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Federal Contracting Services

SBS Profile Services for Small Business Contractors

Contracting officers and prime contractors search the SBA's Small Business Search (SBS) to find small firms before they buy. A gap in your SAM.gov record or a thin profile can keep you out of the results. We find what's in the way, fix it and write the profile buyers read.

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Excellent on Google · 133 reviews
Trusted with about 1,200 SAM.gov entities on a federal contract

Your SAM.gov registration and SBS profile are free if you set them up yourself. Federal Contracting Center (FCC) is an independent, privately owned firm, not part of any government agency.

Free SBS Visibility Check

Give us your business name or UEI. We'll search SBS the way a buyer would and call you within a business day with what we found.

Your information is never sold or shared.
The basics

What Is the SBA Small Business Search (SBS)?

Small Business Search (SBS) is the SBA's searchable database of small businesses with a SAM.gov registration, found at search.certifications.sba.gov. It replaced the older Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) in 2025, and existing profiles moved over.

Agencies search it during market research, when they scout for small firms that could take on a purchase. Nobody applies to be in it. Your profile builds itself from SAM.gov, and you add the parts buyers read.

Who searches it

  • Contracting officers doing market research
  • Agency small business specialists
  • Prime contractors looking for subcontractors
  • Small firms looking for teaming partners
Consultant and client reviewing a small business search profile on a desktop monitor
Free check

Why Businesses Don't Show Up in SBS

Run these five checks. The first three live in SAM.gov, which is why a profile problem often starts there.

CheckHow to check
1SAM.gov registration is activeFixed in SAM.gov
Look up your entity in SAM.gov. Registrations lapse 365 days after activation unless renewed.
2You're small under at least one NAICS codeFixed in SAM.gov
SBS lists only firms SAM shows as small. Review the size answers for each code in your registration.
3Public display is turned onFixed in SAM.gov
Choosing "No public display" in SAM.gov hides you from SBS search results. Firms with an SBA certification still get a limited listing.
4Your SBS profile is claimedFixed in SBS
The primary qualifying owner claims it with the UEI and TIN, then signs the small business certification statement before editing.
5Narrative and keywords are filled inFixed in SBS
Search SBS for your main service the way a buyer would. If you don't come up, these are usually the reason.

The SBA says SAM.gov changes can need as long as 15 business days before they show in SBS.

Run These Checks for Me
SAM.gov vs. SBS

What SAM.gov Fills In, and What You Write

Knowing which is which saves you from editing the wrong system.

Pulled from SAM.gov

  • Business name, UEI and CAGE code – your identity
  • Address and point of contact – who buyers reach
  • NAICS codes and size status – what buyers filter by
  • Public display setting – whether you show up at all
Fix these in SAM.gov. SBA certifications come from the SBA's own records.

Written in your SBS profile

  • Capabilities narrative – the paragraph buyers read first
  • Keywords and performance history – the terms buyers type and your recent jobs
  • Capability statement and extra website link – in the overview section
  • Principal owners – you choose who is listed
This is the part buyers actually read.

Same company, two capabilities narratives (fictional example)

Weak

Harbor Point Logistics is a full-service solutions provider committed to excellence and customer satisfaction across a wide range of industries. We deliver quality results on time and on budget.

logisticsservicessolutions

No service a buyer would search for, no place and no proof.

Strong

Harbor Point moves and stores freight for federal and commercial customers in Hampton Roads. We run a 60,000 sq ft bonded warehouse, schedule same-day local delivery and track every shipment online.

freight forwardingbonded warehouselast-mile deliverycross-docking

Names the services, says where and backs it up with specifics.

Mike Major, CEO and Founder of Federal Contracting Center
Why we do this

Buyers Can Only Call the Firms They Find

"Before a contracting officer decides how to buy, they look for small businesses that can do the work. If your profile is blank or out of date, you never make that list. A few clear sentences and the right codes change that."
Mike MajorCEO & Founder, Federal Contracting Center
1,200SAM.gov entities
Proven at federal scale

Our team supported SAM.gov registrations for about 1,200 entities on a deadline-driven federal government contract.

Customer and contract details are confidential.

Our team includes former federal employees, federal market researchers, data analysts, and SAM.gov registration specialists.

What we do

What Our SBS Profile Service Covers

Three streams of work, in the order we do them.

Advisors reviewing a small business profile with a client at a conference table
1

Fix the SAM.gov side

We check every field SBS pulls from SAM and correct problems at the source.

  • Registration status and expiration
  • Size under each NAICS code
  • Public display setting
  • Name, address and contact
2

Write the profile

We walk the owner through claiming the profile, then write the parts buyers read.

  • Capabilities narrative
  • Keywords from real solicitations
  • Performance history
  • Capability statement
3

Test it like a buyer

Once updates sync, we search SBS for your business and send you what we found.

  • Keyword and NAICS searches
  • Certification and location filters
  • Short written summary
Timeline

How Long SBS Profile Work Takes

Day 1

Free visibility check

We search SBS and SAM.gov for your business and call you with what we found.

First week

Fixes and writing

SAM.gov corrections go in, and we write the narrative, keywords and performance history with you.

Up to 3 weeks

SAM.gov to SBS sync

The SBA says changes made in SAM.gov can need as long as 15 business days before they show in SBS. We track them so you don't have to.

After sync

Buyer search test

We search for your business the way a buyer would and send you a short summary.

Pricing

SBS Profile Pricing

When the problem starts in SAM.gov, the bundles fix both sides at once.

Most popular

SAM Registration + SBS Profile

$XXX

For new registrations, renewals and lapsed SAM.gov records.

  • SAM.gov registration or annual renewal
  • SAM data fixed before the profile is written
  • Full SBS profile work
  • Buyer search test
Register and Fix My Profile

3-Year SAM + SBS Profile

$XXX

For firms that want SAM.gov and SBS handled for three years.

  • SAM.gov renewals for three years
  • Profile refreshed at each renewal
  • Buyer search test after each update
Talk to a Specialist

SBS Profile Only

$XXX

For firms whose SAM.gov registration is already active and correct.

  • Claim and certification support
  • Narrative, keywords and performance history
  • Buyer search test
Start My Profile

Registering in SAM.gov and listing your business in SBS cost nothing if you do it yourself; our fee covers preparation and support. All package names, inclusions and prices are placeholders.

Reviews from FCC Clients

ExcellentBased on 133 Google reviews

"Tina Mueller was so helpful with Sam.gov as there were some issues I have never encountered prior to renewing my entities registration. Her guidance and explanation made the process smooth…"

Alan Fleitz · Google review

"Peter has been incredibly helpful getting our contractors set up! He is professional, efficient, patient and knowledgeable."

Katie Epstein · Google review

"Angel was great to work with. She assisted me with our government contracting needs and made sure everything was in order from start to finish…"

Sydney Otundo · Google review

Swipe for more

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SBA Small Business Search (SBS)?

SBS is the SBA's database of small businesses that federal agencies search when they need contractors for upcoming work. Its records come from SAM.gov, and each business can add a capabilities narrative, keywords and past work. You'll find it at search.certifications.sba.gov.

Is SBS the same as DSBS?

SBS replaced the Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) in 2025, and the SBA moved existing profiles over. If you built a DSBS profile years ago, it's now your SBS profile. Check that your narrative and keywords carried over.

How do I get my business listed in SBS?

Register in SAM.gov. SBS pulls its records from SAM.gov, so your business can appear once the registration is active and shows you as small under at least one NAICS code. The owner can claim the profile in SBS once the registration has been active for more than three business days. If you're starting from scratch, we start with SAM registration.

Is there a fee for an SBS profile?

No. The SBA charges nothing to list or update your profile, and SAM.gov registration is free too. A firm like ours charges only for the time and know-how to set it up well. You aren't required to use a paid service.

How do I update my SBS profile?

The primary qualifying owner creates an SBS account, claims the business with its UEI and TIN, signs the small business certification statement once and then edits the profile. Contact details, addresses and NAICS codes come from SAM.gov, so change those in SAM and wait for them to sync.

What should a capabilities narrative say?

Your main services, a client or two you've done them for and what sets you apart, in a few plain sentences. Buyers search the narrative, so use the words agencies put in solicitations for your kind of work. Skip slogans.

Do I need to renew my SBS profile?

Not separately. The profile stays visible as long as your SAM.gov registration stays active, and SAM has to be renewed every year. Review the profile at each renewal and after any new contract or certification.

Do prime contractors use SBS?

Yes. Primes search it for small subcontractors and teaming partners, often filtering by NAICS code, location and certification. Small firms can use the same filters to find partners of their own.

Will a better profile win me contracts?

Not on its own. A complete profile helps buyers find you and judge your fit, but you still need to answer sources-sought notices, reach out to agencies and submit strong offers. It makes sure you can be found when a buyer goes looking.

Can I add my capability statement to my SBS profile?

Yes. The overview section of an SBS profile has a place for your capability statement, next to the capabilities narrative and an extra website link. We add yours, and our capability statement service can write one if you don't have one yet.

Find Out If Buyers Can See You

Send us your business name or UEI. We'll run the five checks, search SBS the way a buyer would and tell you what to fix, at no cost.

Get My Free Visibility Check Call (855) 700-5143

Monday–Friday, 8am–8pm EST · support@federalcontractingcenter.com

Last updated October 2026. Reviewed by the Federal Contracting Center team. Sources: SBA, How to Win Contracts (Small Business Search); SBA, Editing your business profile page, Small Business Search help guide (August 2025); SBA, migration of small business profiles from DSBS to SBS (2025); FAR Part 10, market research. You aren't required to use a paid service to register in SAM.gov or list your business in SBS. Federal Contracting Center is an independent consultancy. It isn't part of, or endorsed by, the SBA or another government agency.