SBIR - A Nice Add-on Business

If you are a small business and qualify to participate in the SBIR program, it is a natural enhancer to your existing business. If you are small enough you may be able to start a company using SBIR funding, but you will soon come to realize that if your sources of income are not diversified (with SBIR being only one source) you might fall victim to funding cycles and no income. Although the Government provides funding to spawn technology its dual mission is to help that technology grow into viable commercial technology. If you can not bring your SBIR funding to fruition via commercialization, then you may find yourself receiving less and less funding as the years unfold.

Also, there are fluctuations with regard to prioritization among technological programs in the Government. One year you might receive an SBIR Phase I to do a feasibility study on XYZ and you might even be lucky enough to land a Phase II where the funding is three quarters of a million dollars to put a prototype together based on your Phase I findings. The customer might be so pleased with your work on the Phase II that you are told they are going to budget X millions of dollars to order X # of these gizmos. And then you play the waiting game. You wait, and wait, and wait? What happened? Well, the classic situation is that it takes the Government so long to get the wheels in motion for a significant buy, that by the time the Government is ready to purchase, priorities and agendas have changed. Where are you? You start looking at the SBIR solicitation for Phase I's again and the SBIR cycle starts over.

Another classic SBIR scenario is when you have lots of phase I and phase II programs going on and all of a sudden there has been a funding freeze for one reason or another. Perhaps an agenda has been delayed or a budget is not yet approved by the Government. If you participate only in the Government arena, poof ? your business is at a standstill until this roadblock is cleared. That's why the SBIR program is a great add-on to an existing business rather than a sole enterprise.

The best course of action is to scout the solicitations and find a topic or area of research that your technology can solve. If it proves to be a viable solution for the Government it may also prove to be a nice added source of funding to further your technology, courtesy of the US Government!

Nonetheless, beware. This opportunity does not come without its unique complexities. As with any business venture, one must move forward with caution and know what the implications are or will be to your existing business. Of specific importance is the ownership of Intellectual Property, best customer pricing and authority. If you are not sure what the implications are you should consult someone who does before jumping into the federal market.

Lisa DeMaio is the president and founder of Virtual Contract Manager, LLC, which is a one-stop "information shop" for and about the Contract Management Community and the SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) Program. Let Virtual Contract Manager coach you on how to integrate the SBIR program into your existing business. Come visit Virtual Contract Manager and get a wealth of FREE SBIR information on our Free Articles Page and to sign up for our content-rich monthly newsletter which features one article a month on the SBIR program. Let Virtual Contract Manager help you tap the federal market and help fund your research or innovative technology. http://www.virtualcontractmanager.com/

---

Creating a Paperless Office

When working from home, it is usual to find that... Read More

Is It Recess Yet?! Confessions of a Self Employed Workaholic

I have a confession to make. My name is Caroline... Read More

Canon City, Colorado - Good for Small Business

Canon City, Colorado is known for it's 6 Prisons; State... Read More

3.5 Million People And A Possible UK Home Business Opportunity

Has this ever happened to you... 'John, you have a... Read More

Keeping a Partnership ALIVE and THRIVING

What are the best methods for keeping a good business... Read More

Mission Statements: More Important Than You Thought

If an organization lacks a mission statement, it is worthwhile... Read More

Pressure Washing and Hospital Accounts

Most pressure washing companies never look into some of the... Read More

5 Tips for Hiring a GREAT Bookkeeper

Bookkeeping?the "dreaded" word is something we all have to worry... Read More

5 Steps To Success for Small Business Owners

Everyone wants to succeed in life. Most people want to... Read More

Got Stimulation?

An observation while returning home from a seminar: Getting away... Read More

Cleaning Grain Silos, Towers, Containers, and Combines

If you run a pressure washing company in a rural... Read More

Essex Accountants: Top Things to Look For

One of the most common horrific mistakes a business can... Read More

3 Ways To Make Certain Your Business Fails

Most small businesses incorporated in 2005 will fail by the... Read More

Doing Business With Friends: Five Tips for Preserving the Friendship... and Your Sanity!

My colleague, Jane, recently lamented to me an all too... Read More

Small Business Computer Security, the Basics

Anyone in business today realizes both the natural dependency on... Read More

How to Profit from Business Consulting Opportunities

Business consulting opportunities might be just what your are looking... Read More

Taking Stock

Back when I owned an inventory-based business, one of my... Read More

Setting Prices - Pricing Your Consulting Services

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PRICINGIn case you hadn't noticed, people can... Read More

How to Manage Your Pipeline

How is your pipeline structured?I assume most of you have... Read More

Banking and Company Credit Card Policies for Small Business

Does your small business have a banking and credit card... Read More

Pressure Washing at Golf Courses

There are many potential niches for pressure washing companies that... Read More

Pressure Washing Market Niche

Those who are in the pressure washer business should not... Read More

Learning and Growing

As you reflect on this year and prepare for next... Read More

Where to Find a Cash Windfall of $10,000 to $1,000,000 -- You Never Knew You Had

There is a rather famous true story called "Acres of... Read More

7 Card Tricks That Improve Your Personal Networking Power

CARD SHARK7 Card Tricks That Improve Your Personal Networking PowerThe... Read More

Successfully Adding a Service To Your Business

There will come a time in your business where you... Read More

Asking the RIGHT Questions

Which questions do you need to ask to even get... Read More

Why are Reverse Mergers Often the Victims of Short Sellers?

There is a great deal of abuse going on in... Read More

Small Business Server Business Tips

Top 3 Ways to Maximize Your Small Business Server Consulting... Read More

How to Get Started As A Government Contractor

Becoming a contractor or sub-contractor for the U.S. government can... Read More

Seven Common Mistakes Made By Small Business Owners

Most new small businesses won't be in business this time... Read More

Quality Controls for Franchising Companies Sample Outline

Quality control in franchising companies is paramount and all franchising... Read More

Over Disclosure Hurts Businesses

Many investors and business ethics professionals are calling for more... Read More