Government Contracting for Small Businesses

Overview

Government contracting is a longer runway than most side hustles on this list, but it can turn into a substantial business for veterans who register properly and pursue set-aside opportunities, including SDVOSB status where eligible. The path typically starts with registering in the federal System for Award Management (SAM.gov), researching contract opportunities on SAM.gov and state procurement portals, and often starting with smaller subcontracts before pursuing prime contracts. This is not a fast-revenue side hustle — it takes real time to understand procurement processes, and most people treat it as a business build, not a weekend project. See our related article on SDVOSB set-asides for more detail on certification.

This is educational information, not a promise or guarantee of income or results. Actual outcomes depend on your local market, effort, pricing, and any applicable licensing requirements.