Where should you live to go 1099?

There are thousands of government contracting companies and billions of dollars flowing through contracts here.

If you want to be a solo 1099 federal sub-contractor, this is the best place to be.

But what if you don’t want to live in the DC area?

That’s totally okay, but you need to be aware of the tradeoffs.

You might have a smaller pool of government clients and projects to work on.

The need for your particular skills might be lower.

You might be competing with a labor pool that is less willing to switch jobs, leaving less of an opening for you to go 1099.

But if you have good client relationships in your area and an in-demand skill set, you can still become a 1099. It just might take a little more work.

It’d be like trying to being an investment banker outside of New York City, or becoming a movie star outside of Los Angeles.

You could do it; it’s just harder.

But don’t let the 1099 cart drive the horse. I think you should live where you want to live and then build a career or business that support that lifestyle choice.

I’m moving to Portland, OR and it will definitely be harder to grow my government contracting business.

But it’s worth it to me. And if eventually I have to find something else to do to live there? So be it.

If you’re going 1099 for the lifestyle, make sure you prioritize the lifestyle elements first.

Want the full playbook? Check out Going 1099.