The week-long event involves award ceremonies for outstanding business owners, seminars for those interested in starting their own business and networking opportunities for those wanting to build their professional circle. See how you can join upcoming NBSW activities below.
Overview of National Small Business Week
This year, National Small Business Week is May 3-9. Recognized annually, it is sponsored by the Small Business Administration (SBA), and was established in 1963 when President John F. Kennedy issued the first proclamation to honor the top entrepreneurs in the U.S. This tradition has continued for 63 years, each year highlighting small business owners for their role in creating new jobs, fostering innovation and contributing to local economies.
Small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy, making up 99.9% of all businesses nationwide and forming 66% of all new jobs since the 1970s. National Small Business Week also supports local economies by holding award ceremonies and educational sessions, encouraging business owners to keep going and residents to spend their money at these places. When people shop at a small business, a significant portion of their money stays in the area, being used to improve the community, employ more people and fund more local businesses.
National Small Business Week typically focuses on the innovation and resiliency of entrepreneurs and small business owners. About 20% of small businesses fail within their first year, and about 49% fail within their first five years. Typically, their failure is the result of insufficient funds, poor management and a lack of market demand, proving forming a successful business is no small feat. To survive, the owner must be prepared to work hard, be a good leader and deal with the ever-changing economic conditions.
How to get involved and make the most of National Small Business Week
One of the best ways to help your small business flourish is to immerse yourself in the business world and seek out as many connections as possible. This can easily be done by attending local events and seminars that give you new insights and the chance to meet fellow business owners. Hosting an in-store event is a sure way to gain more foot traffic and reach new customers, and participating in local job fairs and resume workshops may help you gain new employees. To reach larger audiences, sponsoring a music festival or sports team is also a great way to help the community and get your business name out there.
With over five billion people using social media all around the world, it serves as a fantastic resource for businesses, giving them an easy way to engage with the public and promote themselves. A common guideline to follow when posting as a business is the 80/20 content rule, which suggests that the most effective way to build trust with your followers and gain customers is by dedicating 80% of posts to educating and entertaining your audience, and 20% to promoting your business. Studies also show that short-form videos drive the highest engagement and advise that it’s best to choose one to three platforms to focus on, rather than spreading posts across every platform.
Events for business owners
As the sponsor of National Small Business Week, the Small Business Administration holds several events, one of which being a virtual summit. This year it’s scheduled for May 5-6. The SBA also holds several webinars and workshops, and a National Awards Ceremony where they name the National Small Business Person of the Year and recognize winners from each state.
Here are some other events around California for small business owners:
- Introduction to Entrepreneurship: Boots to Business Reboot
- May 4, 2026
- Online
- Business Taxes 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Navigating Self-Employment and Small-Business Taxes
- May 5, 2026
- Online
- Credit Consulting Basics for Small Business Owners
- May 5, 2026
- Online
- National Small Business Week Virtual Summit
- May 5, 2026 – May 6, 2026
- Online
- Funding Success – SBA Insights on Financing in the Current Business Climate
- May 6, 2026
- Online