How Anyone Can Make $10,000 A Month with Government Contracts

Getting started with government contracting may seem overwhelming, but Isaiah Sales, owner of Eclipse Management LLC, has shown that success is possible. By the way, he balances a day job and only has a few hours of free time.?

Isaiah, based in Georgia, recently won his first government contract, which opened new doors and showed him the potential for significant success in this field.

Isaiah explained, “It’s for the Department of Defense. The total award was $49,000.” Winning his first contract felt “magical,” he said. After hearing the news, he called his mom right away, “crying and talking” with excitement.

How Isaiah Discovered Government Contracting?

Like many others, Isaiah’s contracting journey started during the COVID-19 pandemic. “My mom taught me about government contracting during 2020, so I just ran with it,” he said. Spending his free time learning the ins and outs of the field was an adjustment. “During COVID, I had nothing else to do but play video games, so I was like, let’s just learn something.”

By 2021, Isaiah had officially started Eclipse Management, specializing in janitorial services. “All my promotion was basically to government agencies for janitorial services,” he explained. Though he knew government contracting was possible, winning his first bid was still a thrilling and somewhat surprising experience.

Supplying Samsung Products to the Navy

Isaiah’s first contract wasn’t in janitorial services but involved selling Samsung products to the government. He stumbled upon this opportunity by chance.?

“I had a supplier I was working with on a different contract I’d lost. I came across this Samsung contract, so I asked my supplier for a quote, submitted my price on top, and got the award,” he said.

He found the contract on SAM.gov , the main website for federal contracting opportunities. “It was for the Navy. They just needed some Samsung cell phones,” Isaiah explained, noting that he used Google to find a reliable supplier. “It felt magical. I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. I simply got my price, submitted it to the government.”

Facing Funding Challenges

Winning the contract was only the beginning. Isaiah soon realized he’d need $49,000 to fulfill the order, which presented a new challenge. He started by reaching out to banks, only to find that most wouldn’t lend to him because he didn’t have $100,000 in revenue yet. “I emailed people, went to different banks, even reached out to you,” he laughed.

When banks wouldn’t help, Isaiah turned to a factoring company. “A factoring company basically buys the contract from you. They front the money to your vendor, and you pay them back with a fee when you get paid by the government,” he explained. The factoring company wired the money directly to Isaiah’s supplier, allowing him to fulfill the contract without a personal cash advance or a credit check.

Building New Opportunities and Connections

With his first win under his belt, Isaiah is eager to expand. “Now I’m looking into other electronics, like Apple products, since my vendor offers those,” he said.?

However, he’s still focused on janitorial services, snow removal, landscaping, and logistics…fields he can subcontract out as needed.

He’s also looking into more logistics work, using his day job experience. “I work in logistics, so I’ve been looking at contracts for things like truck leases or moving products for the government,” he added.

What He Looks for in Subcontractors

When selecting subcontractors, Isaiah evaluates several factors to make sure they can handle the job. “I look at past performance, how many employees they have, and how much their previous jobs were worth,” he explained. For big government projects, he needs subcontractors who have the resources to do the work reliably.

“If someone isn’t transparent with me or seems hesitant, I move on to the next potential subcontractor,” he added. “There are plenty of people who are willing and happy to do the work.”

Learning from a Heartbreaking Loss

Isaiah also shared a lesson from a painful near-win. He lost a five-year, $120,000-per-year snow removal contract because of a simple typo in his submission. “I was the lowest bidder, but I messed up the item numbers,” he recalled.

He requested a debrief, which allowed him to learn what went wrong. “The government contracting officer sent me a PDF explaining that I lost because of a typo in the item number.”

Despite the loss, Isaiah now tracks every contract he submits and takes careful notes for the future. “One door closes, but many more open,” he said, keeping a positive attitude.

How His Mom Inspired Him

Isaiah credits his mom for introducing him to government contracting. “She has an entrepreneurial mindset, and during COVID, she thought I’d be interested in this,” he said.?

Now, his mom and his siblings are checking out federal contracting, making it a true family effort. “I’m one of six kids, and I’ve been talking to one of my older brothers about this. We’re all kind of starting a business and sharing what we learn about contracting,” he said.

His One-Year Goal

Looking ahead, Isaiah has ambitious plans. “My goal for next year is to bring in $100,000 in profit ,” he shared. He’s already halfway to that target based on revenue from his first contract. “I’m confident I’ll reach it because I’m motivated and know what’s possible.”

Advice for Future Contractors

Isaiah encourages anyone interested in government contracting to stay focused and keep learning. “There’s a myth that you need a ton of set-asides to win contracts, but I only had a small business set-aside, and I still won,” he said. He stressed that you don’t need to collect multiple certifications to get started. “What matters is submitting bids and showing the government you can meet their needs.”

Isaiah’s journey shows that success in government contracting is possible without a huge team or endless funding. Now, if you’re motivated by Isaiah’s story, then be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel.?

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________________________________________________________________ I’m the author of the newly released book “The GovCon Winners Way: How To Win Government Contracts Faster Than Trying to Do It Alone!” At 28, I was awarded my first 5-figure federal government contract. I own and operate multiple government contracting businesses and have over $50 million in federal government contract awards. Today, I’ve helped my students win over $3M in Federal Government Contracts in less than 6 months, and I’ll help you, too!?

-#EverythingIsPossible