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/
Lincoln Stretch rentals Alsip ..One of the first things you will need to set... Read More
There are many factors to be considered when you are... Read More
Does your company have a community relation strategy? Have you... Read More
The goals of businesses have undergone much evolution from the... Read More
How do window cleaning franchise businesses start? It is a... Read More
You can't imagine how many people ask me how I... Read More
Purchasing a franchise has become one of the most popular... Read More
Cash is King... That is what everyone tells us and... Read More
Do you like animals? Would you like to work for... Read More
Mobile carwashing is hard work, it is tough on the... Read More
Many self employed professionals find themselves overwhelmed, frustrated, and confused... Read More
The less a business pays for goods and services the... Read More
When pressure washing heavy equipment each piece of equipment has... Read More
Do you sometimes find yourself just going "through the motions"... Read More
Cash is the lifeblood of any business. As humans need... Read More
Hew Hampshire car wash market. Well we have visited every... Read More
How do you find groups that are in need of... Read More
Once you've decided to incorporate your small business the next... Read More
What is a guru?A guru is a teacher. A mentor.... Read More
All legitimate home business entrepreneurs insist and announce loud and... Read More
Remember the cleaning business is all about time ratio to... Read More
The Franchise Group at the Federal Trade Commission in all... Read More
You can provide affordable health care plans to your employees.... Read More
Many people ask how many graphs or charts they should... Read More
Many pressure washing companies will be glad to take on... Read More
Western Springs shuttle limo ..One way to determine your companies mission statement is based... Read More
What does buying a fat pig have to do with... Read More
If you are in the professional car care business you... Read More
Most business owners do not think of selling their companies... Read More
I'll be the first to admit that I went a... Read More
We all know that competition is an ugly word but... Read More
The choice of financing is an important determinant of whether... Read More
What is a guru?A guru is a teacher. A mentor.... Read More
Q: I'm curious. What is the dumbest business question you've... Read More
As a company grows, the owner's role begins to change.... Read More
The Federal Trade Commission is assisting competitor to cheat and... Read More
What are the benefits of using a Freelance Consultant /... Read More
The resume writing service serves an important role in the... Read More
Perhaps you are building a new home office or you... Read More
When is the Chamber ideal for your business?Joining a Chamber... Read More
If you are a small business and qualify to participate... Read More
Maximum efficiency in the cleaning industry is a key to... Read More
Being a small or home-based business owner can be loads... Read More
Great question!Freeing your time is an indisputably key element in... Read More
The Federal Trade Commission out of the blue decide in... Read More
When a regulator finds a target to go after to... Read More
In these days of insecurity and uncertain futures, the tendency... Read More
Here are some useful tips on how to select a... Read More
It's the dream of every person who starts a business... Read More
As a practise gets larger & larger the associated problems... Read More
Small Business |