How to Choose an SBIR Grant Writer in 2026: A Buyer’s Guide

SBIR Grant Writers · November 2026

Hiring help with an SBIR or STTR proposal is a real investment of money and time, and the market now ranges from independent consultants to agencies to software platforms. Providers price their work differently, define success differently, and use AI to very different degrees. This guide sets out the questions worth asking any provider, including us, before you sign an engagement.

1. What will I pay in total, and when?

Common pricing models include a fixed price per application, hourly billing, monthly retainers, and arrangements where part of the fee depends on whether you are funded. Each can work. What matters is that you know the total before you start.

Ask for the full cost in writing, including any fee that is payable only if you are funded.
If any part of the fee depends on the outcome, ask how it is calculated, when it is due, and how it fits with your award budget. Your accountant or the agency’s grants management staff can confirm how such costs should be treated.
Check what is included: budget and budget justification, letters of support, biosketches, registrations, and resubmission support.

2. How is your success rate calculated?

A success rate is only useful if you know what it measures. Before relying on any figure, ask:

What is counted as a submission, and what is counted as a success?
What date range does it cover, and are pending applications excluded?
Are resubmissions counted separately or together with first attempts?
Does it cover only work done by this firm, or also work done by its writers elsewhere?
Can they show recent funded examples in your field, with the client’s permission?

Comparisons to a “national average” are only meaningful when the average matches the same agencies, programs, and phases.

3. Will any part of my proposal be drafted by AI?

Agencies have published guidance on the use of generative AI in proposal preparation, and you remain responsible for everything you submit. Ask whether AI tools are used, for which sections, and how the output is checked for accuracy and originality. Read the NSF notice to the research community on AI before deciding what you are comfortable with.

4. Who will actually write my proposal?

Ask for the name and background of the person who will write your application, not only the firm’s overall credentials. The best fit is someone with direct experience in your technical area and with the agency you are targeting.

5. What happens after submission?

Ask what support is included if the proposal is not funded: review of the summary statement or reviewer comments, and help with a resubmission. Ask about turnaround times and how many rounds of revision are included.

6. Can I speak to a recent client?

A credible provider should be able to put you in touch with a recent client, with that client’s permission.

Warning signs

A guarantee of funding. No one can promise an award.
Performance figures with no explanation of how they were calculated.
A total cost you cannot get in writing before you start.
No named writer, or no relevant experience in your field.

How we work

SBIR Grant Writers charges fixed, published prices starting at $495, with no success fees. Your proposal is written by a human domain expert in your field, and we do not use generative AI to write proposals. We are happy to answer every question on this list in a free consultation.

Questions About Your Next SBIR Proposal?

Fixed pricing. No success fees. Human-written proposals.

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This guide is general information, not legal, accounting, or financial advice.