BC BID FOR SMALL BUSINESS: IS IT WORTH THE EFFORT?

Let’s not sugarcoat it: registering for BC Bid as a small business owner is a slog. A maze of forms, platforms, profile setups, acronyms, and vague instructions. If you’ve already tried it, you know what I mean.

If you haven’t — buckle up.

It’s Wednesday night, and over the course of the last few days, I just spent 20+ hours going through the process of registering JSDCo on BC Bid. And honestly? If I didn’t have ChatGPT and that famous Seinen stubbornness (thank you Dad!), I don’t know if I would’ve finished. Plus…I still don’t even know if I did it right…only time will tell.

So… was it worth it? Will it lead to more work? Better connections? A stronger business? Or did I just feed nearly 3 work days of my life into an administrative void? Here’s what I found. And here’s what I think you should know before diving in.

WHY I EVEN BOTHERED

Let’s get this out of the way: I didn’t do this for fun.

I did it because I believe in what JSDCo does — strategic, human-first branding and design that helps communities, organizations, and businesses in Northern BC actually grow. I want to work with municipalities, non-profits, Indigenous orgs, and regional teams on the kind of projects that move the needle. That meant getting into the system.

BC Bid is one of the ways the Province of BC connects suppliers with public sector opportunities.

And as unsexy as that sounds, some of those contracts could be the difference between scraping by and building something long-term.

But here’s the reality check…

WHAT THEY DON’T TELL YOU

You’re not just signing up for one thing.

You’re signing up for:

• BCeID (and verifying it in person, sometimes)

• BC Bid (which links to Ariba, which links to SAP)

• Ariba Network (and the Supplier Portal inside of it)

• Capability Profiles, Service Codes, Commodity Codes

• Mandatory contact fields that don’t apply to your business

• Way too many password resets

The language feels like it’s made for massive corporations. The process assumes you’ve got an admin team. And at every step, you’re asking yourself: “Wait, am I even doing this right?”.

Honestly, what’s life in small business without a little self-doubt and regret sprinkled in right?

SO Is It Worth It?

Here’s the honest answer:

Yes — if you’re playing a long game.

Yes — if you want access to big contracts and legit partnerships.

Yes — if you’re willing to put in the setup time, then automate the rest.

But…

No — if you’re looking for a quick win.

No — if you make time for admin.

No — if this would pull you too far away from your core customers.

WHAT KEPT ME FROM LOSING MY MIND

Here are a few things that helped me stay sane. If you think that’s an over-reaction…it could be, but honestly the whole experience made me question if it’s actually worth it.

BEFORE YOU START

• Write out a clear reason why you want to be on BC Bid. You’ll need this reminder.

• Gather your business info ahead of time: BC Registry #, CRA #, service categories, etc.

During Setup

• Use ChatGPT to help interpret unclear prompts, codes, and requirements. Seriously…this saved my bacon so many times. Even the free version will help keep your cool.

• Set up a folder on your computer for all your PDF uploads, profile copy, and verification docs. Why? Because you’ll need it… a lot. No seriously. Over and over.

• Make a checklist of every form, portal, and approval step.

• Don’t be afraid to skip questions that don’t apply — many fields are optional, despite how they look. You can always circle back.

AFTER SETUP

• Set a reminder to review and update your Ariba profile every 3–6 months.

• Search for open RFQs once a week. That’s a great place to start. Just pour a coffee, sit down, and go hunting for your next opportunity. Some of these gigs…if you land them, you won’t have to look for work again for a year.

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Many orgs are surprisingly responsive once you’re in the system, and if they don’t respond…well, they aren’t the kind of orgs you wanna work with anyway.

SO! THE BIG QUESTION. SHOULD YOU DO IT?

Here’s a quick checklist. If you can say “yes” to at least 3 of these, BC Bid might be worth it.

• You want to work with local government or public sector clients.

• You’re willing to put in 10–30 hours of admin to get set up.

• You already have clear offerings and pricing.

• You can write or present proposals with confidence.

• You believe in what you do — and know you can deliver at a high level.

A FEW NOT-SO-FINAL THOUGHTS

BC Bid isn’t built for small businesses. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be there.

Sometimes showing up in hard-to-reach places is how we change things. Sometimes the most important thing is simply to try — even if it sucks…especially when it sucks. Even if it’s complicated. Even if it doesn’t work out right away.

Because the more of us that get into these systems — the more we normalize doing business with heart, with clarity, and with community in mind.

That’s the long game I’m playing. And if you are too, I hope this helped push you over the edge and inspired you dig in.

THINKING OF REGISTERING WITH BC BID?

Drop me a line if you want to chat.

I’m not a procurement expert — but I’ve been through the damn process and I’ll happily share my experience with you because together we can do this.

Joshua Seinen / Founder of JSDCo