Independent, not affiliated with the U.S. government
Federal contracting help that doesn't charge for what's already free
SAM.gov registration costs nothing, by law. A lot of what ranks for "how to register" is a paid service that doesn't say that plainly. This site does the opposite: free checklists and plain-English explainers for small businesses entering government contracting.
SAM.gov registration checklist
Everything to have ready before you start, so validation doesn't fail halfway through. Free, and your progress saves on this device.
Understanding the rules
- The FAR overhaul, explained plainly
- What a shutdown means for your contract
- Small business set-asides, explained
- The simplified acquisition threshold
Getting registered
- Fixing "Entity Validation Failed"
- DUNS number or UEI: which do you need?
- What is a CAGE code?
- Reps and certs in SAM.gov
- Renewing your SAM.gov registration
- How long registration actually takes
Winning your first contract
- Finding your NAICS code
- Finding open opportunities
- Competing with no past performance
- Government contracting for veterans
- Registration scams to avoid
Federal procurement rules change in phases and sometimes without much notice. Where a page here states a specific dollar threshold or deadline, it reflects the most current publicly available guidance at the time of writing; always confirm anything time-sensitive against sam.gov or the current FAR text directly.