At last count, there were 4,905 EDWOSB (Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Businesses) firms and 10,184 WOSB (Women-Owned Small Businesses) firms signed up as federal contractors for a Grand Total of 15,089 firms.

Total federal sales for EDWOSB + WOSB firms in 2023 was $34.2B. This gives an average federal sales figure of $2.3M per firm. This number looks strong overall, but I decided to look at what effect ED/WOSB certification holders who were also GSA Schedule Contract holders had on these numbers.

The tables below first show the federal sales of WOSB and EDWOSB and then another with GSA Schedule for WOSB and EDWOSB for Fiscal Year 2023….

The EDWOSB and WOSB firms with a GSA Schedule are producing an additional average sales of $1.3M on top of the average $2.3M in federal sales.

There is a litany of factors for this increase in sales.

-The GSA Schedule firms are far more visible via GSA Advantage, GSA eBuy, and GSA eLibrary.

-WOSB/GSA firms have an easier time making the initial sales within an agency and therefore obtain repeat business from non-GSA contract sources.

-WOSB/GSA come across as more credible suppliers because they went through the GSA vetting process.

For eligible WOSB/EDWOSB firms obtaining a GSA Schedule is likely the single most important marketing activity you can undertake for your small business. I always recommend contacting an industry expert such as ez8a, Advance 8a and/or Advance GSA to help you determine if this is the next step for your firm's success. None charge for an initial consultation.