9 Best Small Business Awards to Apply for in 2024

Small business owners work hard, and they deserve to be recognized for it.

Small business awards recognize the achievements and contributions of small business owners. They also improve your business’s reputation and help establish credibility with your customer base.

In this post, we’ll list the best small business awards you can apply for this year. We’ll talk about what each one is for, what you can win, and how to apply for them this year or next.

Here are the best small business awards you should apply for this year. Note that some registration deadlines may have passed, so we’ve added information for next year’s awards, if available.

1. SBA Small Business Awards

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The U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) hosts the National Small Business Week Awards each year. Categories range from “Small Business Person of the Year” to “Small Business Investment Company of the Year.” These awards “highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community members from all 50 states.” Winners receive recognition during National Small Business Week, a trophy, and plenty of social media coverage.

Deadline: December 5th, 2024

2. The Best of Small Business Awards

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The Best of Small Business Awards are hosted by The Small Business Expo (SBE), considered one of the country’s biggest networking events and trade shows. To apply, your business must have fewer than 500 employees and be privately owned. Winners receive a plaque, recognition, and a “Winner’s Medallion” to display on their website. You can apply to several categories, including best app, best non-profit, best customer service, and more.

Deadline: October 18th, 2024

3. Small Business of the Year Award

Your local Chamber of Commerce will typically host small business awards, and you can apply for them whether you’re a member or not. This example is for Boston’s Chamber of Commerce, which has six categories you can apply for. Winners are recognized at a ceremony where they receive their awards and plenty of media coverage as well.

Deadline: Varies by location

4. The Stevie Awards

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The Stevie Awards are hosted by the American Business Awards, an organization that recognizes business excellence worldwide. Winners receive a “Stevie” trophy and the opportunity to speak to hundreds of business executives at the award ceremony. This year’s categories included management, entrepreneurial, and marketing awards.

Deadline: November 20th, 2024

5. Citizens Small Business Community Champion Award

Citizens Bank hosts the Small Business Community Champion award. It recognizes businesses that “spread culture, provide jobs, and are owned and operated by our neighbors.” This year, 30 winners received a $10K grant, and there were four categories to apply to: minority-owned business, women-owned business, veteran-owned business, and “other.”

Deadline: TBD

6. America’s Top Small Business Awards

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This year, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce created a list of the Top 100 Small Businesses in the U.S. These businesses received a one-year membership, access to small business experts, and national media coverage. Ten of these businesses received a $2K grant, and one was awarded $25K and the title of “America’s Top Small Business.” Applications are currently closed, but you can get updates for next year by following this email newsletter.

Deadline: TBD

7. Shape Your Future™ Small Business Award

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Tarte is a cosmetics company and hosts the Shape Your Future™ Award contest. The award gives Black or African American women an opportunity to start or improve their small businesses. Winners receive up to $25K, and about 20 businesses are usually selected. If you want to apply for next year’s awards, Tarte is looking for brands with a “unique, diverse, and inspirational perspective” and a brand persona that matches Tarte’s values.

Deadline: TBD

8. Entrepreneur of the Year Award

The Entrepreneur of the Year award is given to a business leader “whose vision and innovation creates long-term value and builds a better working world.” In other words, it recognizes an entrepreneur or independent retailer that has significantly improved their community. While multiple people are nominated from different countries, only one winner is selected. This person is celebrated at an international event, where they accept the award in front of other successful business leaders.

Deadline: Varies by Region

9. Independent Business Awards

The Independent Business Awards are hosted by The Business Concept. These awards are exclusive to privately owned businesses and are designed to help small business owners build brand awareness and attract new customers. The selection committee nominates businesses across multiple industries, including construction, retail, home services, and more.

Deadline: TBD

Now that you know which awards to apply to, let’s talk about how to win one.

How to Win Small Business Awards

Here are five tips that can help you win a small business award. Remember, there’s no miracle solution; sometimes, you just have to keep applying before seeing results.

Need a little inspiration? Check out Thryv’s award-winning small businesses.

Research previous winners.

Winning a small business award is like applying for a job. You might think you’re an excellent candidate, but the selection committee is looking for something else.

Do your research before applying for your next award. Look at the winners from previous years and the businesses that they manage. Check out their accomplishments, their branding, and, if possible, their acceptance speeches, too. That will give you insight into what the selection committee seeks in an ideal candidate. Be sure to highlight similar milestones on your application to get their attention.

Set reminders for your deadlines.

You can’t win if you don’t enter. And, it’s easy to put your application on the back burner when you have an entire business to run.

Set a reminder at least a week or two before the application deadline. That will give you time to research your competition and survey your company to see what you should include in your application. You don’t want to rush this, especially since most awards require payment for each submission.

Contact the host or awards committee.

When you review the application or browse the event webpage, look for a contact email where you can submit questions. Even if you’re confident in your business, it’s a good idea to contact the events committee to confirm you have everything they’re looking for in your application. They may even offer some handy tips to make your business stand out from the other applicants.

Submit a thorough and detailed application.

Remember, this committee isn’t familiar with your business. While you may live and breathe your company, they know nothing about it and rely on you to fill in the gaps. Speeding through your application and offering minimal information will not grab the committee’s attention.

Instead, take your time when filling out the application. Collect data from your business and survey your team. Paint a complete picture of your business and its accomplishments from the previous year. That will create a more compelling story that’s likely to resonate with the awards committee.

Participate in events and promotions.

Once you submit your application, your work isn’t done. Follow the awards organization on social media and like and share its content. That will show your support and build a connection with the awards committee.

Most awards also host an event, like a dinner or a ceremony. See if you can attend these events and network with those organizing the awards. Again, that will show your support and build rapport with the judges. After all, voting for someone is easier when you know the person running the business.

Winning a Small Business Award

Small business awards are more than just accolades for your business. They establish credibility and increase trust with your customer base. That leads to more customers for your business and, of course, more revenue.

Use the list above to choose the right awards to apply to. Then follow our tips to increase your chances of winning and building brand awareness for your business.