Myth 2: Government will never need our product or service

Myth 2 stopping small businesses from winning Government business:

“Government will never need our product or service”.

OK, so let’s delve a bit deeper into this myth – and it’s a myth that big business loves because they know it stops thousands of awesome small businesses from competing against them for Government contracts.

Put simply, the depth and breadth of products and services which Government require at different times is amazing. Plumbers, insurance brokers, lawyers, printers, marketing, promotional gear, caterers, cleaners, furniture and fittings, recruiters, couriers, sports equipment, boats, uniforms, computers, accountants. The list goes on. And on. And on.

Recently, we helped a small professional financial services firm secure a $200,000 contract with a Government department. This business had just 2 staff!

There’s no bigger business than Government (especially when you combine all three levels of Government). Because of this, there are thousands of things that Government need to buy every year.

Now, combine this with the recent Government directive that they must purchase at least 30% of everything they buy from the small and medium business space, and you should begin to see the huge opportunity available. This equates to a $6 to $7 billion market, every year.

So, be careful in simply assuming that your product or service won’t ever be required by Government. If you’re wrong, and that’s likely, you’re potentially missing out on business-changing Government contracts.

Next week we’ll look under the bonnet of Myth 3: “Ahhh, it’s all ‘jobs for the boys’. Government already knows who they want, and we’ll never get a look-in.”