15Step four: agreeing on roles, fees, and formal teaming agreements
- 29:03Submitting the bid and dotting your I's with the full submission checklist
- 32:44Step five: waiting for results, handling follow-ups, and post-award actions
- 34:14Best practices: sole source strategy, leveraging certifications, and next steps
