A lot of new business owners stop at getting their LLC, but skip the operating agreement—yet it’s one of the most important documents you can create. Even if you’re a single member LLC, an operating agreement protects you by clearly separating you from your business, reducing legal risks, and showing lenders or partners that your business is professionally structured. It also outlines how decisions are made, how money moves in and out of the business, and what happens if there’s a dispute or major change in the future.

With the government shutdown slowing down contract awards, many businesses are starting to rethink their strategy. Grant programs, however, continue operating because many are funded in advance or tied to separate agency budgets. Grants can offer stability when contracting pipelines freeze. Are you considering shifting toward grants during the shutdown?

Putting together a strong bid proposal isn’t just about submitting a price — it’s about showing clarity, capability, and confidence. Here are five core sections every proposal should include: 1. Executive Summary Gives a quick overview of what you’re offering and why your solution fits the project. Busy evaluators appreciate clarity upfront. 2. Scope of Work (SOW) Clearly outlines the tasks, deliverables, and responsibilities. This helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures everyone is aligned. 3. Company Qualifications & Experience Highlights relevant past performance, certifications, and capabilities. It builds trust and shows you can actually deliver. 4. Pricing & Cost Breakdown Details your pricing structure transparently. Decision-makers want to understand how you arrived at your numbers. 5. Timeline & Project Milestones Shows when key activities will happen and how the project will be managed. It demonstrates planning and reliability. What other sections do you think should be standard in a strong proposal?

Government contracting isn’t just about winning bids it starts much earlier with knowing which opportunities actually make sense. The biggest advantage anyone can have in this space is accurate, targeted contract research. When you understand agency buying patterns, contract history, set-aside trends, and upcoming forecasts, you stop chasing random solicitations and start focusing on winnable, strategically aligned opportunities. Most businesses struggle not because they can’t perform the work, but because they never had the right intel in the first place. Curious to hear from the community: What’s your biggest challenge when searching for government opportunities? Do you usually look at forecasts, past awards, or just active solicitations?

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