Obtain government to consumer markets education and training, also called G2C education and training, before determining the business strategies that work best for you. Learn about your options in consumer to government transactions and vice versa.

An education in this field gives you an edge over competitors when it comes to consumer to government contracting. Some ways you can get your government to consumer markets education and training include the following methods:

1. Learn about G2C business by taking courses that cover options such as government grants.

2. Use government to consumer markets education and training to take business courses that teach you about government financial venues like bonds.

3. Discover ways to tap into government to consumer sales by learning techniques from experts who share their knowledge via online resources.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Determine the best ways to gain in G2C markets from courses that teach about grants

Government to consumer business grants help fund many projects, but before applying for one, it's important to understand the inner-workings of the grant application process. Taking courses helps you understand transactions and guides you in determining which grants suit your purposes.

I recommend: YouTube offers a video detailing ways to get a government grant. It utilizes the Government Funding and You series and instructs ways to work with government agencies and registrations. U.S. Government Grants teaches about various types of grants offered between the government and consumers. It instructs readers about free grants, as well as corporate and foundation grants and others.

Learn about consumer to government finance by taking some business courses from a reputable program

Get an inside look into the government to consumer marketplace by getting a degree in business or by taking some business courses. A business course teaches you the legal issues of working with government resources.

I recommend: The College of Business Administration offers courses teaching subjects like business to business marketing, which covers areas not only in business, but also in institutional and government markets. The American International College offers courses covering interactions between government policies and consumer marketing including topics such as business strategies and economical trends in a region. It takes a global approach to learning, offering study abroad opportunities.

Learn how to get G2C contracts by gleaning tips and techniques from the Internet

Find out how government to consumer transactions work and learn how to use techniques so the transactions are in your favor by using Internet resources to develop strategies.

I recommend: The Acquisition Services Directorate branch of the U.S. Department of the Interior Franchise Fund offers information on Federal procurement. Toolkit Media Group offers information on contracting with government services. It includes information on bidding and subcontracting.

Government to consumer markets provide numerous opportunities for consumers, both private and commercial, to take advantage of the many government offerings available. G2C business involves everything from grants and loans to copies of property transactions and credit reports. Government contracts can be very lucrative and constitute a huge market for government to consumer businesses.

Consumer to government markets are built by consumers looking for safe investments through bonds and other safe investment vehicles. In the government to consumer marketplace, consumers are protected by regulations and agencies that keep watch on the public safety. Finally, G2C e-commerce is becoming more popular for citizens to purchase postage, registrations and permits via G2C websites.

1. Look for startup funding through the government to consumer marketplace

2. Land contracts through government to consumer e-commerce

3. Put your money in a safe consumer to government vehicle

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Apply for grants in the government to consumer business

There are millions of dollars available in government to consumer markets that are never awarded. Businesses don't want to bother with the paperwork that is inherent in any G2C business transaction, or they just don't know about the grant possibilities and where they might fit. There are consultants and agencies that can help you maneuver through the government to consumer marketplace.

I recommend: Grant Funding Solutions is a database of sources for consumers to find government grants in the government to consumer marketplace. They sell information that can save you countless hours of researching the G2C markets. My Government Resources is a source managed by the Small Business Administration to assist small business find available grants and loans in the government to consumer marketplace. You can check your eligibility through this site as well.

Utilize G2C e-commerce sites to make government contacts

Getting a government contract, whether it's for developing a new office plaza or providing food in federal cafeterias, is a real coup for any company. Learn to navigate through the federal and regional G2C markets that are available online.

I recommend: Find RFP is a subscription service to find G2C markets that require outside contractors to fulfill the orders. The main site offers many tips and information about the federal and local government to consumer business process. Fed Biz Opps is the U.S government’s virtual government to consumer marketplace. No registration is required to access the commercial opportunities.

Buy bonds in the consumer to government market

Government bonds have always been a safe investment that should be included in a well rounded portfolio. When the markets are most volatile, you usually can find solid returns in government to consumer sales of federal and municipal bonds. Find a broker or buy bonds directly online.

I recommend: At Treasury Direct, you can participate in government to consumer e-commerce at any level. Find information here about bond auctions as well as information on state securities. Zions Direct offers bond sales for more than 25,000 bond producers. They also sell other investment vehicles.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  While paperwork for G2C contracts is indeed weighty, the benefits may outweigh the burden imposed by the government bureaucracy. Hire a grant writer or other freelancer to deal with the paperwork if you aren't up to it.

Private sector businessmen have known for years just how profitable it can be to tap into government to consumer markets opportunities. Government agencies always seem to be cooking up another special project that’s going to require them to solicit bids on goods and services from private industry. Governments also provide a number of grants that assist individuals in launching new businesses or in building up their existing business. Knowing a few key terms about government to consumer markets can help you spot these highly desirable opportunities:

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Free government grants

Knowing this government to consumer market key term can help you avoid getting scammed by an unreputable Internet advertiser. When you see an ad for 'free government grants', that's your first indication that the advertiser is trying to reel you into an agreement that's more profitable for the advertiser than for you. As the name implies, government grants are always free and are awarded by the government in exchange for your promise to provide goods or services.

I recommend: U.S. Government Grants reveals the truth behind the “free government grants” scams circulating on the Internet.

Sources sought notice

You'll see synopses of sources sought notices on websites posting ads from governmental agencies. While you shouldn't consider these notices as work solicitations, you should regard them as notices that an agency is scouting around for resources it might need for special projects.

I recommend: Fed Biz Opps explains how to search for sources sought notices on government to consumer websites.

Treasury auctions

The United States Treasury Department sells marketable securities through treasury auctions events. Not only do these auctions allow the securities to be sold and transferred, but they also allow the U.S. Treasury to calculate the current return yield of these commodities.

I recommend: Treasury Direct can take you through the entire process treasury auctions follow, from the announcements in major media outlets that the securities are available, through the bidding cycle and to the time they are actually issued.

Consumer markets

Though many in the business world use the term consumer markets in everyday conversations, few might be able to offer a precise definition of the term. Consumer markets refers to the buying and selling of a large variety of consumer goods and services that are purchased by individuals for personal use.

I recommend: ICIC-Boston teaches how consumer markets are one of the three major markets and explains how they are different from commercial and government markets.

Consumer market research

Government to consumer markets expertise depends on your understanding of consumer market research trends. These trends identify the characteristics of consumers who purchase certain items for personal use. Consumer market researchers collect the data on a case-by-case basis, usually through customer surveys.

I recommend: Cornell University teaches about the primary and secondary research sources for effective consumer market research.

E-government collaborative systems

Some large corporations are engaging in e-government collaborative systems that optimize private industry's transactions with government agencies. The current thinking is that these systems will offer an 'open commerce platform' for government to consumer exchanges.

I recommend: WITS2001 explains how e-government collaborative systems are facilitating the buying, selling and transferring of goods and services between government agencies and private vendors.

Pricing and costs of government to consumer markets, commonly referred to as G2C markets, include two factors. One is the cost of getting connected to government markets, such as subscription services and fees. The second is the actual price of goods and services that can be purchased from the government.

Some of the goods and services available for purchase from the government by individuals or businesses include investments, collectibles and government property. To explore some of these areas and find out the pricing and costs involved with consumer to government transactions:

1. Determine G2C business costs of federal securities trading;

2. Find out the costs of government issued collectibles;

3. Save money on equipment and vehicles by finding prices of government auction items.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase government securities in G2C markets

Government securities like U.S. and municipal bonds and treasury notes remain a safe and profitable investment. While some securities can be purchased for free, there are fees involved when you use the services of a broker.

I recommend: TreasuryDirect from U.S. Department of the Treasury allows users to purchase and redeem securities, including Series EE Savings Bonds and treasury notes, from the U.S. Department of the Treasury with no broker fees. Zions Direct allows investors to purchase bonds at institutional prices. There are some no-load funds that can be purchased without a fee, while there is a commission of just over $10 on others. The Vanguard Group trades government securities and bonds. Assisted orders range from no fee to $25 per order depending on the type of account. Standard auction orders are about $10. There is a $50 commission fee for mortgage-backed securities, municipal bonds and commercial paper. Rates are subject to change.

Purchase collectibles and documents in the government-to-consumer industry

The government is a good source of collectible items like stamps and coins for private collections or gifts. Consumers can also purchase copies of official government documents.

I recommend: The United States Postal Service has many items for stamp collectors. Some items include first day covers for less than $1 each and uncut sheets. Uncut sheets are mostly less than $80, but some are more than $300. Coin collectors can purchase items from the United States Mint. Many proof sets are less than $50, while prices for special coins and sets range from one cent to more than $400. In general, most single historical coins are a priced a little more than their actual monetary worth. Purchase copies of items like court records, census pages, immigration records and military records and draft cards from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Prices are generally $25 for a single document to $75 for a case file.

Check out auctions in government to consumer sales

Government auctions are a popular resource in the government-to-consumer marketplace. They include auctions of seized property, such as foreclosures and criminal seizures, government surplus items and used equipment and supplies from various local and national agencies.

I recommend: There many auction sites available online. Legitimate sites include GovDeals, GSA Auctions and Government Liquidation, a division of Liquidity Services. Registration for all sites is free, although the GSA charges $1 for registering a credit card, which is refunded after the card is verified. Items for auction range from aircraft parts to scrap metal to vehicles, so pricing of items vary. To get pricing ideas, browse records of closed auctions.