8(a) Firms Average Sales

According to the SBA, there are roughly 5,700 8(a) Certified firms in the United States. 41% of these firms are located in Virginia, Maryland, and DC (the greater DC area). On average, the DC area firms made $6MM per year in annual federal sales. The firms located outside of DC still do well, but have lower average sales of $5MM per year in annual federal sales.

Outside of DC Outliers

Eight states outperform on average even the 8(a) DC Beltway firms. They are Alaska, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and West Virginia.  

8(a) Opportunities

In many states, there is limited competition which allows the 8(a) firm to carve out a niche. This allows these firms to do very well by seeking out contracts in their own backyard. Some of these firms later take the step of opening a DC office to take advantage of more variation and opportunities in federal 8(a) contracts.

Below is the list to help you decide how well 8(a) firms are doing in your area:

In order to confirm if working with the federal government is the right direction for your company, and to find out your eligibility, I always recommend contacting an industry expert such as ez8a or Advance 8a for guidance. The small business community is expected to have a very exciting year in 2024, and either industry expert can help you be prepared for whatever is ahead. Neither charge for an initial consultation.