Merry Christmas and a Happy new year celebration to all NL folks out there.

This is the official end of 2014 and it's a time of reflection on what we have achieved, what we tried to achieve (and couldn't) and what we dreamed of achieving (and didn't try). If you happen to visit this thread then you must be a businessman or an aspiring businessman, and therefore we all fall into the above categories.

There are different types of businesses;

- The buying and selling class: This is where as a businessman, you own a shop (or mobile shop) and focus on buying goods and re-selling to existing and new customers and make some profits. You don't move anywhere but focus on your business spot.

- There is also the type that owns a shop or office and render a kind of service or the other. Here you have existing customers and also new customers who walks into your shop requesting for services.

- Then you have the contractors, these are the set that seek for contracts from Governments, multinational organizations, etc. And these contracts can run into millions of naira. It can be a one-off contract or a running contract.

This thread is for existing and aspiring contractors. In 2015, do you want to become a contractor? do you want to have your own registered company and start making money as a contractor? There are rules, there are guidelines, there are processes.....when you learn these, you find yourself on the right track.

Here, you will learn how to register a company, how to register with the necessary authorities, how to package your company (even if you don't have money), what to know about PR, how to get necessary documentations, how to bid for contracts, how to network, how to identify existing opportunities, etc.

Existing contractors can join me in delivering expository information on any of the topics or sectors. So, if you want to make a difference, if you want to explore new opportunities, if you want to become a contractor, indicate your interest so i can commence. I don't want to talk to thin air.

Cheers.

Following....

Interested

Interesting topic.

I am following you 100% sir

Fire on.
I've been considering diversifying into contractor projects in 2015.

Following

Thanks for your interests. I will do my best to enlighten you all on how to become a contractor and make a decent living from it.

First we must understand the Local Content Act. This act sets out specific work scopes that must be performed in Nigeria and it guarantees fair access to foreign companies. The Act seeks to increase indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry by prescribing minimum thresholds for the use of local services and materials and to promote the employment of Nigerian staff in the industry. This act directly affects operating companies, contractors, sub contractors and service providers in the oil and gas industries. In addition, the Act also affects, professional services engagements including legal and financial services in the oil and gas sectors of Nigeria.

From this you will understand that it's your right as a Nigerian with an indigenous company or firm to get contracts from multinationals (basically oil companies). But just because its your does not mean when you walk into an oil company and "request" for a contract, you will get it immediately. There are rules, procedures and processes.

First things first, lets talk about company registration. It's the number one prerequisite.

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***NEW UDPATE JULY 2018***

The OfficeManager project (contractors thread) which we began some 2 years was splendid. It had one core function: render help to contractors across Nigeria participate in the BPO "enjoyment". The Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) industy in Nigeria is a N300billion industry and if you are not participating in it, you are seriously loosing out.

The OfficeManager (Contractors portal) followers, a lot of folks who participated had the opportunity to land new contracts, get their documentation right and networked. Then tragedy happened...

I could not manage it anymore. It became too large and somehow I had to shut it down and go back to the drawing board.

But..

For the past few months, it's been cooking. The OfficeManager platform has been redesigned and I can assure you, it's now PERFECT!

Yes, it can accommodate thousands of users and everyone will still remain satisfied.

I don't need to brag too much. See the features that can be found in the platform:

As usual, weekly updates of latest (verified) contracts published across ALL industries in Nigeria. Every sector is fully covered.
A new set up backend team ready to assist you with whatever issue you might encounter in your contract seeking journey.
Access to hundreds of documents for free download (this will be updated monthly)
Access to our LIVE contract bidding sessions **new**
Access to a chatroom where you can discuss, learn, and network with other top contractors in your industry **new**
Ability to submit your company's project so contractors and vendors can start bidding for it.
And so much more....

The new OfficeManager platform promises to be exciting and fully engaging.

Feel free to visit officemanager.com.ng now called Liner.com.ng and create a new account. All old accounts have been disabled and wiped. So, we are starting afresh with new and interesting goodies.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER A NEW ACCOUNT

Hello...
I'm a fashion designer and will love to do corporate shirt branding for companies. Or is this contracts for just oil and gas?
Nice thread between.

hello friend, i am interested in the contractors business. my company is registered with CAC. i need more details. endy_tp1@yahoo.com. Thanks

Following

cynim:
Hello...
I'm a fashion designer and will love to do corporate shirt branding for companies. Or is this contracts for just oil and gas?
Nice thread between.

You can do branded shirts, especially coverall for companies.

tempbol:
hello friend, i am interested in the contractors business. my company is registered with CAC. i need more details. endy_tp1@yahoo.com. Thanks

Keep following this thread and you will learn a thing or two.

===========================================================================================================
To continue from where we stopped;

Company Registration

Before you can access contracts from multinationals and even government agencies, you MUST be legally registered with CAC (Corporate Affairs Commission). Your company or organization can be registered under three main spheres;
1. Enterprise
2. Limited Liability Company
3. Non-governmental organization

The first one costs around N16,000 if you walk into any CAC office and do it yourself (but costs around N25,000 if you use the services of a lawyer). It takes approximately 2 weeks for your certificate to be ready. The second costs around N65,000 of you do it yourself also (but costs around N90,000 if you use the services of a lawyer). The third requires a lawyer and costs around N120,000.

And before you ask, the answer is yes, NGOs can get contracts.

Now, importantly before you commence registration of your company, you should understand that there are alot of responsibilities that comes with the 3 different registration processes. If you have the money you can go for the Limited liability company and cope with the perks that comes with it which i will explain later. So also is the NGO registration. But if you have limited funds and wish to start small, you can go ahead with an Enterprise registration. Please do not allow people sway you, because some people thinks registering an enterprise is not good enough but like i said, if you want to start small especially with stuff you can manage, then its your best bet.

Let me give you some examples.

A friend of mine has a LLC. We both went to Federal University of Petroleum Resources to seek for contracts as usual. In fact, i actually escorted my friend there cos he was interested in a contract worth almost N100 million. The gimmicks and politics was much and he then requested for a smaller contract and our contact there told us there is a small contract available which is to clear the environment which is already bushy and the school management wants 5 contractors to handle the job with each getting N5million. They refused to accept his application because his company name is **** Oil and Gas Services Limited. They said a "big" company like that should not hustle for such small contracts, that such contracts are reserved for small Enterprise. And that opened my brain.

Another time, i went to NNPC office in Benin and i saw ALOT of contractors. People struggle, lobby and practically fight for contracts but from information i got, it's easier for your company as an enterprise to get contracts worth N800,000 consistently than for your LLC to get contracts worth more than N10 million (lots of politics in play here). And in NNPC, such small contracts are ALWAYS available, just meet the requirements, register as a vendor and get an "inside man", and you are good to go. Don't worry, i will teach you how to get an "inside man" in companies you have never stepped you feet in. It's called the networking game and some people are good at such games.

So, from my own perspective, as a starter i rather register an enterprise and get small contracts from N200,000 to around N2 million (which is way easier to get these days and manage) than to register an LLC and spend 3 or 4 years chasing contracts worth N50 million (which i will never get cos they are for the big boys in the game and as a starter, i CANT compete with them except i wan finish my small capital and go into debts), when i have my footing, i will upgrade my company and go for the bigger contracts, by then, i already know how it works......my perspective!
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If you need direct information on available contracts, offers, multinational companies information, strategies, etc, fill the form and subscribe. You will get first hand information weekly. You need this if you need to grow.

http://eepurl.com/51ycX

We all know that the JOINT ADMISSIONS AND MATRICULATION BOARD (JAMB) have gone fully into Computer base testing, its a nice capital intensive project.I want to erect one in Aba Abia state. I will welcome project proposal from any good contractor/Network Engineer against 2016 Examinations. The project should be concluded before the First Quarter of next yr.for approval. The following are the requirements
1. 200 desktop computer ie the computers will be networked to a central server.
2. A good server that can comfortably grant fast internet service with no Network problems
3. Soundproof generator with good voltage capacity that will serve for the entire hall
4. 5 Split AC unit.
5. Furniture ie the tables and chair roll wise 2*5*20
6. Electrical installation ie lighten point for proper Elumination
Etc.
Submit your proposal to Rivsprings@gmail.com or
call Engr K.C on +234 803 265 6558
For any more inquiries.

If you are an existing contractor, here are some opportunities you might be interested in;

INVITATION TO TENDER FOR THE PROVISION OF VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORK (VPN) CONNECTIVITY BANDWIDTH AND FIREWALL TOOLS FOR NIGERIAN PORTS AUTHORITY.
http://officemanager.com.ng/invitation-to-tender-for-the-provision-of-vitual-private-network-vpn-connectivity-bandwidth-and-firewall-tools-for-nigerian-ports-authority/

Invitation for Prequalification and Tender for the Procurement, Maintenance and Installation of Equipment and Construction of Facility Buildings under the Federal Government Intervention (FGN Revitalization Fund) at Niger Delta University.
http://officemanager.com.ng/invitation-for-prequalification-and-tender-for-the-procurement-maintenance-and-installation-of-equipment-and-construction-of-facility-buildings-under-the-federal-government-intervention-fgn-revitali/

Hmmm databoy these contracts do normal people get them? Cos I see them on newspapers too and think they publish it for publishing sake.
Nice thread by the way. I hope to use what you will dish out here for mine too, in meeting the companies for branded shirts and over alls.
Regards.

am really grateful, thanks a million you are God sent. I have being looking for one to put me through. May God continue to increase you.

Thanks for this awesome piece,please kindly update more info cos my hussy just registered a company and he really wants to go into this contract business from 2015&he wants to start from small contracts.I will appreciate more insight.Thanks

Thanks for the info.I have a feeling this topic will be the most sort after in 2015.Waiting for up date,and Happy New Year in advance!

My appreciation goes to the OP for opening this thread. In this almost ended year, I succeeded in registering my business . My core areas of business are security engineering/Surveillance-CCTV,fence wire,electric fence etc-Internet service/Networking,bulk sms and general services,@OP how do you think I can begin to source for contracts from Federal and other levels of government.Kindly school me about how to play the game!

Now before you begin this journey, you should understand that there are various types of niches or jobs you can bid for, apply for or execute. The most common are;
-Supplies (of anything ranging from building/construction materials, beverages, equipments, vehicles, etc)
-Installation (mechanical stuff, I.T installations, etc)
-Building
-Labour (or manpower)
-Products sourcing or procurement (this means helping an organization source for particular products and also help procure them or purchase them)
-Consultancy
etc.

Just pick an area you think you have some experience or if you have the confidence that you can deliver. That is a good start.

Registration of your company with CAC is just the beginning. Now you must register with Nipex, DPR, have your VAT and tax clearance documents handy (get an exemption certificate if its an NGO), have some insurance scheme (probably workmen compensation, goods in transit, etc). These are the basic registration papers you need, note that most companies request for these and some of them also have their own specific list in addition to these. You just have to find out when applying for a vendor registration.

The most popular list is;
• Certificate of Registration with Corporate Affairs Commission
• Tax Identification Number(TIN)
• Value Added Tax(VAT) certificate
• Tax Clearance Certificate
• Bank details
• Form C02,C07 where applicable
• Memorandum & Article of Association
• Total number of employees
• Registered company address
• Director(s)/Sole Proprietor’ s Signature Specimen where applicable
• Management contact information
• Organizational Structure
• Area of business and previous experience
• HSE policy statement
• Quality Assurance policy
• Insurances
• Financial Information

Registering as a vendor or contractor with most companies is free while some require a fee depending on the category of contract you wish to begin bidding for. Contracts are categorized according to their worth (monetary) e.g. N5 million and below, N5 - 20 million, N50 - 100 million, N100 million and above. This categories differs with the companies or organizations.

There is a new documentation now becoming one of the requirements, and it has to do with a pension scheme for your staff. This is one of the troubles with registering a LLC when you are just starting. It needs to be operated like its a big company with workers.

After your necessary registrations, you now need documentations (loads of documents) e.g. corporate profile, HSE plan document, Employee handbook, etc. We will talk about these more when we discuss packaging. Other contractors can chip in what i forgot to add and emphasize more on what i have said. Will be back in a jiffy.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FOLKS!

Kudos bro. This is one of the most informative threads I have come across on nairaland.

@op nice one.

Lets talk about packaging a little bit.

To become a contractor with a difference you have to do some packaging. You dont have a choice. Truthfully, this is not a small boy's game. No matter how low you are on cash, you must be ready to spend a minimum of N200,000 for a start excluding office environment. And an office environment is a MUST if you want to make it fast. If you cant afford an office, then pair with someone to rent a space, i believe its cheaper that way.

Now you have done all the necessary registrations, and least i forget, here are some of the prices;
DPR registration - N30,000
TAX clearance - N25,000 (picking up your TIN number is free)
Nipex registration - N30,000 (This is compulsory if you want to get contracts from Oil companies).
Insurance (Workmen compensation) - N10,000, this is what i paid the last time i did it for someone using one of the insurance companies.

Now all these are set, there is something you need more than necessary. Corporate Website.

You must have a website if you want to position yourself properly. Last year when i was processing my vendor registration with APIN in Abuja (Aids Prevention Initiative in Nigeria), i was told that i MUST have a corporate email address and website. The organization will NOT contact you if you present your yahoo or gmail address.

This is one of the important aspects of packaging your company. Secondly, do you have a complimentary card? Do you have a beautifully designed pamphlet? Do you have a corporate profile designed as a brochure? Do you have a "previous jobs done experience"? If you don't have these then get them. They wont cost much but they will speak for you.

If you have an office, do you have a secretary? You really don't need to have so much money to retain one. Let the secretary do other stuff like typesetting, etc so income can be generated from those to pay him/her at the end of the month. Simple but effective strategy.

Do you have a dedicated office phone line? Nokia torch light is N3,000 and am hearing of a new package from Glo whereby you buy a line and pay N2,000 monthly, then have access to call any network for free though out the month. These are not really expensive but will package you to an extent.

And most importantly dress well at all times. You never know who you might run into especially in the bank. PSquare once said people tend to step out of their way and shiver when they walk, it's not because they are pompous or proud, but because of the way the package themselves. A popular saying goes "dress the way you want to be addressed" - Arch Bishop Idahosa.
============================================================================================================
[b]In the previous post, i talked about documentation. Pardon me cos i want to do some marketing, you can consider it my incentive for dishing out information on this thread nobody will give to you. These documents are compulsory and if you cant write them, pay a professional to write them for you. And trust me, they are not cheap. Sometimes i charge almost N70,000 just to write HSE policy document and HR manual which culminates to almost 100 pages. A guy i know did some packaging including writing these documents for a company and he was paid N450,000 (i was like: WOW, this guy don hammer).

It's not easy to cough out money for these and thus making it hard for people to set up companies as contractors. I setup a solution sometime ago and people who have requested for it are really smiling cos the solution really cut down their expenses almost 100%. The solution is the Office Manager Bundle Pack which contains over 200 official documents including HSE policy documents, Employee handbook, HR manual, proposals, business plans, financial documents and templates, Contractor's documents, Agreement documents, etc. If you want to become a contractor with a difference and have a piece of the local content chop, then you MUST possess these documents. You will thank me later.

The whole pack of documents is being sold for N8,000 in the official website www.officemanager.com.ng BUT my intention of opening this thread is not to make money but to help. I know if some of you guys here get established, you will definitely give me a call one day for JV or to work with you as a sub contractor in some projects (happy ending). So, if you need these documents i will give it to you for N3000 but it's for people following this thread. Send me an email on nwakstar2020@gmail.com or text me on 09050915360. To start this race in this year 2015, instead of spending over 100k for documents which are a necessity, am helping you get them for 3k. [/b]
===========================================================================================================

Back to business.

Lets talk about networking. You dont have an inside man in the company, no problem. You dont know anyone who works there, no problem. get ready to learn some tricks and strategies.

databoy247:
Lets talk about packaging a little bit.

To become a contractor with a difference you have to do some packaging. You dont have a choice. Truthfully, this is not a small boy's game. No matter how low you are on cash, you must be ready to spend a minimum of N200,000 for a start excluding office environment. And an office environment is a MUST if you want to make it fast. If you cant afford an office, then pair with someone to rent a space, i believe its cheaper that way.

Now you have done all the necessary registrations, and least i forget, here are some of the prices;
DPR registration - N30,000
TAX clearance - N25,000 (picking up your TIN number is free)
Nipex registration - N30,000 (This is compulsory if you want to get contracts from Oil companies).
Insurance (Workmen compensation) - N10,000, this is what i paid the last time i did it for someone using one of the insurance companies.



Now all these are set, there is something you need more than necessary. Corporate Website.

You must have a website if you want to position yourself properly. Last year when i was processing my vendor registration with APIN in Abuja (Aids Prevention Initiative in Nigeria), i was told that i MUST have a corporate email address and website. The organization will NOT contact you if you present your yahoo or gmail address.

This is one of the important aspects of packaging your company. Secondly, do you have a complimentary card? Do you have a beautifully designed pamphlet? Do you have a corporate profile designed as a brochure? Do you have a "previous jobs done experience"? If you don't have these then get them. They wont cost much but they will speak for you.

If you have an office, do you have a secretary? You really don't need to have so much money to retain one. Let the secretary do other stuff like typesetting, etc so income can be generated from those to pay him/her at the end of the month. Simple but effective strategy.

Do you have a dedicated office phone line? Nokia torch light is N3,000 and am hearing of a new package from Glo whereby you buy a line and pay N2,000 monthly, then have access to call any network for free though out the month. These are not really expensive but will package you to an extent.

And most importantly dress well at all times. You never know who you might run into especially in the bank. PSquare once said people tend to step out of their way and shiver when they walk, it's not because they are pompous or proud, but because of the way the package themselves. A popular saying goes "dress the way you want to be addressed" - Arch Bishop Idahosa.
============================================================================================================
[b]In the previous post, i talked about documentation. Pardon me cos i want to do some marketing, you can consider it my incentive for dishing out information on this thread nobody will give to you. These documents are compulsory and if you cant write them, pay a professional to write them for you. And trust me, they are not cheap. Sometimes i charge almost N70,000 just to write HSE policy document and HR manual which culminates to almost 100 pages. A guy i know did some packaging including writing these documents for a company and he was paid N450,000 (i was like: WOW, this guy don hammer).

It's not easy to cough out money for these and thus making it hard for people to set up companies as contractors. I setup a solution sometime ago and people who have requested for it are really smiling cos the solution really cut down their expenses almost 100%. The solution is the Office Manager Bundle Pack which contains over 200 official documents including HSE policy documents, Employee handbook, HR manual, proposals, business plans, financial documents and templates, Contractor's documents, Agreement documents, etc. If you want to become a contractor with a difference and have a piece of the local content chop, then you MUST possess these documents. You will thank me later.

The whole pack of documents is being sold for N8,000 in the official website www.officemanager.com.ng BUT my intention of opening this thread is not to make money but to help. I know if some of you guys here get established, you will definitely give me a call one day for JV or to work with you as a sub contractor in some projects (happy ending). So, if you need these documents i will give it to you for N3000 but it's for people following this thread. Send me an email on nwakstar2020@gmail.com or text me on 09050915360. To start this race in this year 2015, instead of spending over 100k for documents which are a necessity, am helping you get them for 3k. [/b]
===========================================================================================================

Back to business.

Lets talk about networking. You dont have an inside man in the company, no problem. You dont know anyone who works there, no problem. get ready to learn some tricks and strategies.

Am really learning.. God bless you sir..

Questions are welcome.

cynim:
Hello...
I'm a fashion designer and will love to do corporate shirt branding for companies. Or is this contracts for just oil and gas?
Nice thread between.

wat u need is a pr for ur biz.

Goodmorning peeps

Back to business.

Lets talk about networking. You dont have an inside man in the company, no problem. You dont know anyone who works there, no problem. get ready to learn some tricks and strategies. [/quote]



This part is the main koko of the matter!

Spill it bro.........

Following and watching like a hawk!

Nice thread!!

Ok bro iam with you

I swear...this is simply amazing. God bless d OP...

tkyl:

Back to business.

Lets talk about networking. You dont have an inside man in the company, no problem. You dont know anyone who works there, no problem. get ready to learn some tricks and strategies.



This part is the main koko of the matter!

Spill it bro.........

Following and watching like a hawk!

Nice thread!!

LOL