Small contractors get offered paid help for things the government gives away free. Here is what sellers charge, from 51 prices on sellers' own pricing pages, next to the official free route for each.
Prices checked October 18, 2026. They are examples, not quotes, and some include extra work beyond the free step. Each price links to the seller's own pricing page so you can check it. We state prices only and don't rate anyone. General information, not legal advice.
Sellers charge $399 to $2,499 (7 seller pages)
Free route: Register or renew directly at SAM.gov. Free help from the Federal Service Desk (fsd.gov, 866-606-8220) and APEX Accelerators. Official source: sam.gov · content.govdelivery.com
| Price | Billed | What it covers | Seller (pricing page) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $399 | one-time | SAM.gov registration, flat fee | GovProposals |
| $498 | per year | Annual renewal (listed $598, shown $498) | Federal Filing |
| $500 | one-time | SAM.gov Registration Support | AAAT3 Services, LLC |
| $899 | one-time | SAM.gov registration, UEI & CAGE, reps and certs (done for you) | GERC Consulting |
| $1,298 | one-time | New registration incl. one year of SAM registration, UEI, account setup (listed $1,398, shown $1,298) | Federal Filing |
| $1,499 | per year | Annual SAM renewal service | fed.net |
| $2,499 | one-time | New SAM registration incl. SBS profile, NAICS/PSC selection, case manager for one year | fed.net |
Sellers charge $899 to $1,298 (2 seller pages)
Free route: The UEI is issued free during SAM.gov registration. A CAGE code is assigned free after you submit a SAM registration (or via the NCAGE tool for non-US entities). Official source: sam.gov
| Price | Billed | What it covers | Seller (pricing page) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $899 | one-time | SAM.gov registration incl. UEI and CAGE (bundled; no standalone UEI/CAGE price) | GERC Consulting |
| $1,298 | one-time | New registration package listing 'Get a UEI Number' (bundled) | Federal Filing |
Sellers charge $49 to $350 (5 seller pages)
Free route: APEX Accelerators review capability statements for free. Free templates such as the VA OSDBU packet exist. Official source: apexnorcal.org · va.gov
| Price | Billed | What it covers | Seller (pricing page) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $49 | one-time | Basic automated capability statement PDF | RickerTime |
| $99 | one-time | AI-enhanced capability statement | RickerTime |
| $99 | one-time | Capability statement, editable one-pager | BidPacked |
| $349 | one-time | Human-developed capability statement | RickerTime |
| $350 | one-time | Capability statement design (a la carte) | Federal Bid Partners |
Sellers charge $299 to $1,000 (4 seller pages)
Free route: The profile is free. Most of it pulls from SAM; the capabilities narrative and keywords are edited by the business itself (via SBA, using the same SAM login). APEX can help for free. Official source: search.certifications.sba.gov
| Price | Billed | What it covers | Seller (pricing page) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $299 | one-time | SBA Small Business Search profile update | Ez8a |
| $500 | one-time | DSBS Profile Builder | AAAT3 Services, LLC |
| $697 | one-time | DSBS profile setup | ARC Business Solutions |
| $1,000 | one-time | DSBS profile optimization and keyword analysis | Small Business Development Group, Inc |
Sellers charge $250 to $6,700 (9 seller pages)
Free route: Apply free at certifications.sba.gov (VetCert for VOSB/SDVOSB). SBA staff and resource partners (APEX, SBDC) help free. Official source: certifications.sba.gov
| Price | Billed | What it covers | Seller (pricing page) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $250 | one-time | 8(a) certification kit (self-serve) | Ez8a |
| $500 | one-time | Business Certification Support | AAAT3 Services, LLC |
| $699 | per application | Certification application support, per application (WOSB/EDWOSB, VOSB/SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, state) | GovProposals |
| $1,000 | one-time | SDVOSB renewal (full) | Ez8a |
| $2,250 | one-time | WOSB recertification | Ez8a |
| $2,598 | one-time | SBA certifications package (page also lists one year of SAM registration) | Federal Filing |
| $3,000 | one-time | 8(a), HUBZone and WOSB certifications | GSAProposal |
| $4,200 | one-time | 8(a) application | Ez8a |
| $6,700 | one-time | 8(a) certification package (full support), +$300 per extra owner/key employee over two | Ez8a |
Sellers charge $1,499 to $7,600 (5 seller pages)
Free route: GSA Vendor Support (877-495-4849), GSA's free Pathways to Success training and MAS roadmap, and APEX Accelerators. Official source: apexaccelerators.us
| Price | Billed | What it covers | Seller (pricing page) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,499 | one-time | GSA MAS offer preparation, flat fee (eligibility screen; refund if ineligible) | GovProposals |
| $2,995 | one-time | GSA proposal preparation, veteran/SDVO rate | GSAProposal |
| $4,995 | one-time | GSA proposal preparation, standard rate | GSAProposal |
| $7,500 | one-time | GSA Springboard offer build + 24 months post-award guidance | Federal Bid Partners |
| $7,600 | one-time | GSA Schedule full-service package | gsaschedulecontract.com |
Sellers charge $129 to $2,500 (6 seller pages)
Free route: SAM.gov Contract Opportunities search and saved alerts (free with login). APEX bid-match (free). Free vendor accounts on state/local portals. Official source: sam.gov · napex.us
| Price | Billed | What it covers | Seller (pricing page) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $129 | per month | Bid Desk monthly (federal solicitations, 3 seats) | FederalContracts |
| $299 | per month | SAM.gov contract monitoring (daily alerts by NAICS) | BidReady |
| $500 | per year | Starter plan, 1 user | HigherGov |
| $768 | per year | Bid Desk annual | FederalContracts |
| $2,088 | per year | Capture annual (adds NYC bids, 15 seats) | FederalContracts |
| $2,500 | per year | Standard plan, up to 10 users | HigherGov |
Sellers charge $19.99 to $12,000 (9 seller pages)
Free route: APEX Accelerators review proposals for free (advisory; they don't write them). Solicitation documents on SAM.gov are free. Official source: virginiaapex.org · napex.us
| Price | Billed | What it covers | Seller (pricing page) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $19.99 | one-time | One government proposal for one job | XL Eagle |
| $149 | one-time | Compliance matrix + annotated outline | BidPacked |
| $649 | one-time | Full narrative draft | BidPacked |
| $699 | one-time | Proposal writing, one bid ($999 two bids) | GovProposals |
| $1,250 | one-time | State/local easy bid (30+ days' notice) | GERC Consulting |
| $1,499 | per month | Proposal writing monthly plans, from | GovProposals |
| $1,500 | one-time | Bid proposal writing, per proposal | BidReady |
| $6,500 | one-time | Standard federal proposal, early (rush $8,125) | GERC Consulting |
| $12,000 | one-time | Complex federal proposal, from (rush from $15,000) | GERC Consulting |
Sellers charge $500 to $6,000 (4 seller pages)
Free route: APEX Accelerators (free counseling, bid matching, proposal help), SBDCs, SCORE, SBA district offices. Official source: apexaccelerators.us · napex.us
| Price | Billed | What it covers | Seller (pricing page) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | one-time | '2022 Federal Essentials Kit' (sale; list $5,000) | Small Business Development Group, Inc |
| $2,000 | one-time | California Phase 1 Registration & Foundation package (SAM, UEI/CAGE, state registrations, NAICS/PSC) | GERC Consulting |
| $2,500 | one-time | Agency Reconnaissance and Engagement | Small Business Development Group, Inc |
| $6,000 | one-time | Federal Accelerator Package (sale; list $6,500) | Small Business Development Group, Inc |
Grab our free one-page checklist, where every free line links to the government page that says so. Or see the public scoreboard of this small business run with a team of AI agents.