Dale Davidson - Solo Subcontracting For The Federal Government

The author of “Going 1099: How To Become Solo Federal Sub-Contractor”, Dale Davidson, joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss the journey of becoming a solo federal subcontractor.(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome (00:17) - Dale Davidson's Background (00:49) - Navigating Hourly Billing in Government Contracts (01:39) - Transitioning to 1099 Subcontracting (04:01) - Importance of Security Clearance (05:51) - Client Relationships and Consulting (07:06) - Understanding Government Contracting (16:01) - Becoming a Prime Contractor (33:52) - Hiring Employees and Scaling Up (35:41) - Recruiting and Retaining Talent (36:24) - Scaling Up: Employees and Income (37:17) - The Soloist's Dilemma (38:53) - Challenges of Growing a Business (41:17) - The Admin Burden (48:02) - The Hourly Trap (49:39) - Government Contracting Insights (53:12) - Personal Stories and Advice (58:32) - Finding Your Niche and Passion (01:09:15) - Promoting the Book and Final Thoughts DALE’S LINKSDale’s BookDale’s LinkedInAI SUMMARYIn this conversation, Jonathan Stark and Dale Davidson discuss the journey of becoming a solo federal subcontractor, focusing on the challenges and opportunities within government contracting. They explore the nuances of hourly billing, the importance of security clearance, and the significance of client relationships. Dale shares insights on transitioning from employee to 1099 contractor, the role of subcontracting, and the complexities of government contracts. The discussion also touches on the mental shift required when moving from a corporate environment to self-employment, the importance of setting boundaries, and the value of understanding market demand.TAKEAWAYSHourly billing is the norm in government subcontracting.Security clearance can significantly increase your value in government contracting.Building strong client relationships is crucial for success as a contractor.Transitioning from employee to 1099 contractor offers more freedom and control.Subcontracting is a common practice in government work and can provide opportunities.Understanding the different types of government contracts is essential for contractors.Fixed price contracts are rare but can be negotiated successfully.Finding opportunities in government contracts requires diligence and networking. ----Do you know you need to niche down, but keep hesitating because you're afraid of picking the wrong niche, cutting off good opportunities, or boxing yourself in?You DON'T need more convincing that vague positioning is a problem.You DO need a way to make positioning feel less risky so you can finally choose a direction, test it in the market, and adjust without blowing up your business.On Tuesday, September 8th, 2026, at noon Eastern Time, I'm running a live workshop called Positioning For Soloists Having A Hard Time Niching Down.That's what we'll tackle in this workshop.It's the second session of my Fall 2026 Soloist Growth Workshop series for expertise-based business owners just like you.Live attendance is limited to 20, so don't wait.Learn more at: https://jonathanstark.com/sgsEnroll in Positioning For Soloists now »Hope to see you live in Zoom on Tuesday.