Is a GSA Schedule Right for Your Business? Here’s What You Need to Know

Feb 19

Selling to the government is a long and complex process, often taking months or even years to navigate. But for many businesses, securing a GSA Schedule can open doors to lucrative government contracts and a multi-billion-dollar marketplace. Before diving in, it’s crucial to determine whether a GSA Schedule is the right path for your business—and whether pursuing it independently is the best strategy.

Is Your Business Ready for a GSA Schedule?

Not every business is ready to take on a GSA Schedule. If your company has prior government contracting experience, a strong track record, and the capacity to scale operations, securing a GSA Schedule may be the logical next step.

For small businesses and startups, the Small Business Administration (SBA) offers resources to help enter the government market. In fact, the government sets aside 23% of all federal contract dollars for small businesses. However, even with these opportunities, companies without a solid history of government sales may struggle to win bids. Agencies tend to favor businesses with at least two years of experience, as this demonstrates reliability and performance.

If you’re not yet at that stage, consider gaining experience through subcontracting or competing for open-market contracts before pursuing a GSA Schedule.

Can You Secure a GSA Schedule on Your Own?

While it’s possible to obtain a GSA Schedule without outside help, the process requires extensive research, experience, and preparation. To be successful, your business must:

Understand the Market – Identify government needs, track competitors, and monitor upcoming contract expirations.
Show Government Contracting Experience – Agencies favor businesses with a proven track record of fulfilling government contracts.
Have a Strong Business Plan – Demonstrate that you can produce and deliver your products or services at scale.
Submit a Competitive Proposal – A detailed, well-documented submission including pricing, proof of experience, and operational capacity is essential.
Stay Compliant & Proactive – Winning a GSA contract is just the beginning—you must continue marketing, reporting sales, and maintaining compliance to keep it.

Without thorough preparation, businesses risk spending a year or more navigating the process—only to end up without a contract.

The Reality of Getting a GSA Schedule

A GSA Schedule does not guarantee sales. Even after securing a contract, the government is not obligated to buy from you—you simply become an approved vendor. To succeed, businesses must actively:

Market their products and services to government buyers
Monitor upcoming contract opportunities
Remain competitive in pricing and compliance

For businesses serious about breaking into government sales, GSA Advantage®—the government’s online marketplace—provides insight into who is buying, what they are buying, and at what price points.

Why Many Businesses Turn to Experts

Given the complexity of the GSA Schedule process, many businesses choose to work with a government contracts consultant instead of navigating it alone. These experts:

Handle legal and compliance hurdles
Manage the paperwork and submission process
Develop a competitive bid strategy
Market your business to government buyers

By partnering with an experienced consultant, businesses can expedite the process and increase their chances of securing government contracts.

A Faster, Easier Path: Contract Through GMP

For many businesses, the best strategy isn’t getting their own GSA Schedule—it’s working with GMP. As a trusted, veteran-owned government contract management firm, GMP eliminates the need for businesses to obtain their own GSA Schedule by holding the contract for you.

With over 20 years of experience, GMP is a prime contractor on multiple GSA Schedules, including:

IT Solutions (Schedule 70)
Security & Protection Equipment (Schedule 84)
Medical Equipment (VA Schedule 65 IIA)

Instead of spending months—or even years—navigating the GSA Schedule process on your own, GMP streamlines the path to government sales. We handle marketing, compliance, and contract management, allowing you to sell to the government faster and more efficiently.

Let GMP Do the Work—So You Can Focus on Selling

Getting a GSA Schedule is a major investment of time and effort. If you’re ready to sell to the government without the hassle, GMP is your solution.

Government Marketing and Procurement, LLC (GMP) is a nationally recognized Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned contract management firm and Value-Added Reseller that is the primary link between top-performing IT, medical and security solution providers and Government buyers. Leveraging year-to-year growth, superior service, and multiple leading technologies, GMP improves Government performance, productivity, and financial stewardship. With over 20 years’ experience and $300M of contracting success, GMP simplifies the purchasing process, creating more targeted, streamlined, and positive connections between sellers and contracting officers.