Redstone Government Consulting Blog | Small Business Compliance (2)

The January 2025 EO 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, triggered mixed emotions amongst HR professionals in the GovCon community – shock, disappointment, and celebration, to name a few. While all might not agree with the requirements of EO 14173, most likely agree that it has caused a great deal of confusion and uncertainty about what is expected, or, more importantly, what is no longer allowed of government contractors. In a previous article released shortly after the EO was signed, we outlined the crux of the EO and overarching implications. As time has passed and more information has come to light, including Attorney General Bondi’s July 2025 memo for federal agencies, we are gleaning additional insights to share.

Topics: Small Business Compliance, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, Human Resources, Government Regulations, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Service Contract Act

Closing out the year is an important step in your accounting cycle, and it should involve more than just “closing the books.” For government contractors, year-end is about ensuring your financials are accurate, compliant, and audit-ready, not just for tax purposes, but to support ongoing contract and regulatory requirements.

Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Small Business Compliance, Quickbooks, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

On October 21, 2025, the Small Business Administration (SBA) released a state-level analysis or estimate of the impact of a government shutdown on small business lending. The shutdown has frozen the SBA’s core 7(a) and 504 small-business lending programs. These lending programs are designed to support small businesses’ access to funds to acquire or improve long-term fixed assets such as real estate, machinery, and equipment.

Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Small Business Compliance, Government Regulations

Government contracting entails unique accounting requirements that go far beyond basic bookkeeping. There are compliance rules, complex cost pools, and sometimes razor-thin margins, which means the stakes are too high for “good enough.” Errors in cost allocation, indirect rates, or contract setup can create audit findings, repayment demands, or unexpected losses, yet hiring an in-house controller or CFO with the right expertise can be costly and difficult to justify for many small and mid-sized firms.

Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Small Business Compliance, Quickbooks, Organizational Change Management Consulting

Custom reporting is something that every organization wants, but the investment can be overwhelming. It requires significant resources, including staff time and an administrative budget. Not only does the investment feel like a lot, but it can also be overwhelming just to consider what your organization really needs from a custom reporting environment. Typically, an organization using Unanet would consult a professional specializing in Power BI reporting or Analytics Studio. But does it have to be so complicated and so expensive?

Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Small Business Compliance, DCAA Audit Support, Unanet

Government contractors deal with a unique set of rules when it comes to expenses. FAR Part 31 lays out the specific guidelines on what you can and cannot charge to the government. If unallowable costs slip through, you could face compliance problems or see expenses disallowed in an audit.

Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Small Business Compliance, Quickbooks, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

You’ve won the contract; the work is underway (or even finished), but how do you actually get paid? Billing the federal government is an entirely separate process, often more complex than the work itself (if you let it be). Between compliance requirements, strict documentation rules, and lengthy payment terms, it’s no surprise that payment delays are one of the most common (and costly) frustrations in this space.

Here are the biggest billing challenges we see and how to stay ahead of them, so your cash flow doesn’t take a hit.

Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Small Business Compliance, Quickbooks

A well-configured HR system can feel like the backbone of a thriving organization by streamlining processes, enhancing employee experience, and offering powerful data insights. However, even the most advanced HR technology can quickly become a liability if one critical element is overlooked - compliance. Government contractors risk turning their greatest HR asset into a hidden source of vulnerability if they fail to consider compliance in their implementation strategy.

Topics: Small Business Compliance, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DCAA Audit Support, Human Resources, Government Regulations, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Service Contract Act, Organizational Change Management Consulting, UKG Ready HR Software Consulting

Are you interested in learning how to set up and manage labor categories in Unanet to improve project management, timekeeping, and labor cost compliance for government contractors? Labor categories are critical for organizing and tracking work performed on contracts, especially on Time & Materials (“T&M”) contracts. While cost type and fixed price billing may not require a labor category for billing purposes, they can still play an important role in project management and budgeting at the contract level. In accounting systems like Unanet, these categories classify time into roles such as Project Manager or Senior Software Developer that are tied to billing rates, simplifying T&M billing. Unanet also provides flexibility in how labor categories are derived, allowing setup at the admin/master level, project level, person level, or person-to-project assignment level. This adaptability ensures alignment with contract requirements regardless of how your business is structured.

Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, Small Business Compliance, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, Human Resources, Unanet

Government contracts can be a great opportunity. They often come with stability, a steady income, and the chance to scale your business. But they also come with strings attached: a detailed set of rules and expectations, especially when it comes to your accounting. Unfortunately, many government contractors learn about those rules the hard way, which is after they’ve already made a mistake. In this article, we’ll walk through some of the most common accounting mistakes that can derail even experienced contractors, cost you money, or worse, jeopardize your contracts.

Topics: Accounting System Compliance, Incurred Cost Proposal Submission (ICP/ICE), Small Business Compliance, DCAA Audit Support, Quickbooks, Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)