As we step into 2026 and vacations come to an end, it’s the perfect time to refocus on your business goals. What are you planning or working on for the year ahead to take your business to the next level? Whether it's new strategies, expanding services, or reaching new clients, now is the time to plan ahead. What’s your first step for your business in 2026?

Many entrepreneurs overlook grants because they assume the process is complicated or “not for them.” But many grants are actually built for small businesses that are still figuring things out. What’s one thing that has stopped you from applying for a grant so far?

Most people think grants are all about writing… But the writing is only 20%. The clarity, planning, and evidence do most of the heavy lifting.

One thing I’ve learned in GovCon is that the hardest step isn’t bidding it’s understanding what to bid on. When businesses fail to study agency spending patterns or past award history, they often end up chasing random opportunities that don’t align with their capabilities. The real shift comes when you start asking: Who already buys services like mine, and at what scale? That’s when the whole game changes. Where are you personally stuck registrations, market research, or proposals?

The proposal isn’t the hardest part—the preparation is. Budget clarity, impact planning, data, partners… those determine your success long before you write page 1. Which part of the grant process confuses you the most?