Did you know you can highlight your company’s unique achievements and innovations in 2025 by applying for recognition from a small business award program? Entering such contests is a great way to recognize your exceptional customer service, technological innovation, and all the other components that make your workplace great. Earning such honors is a great way to advance your business, bring it to the attention of new audiences, and burnish its reputation.
Not every accolade is right for every venture, however. Here are some best practices that can position your business to win an award and secure a business awards nomination in 2025.
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Choose the right business award programs to enter
If you are just starting to think about applying for your first award, then your best chances will probably be on the local level. There’s no need to try to become America’s “Number One” — or even make its top 100 small businesses — right out of the gate. While the day may come when your excellence worldwide is recognized on a global scale, it’s advisable to start small and snowball your successes onto larger and more prominent stages.
The good news is that the Chamber of Commerce for your municipality could already have a system for recognizing area businesses. Many small business awards are organized by chambers of commerce or industry groups. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also recognizes top businesses annually, making it a great starting point for research.
Registering for one of these awards is a quick and easy way to build relationships with others in your local business community. If you are so lucky as to win the award for your category, then you will also gain credibility with those people whose opinions matter most: consumers and your fellow small business owners in your neighborhood.
Connect your company to award categories
Another great way to get noticed is to ask yourself what outstanding achievements your business completed in the past year and use that information to find the right awards to apply for. This way, you can connect your company to existing awards and categories and increase your chances of being noticed.
Many recognition programs highlight specific milestones, such as exceptional growth, organizational productivity, or industry leadership. If your business has recently expanded or achieved a major breakthrough, there are likely awards designed to celebrate those accomplishments.
Whatever your company’s biggest achievements have been during the previous calendar year, there’s probably a unique award that aims to commend the best companies in that notable way. Do a Google search and browse the results; you will probably find many honors and categories to choose from.
Small business awards recognize industry leaders
Ready to take on the competition nationwide? Some recognition programs offer national or even international laurels across multiple sectors.
Many well-known awards recognize excellence in areas such as customer service, corporate communications, human resources, management, product innovation, marketing, social media, thought leadership, and more. If you’re considering applying, be sure to check submission deadlines to ensure your entry is received on time.
In addition, some organizations offer awards specifically for entrepreneurs. While some of the most well-known awards highlight top business leaders, there are plenty of other opportunities designed to honor visionary founders and executives who are driving meaningful change.
There are also awards tailored for different types of entrepreneurs, including minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses, among others. Exploring these opportunities can help shine a spotlight on your business and its achievements.
Be a winner and celebrate!
While 2024 might be in the rear-view mirror, business owners can still get mileage out of their business’s performance excellence at this year’s awards. If you own a successful business, consider throwing your proverbial hat in the ring for one of these prestigious awards.
Too intimidated to think of applying? Think again. View previous winners and ask yourself, “Are they really so different from me?” Even if you don’t think you’ll win on your first try, wouldn’t it be great to get a chance to network with those people and expand your professional circles? Applying to awards programs lets you do just that.
Winners receive a lot more than just a trophy, certificate, or medallion — they also gain credibility in the eyes of consumers and the industry at large. When the votes are counted this year, businesses across the country will be thrilled to announce the honors they have earned. Make sure your business is among them!