All cities have a purchasing office and/or a procurement officer. They handle all city contracts that are sent out to bid. Usually, to become a small business vendor of the city you must satisfy either some or all of the requirements listed below:
Minority Or Woman Owned Business
Small Business (Under $500,000/Year Gross)
Worker's Compensation Insurance (If Employees Work On Contract)
Liability Insurance Of $500,000-1,000,000 Aggregate With The City As Additional
Insured (For Autos And Completed Operations) (finish products liability)
City Business License
Local Business In Town
Hire Local Employees
Not all contracts are sent out to bid however. Some of the gravy contracts are ad-ons, additions or "Oh, by the way," contracts. The latter of which are by far the best. These contracts come up often. Here's how its works. Now for this example lets use a cleaning service:
The city manager comes up with an idea. He's seen you out at the corporation yard cleaning cars with your high-pressure machine. He needs you to clean the bird droppings off a flagpole in front of city hall, frontage of the library and awnings around the civic center. You work out a price at $100/hour once a week. Since this is out of their budget, they settle on every other week. You adjust the price to $120/hour. Then as you do the job, you figure out a way to do it in one-half the time ($240/hour).
You then donate $30-50 in coupons to his kid's school, rotary club and whatever church he and the current mayor attend. First you have to get a city contract. Bid low. It's worth it. This is how it really works, no matter what the rest of the world says. Government is no different or anymore ethical than rat living at the dump. If you are wondering why all the same companies get all the city's business, it is because they understand how it all works. It would be nice to have a more honest government at all levels, but since you can provide great services to the city and you deserve the business, you may as well get out there and go get it. It is not good or bad, it just is; it is much different than they teach you in school. Maybe some day it will be; one can only hope. Think about it.
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs
Ashley limo service .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareIf small business had no important outside audiences, it wouldn't... Read More
Do you operate your business as a series of projects,... Read More
Every company has a value proposition. That is a statement... Read More
If you have ever had your antique shop or mall... Read More
You are probably hard at work promoting your business (and... Read More
Cleaning concrete is tough and there is an easy way... Read More
You know your prospects need what you sell. You know... Read More
If a customer owes your local business money, it's hard... Read More
How do you sponsor an event and get personal introductions... Read More
How do you find groups that are in need of... Read More
Often smart entrepreneurs look for out of the way businesses,... Read More
A career coach could be simply defined your job seeking... Read More
There's been a recent rise in the number of elderly... Read More
One of the primary concerns all small businesses have is... Read More
In the world today, many people are further in debt... Read More
Which questions do you need to ask to even get... Read More
What is a Virtual Assistant?? A Virtual Assistant is that... Read More
It's obvious when a small business has accepted the fact... Read More
There's no question that hard work and a little luck... Read More
As stability emerges in the Middle East there will be... Read More
Business consulting opportunities might be just what your are looking... Read More
Continuing from the second article:6. About the aground mathematical model,... Read More
What does it take to grow a business and run... Read More
Shipping materials can be expensive! Even the styrofoam "peanuts" can... Read More
A few years ago, I visited Beijing for the first... Read More
car service from Midway Arena ..The single most important activity you can do in your... Read More
You've come up with the best idea since sliced bread,... Read More
Ask anyone trapped in a cubical about their entrepreneurial dream... Read More
Let's face it, we all tend to get stuck in... Read More
Owning a small business in Wichita, KS might not be... Read More
The Franchise Group at the Federal Trade Commission in all... Read More
It has been discussed allowing Franchising companies to electronically disclose... Read More
Remember the cleaning business is all about time ratio to... Read More
Competition in the business world is often viewed as a... Read More
How often have you thumbed through a business opportunity magazine,... Read More
A successful joint venture marketing effort is the goal of... Read More
You can provide affordable health care plans to your employees.... Read More
There is a continual trend we are seeing which I... Read More
Expanding your business requires you to take a good hard... Read More
The day care industry is expanding. There are now more... Read More
Yes, that IS security when nobody can downsize you because... Read More
Under the Securities Act of 1933, any offer to sell... Read More
The modern Franchise business model and the much different business... Read More
It behooves every professional mobile auto detailer to stay up... Read More
One of the most common horrific mistakes a business can... Read More
You are selling your small business (business value under $1... Read More
Grow your Professional Organizer business by branching out into related... Read More
As long as you eat and breathe you will stay... Read More
After over thirty years advising small business it still comes... Read More
Commonly folks have asked me what the technical difference is... Read More
Small Business |