National Small Business Week 2024 is right around the corner, running from April 28 to May 4! The week aims to celebrate the critical contributions that America’s small business owners make to both the nation and their local communities.   Each day is packed with events and resources to help America’s entrepreneurs celebrate their growth and hone their business skills. 

If you’re one of the millions of small businesses looking to bring the celebration a little closer to home, here are twenty ways small business owners can celebrate National Small Business Week – acknowledging their story, recognizing those who support them along the way, and highlighting the true impact that small businesses have on local communities. 

Ways to Celebrate Small Business Week

Here are some practical and fun ways American small business owners can give back to those who make their businesses strong during this National Small Business Week.

1. Learn the History of National Small Business Week

2024 is the 61st annual National Small Business Week. Over the years, the holiday has gone through quite a few changes. Formally created by President John F. Kennedy, NSBW was one of the first holidays established to honor American small businesses. Since its inception, NSBW has taken on some big growth in the form of the SBA’s annual small business virtual summit as well as an award ceremony celebrating small businesses succeeding in excellence in their field, innovation, or even disaster relief efforts.

To learn more about the storied history of National Small Business Week, consider reading more on the SBA’s website.

2. Get Festive on Social

There’s no better time than National Small Business Week for your small business to get posting!  Tell your small business story or showcase the impact your business has on the local community. Use the “official” hashtags for the week: #SmallBusinessWeek, #NSBW, and #NationalSmallBusinessWeek

Get creative and try something you’ve never tried before. Look into coordinating an Instagram takeover with another small business or one of your employees, create your own NSBW hashtags for your business or ones that all of the small businesses in your community can use, or create a photo contest for your most dedicated customers.

3. Customer Appreciation

Customers are the reason small businesses thrive. Most of the time, people choose to work with small businesses rather than national corporations because of the personal touch and individual care that comes with it. With that in mind, make sure each and every one of your customers understands that they are valued this National Small Business Week (and every other week of the year too, of course).

4. Invest in your Education

National Small Business Week is a great time to celebrate your successes but at the same time, it’s great to regroup and think about how you can do better in the upcoming year. Specifically, think about certain fields or elements of your business you’d like to up your knowledge on. There are several great business education resources running throughout NSBW, so there is no better time than now to pick up a new skill or sharpen your existing ones.

5. Partner with Other Small Businesses

Small businesses are what make our communities fresh and vibrant. So, there are few better ways to celebrate local businesses than to team up with another business owner in your local area. Consider offering a special coupon or joint promotion for customers of both of your businesses. And what may start as an NSBW week partnership could easily grow into a huge networking opportunity for you and your neighbors.

6. Invest in Your Business

Reflecting on your business during NSBW means also reflecting on ways your business can expand or improve. There is no better time than now to finally make key repairs or finance an expansion. Especially if you effectively reach out to your local community, NSBW can be a great time to boost your revenue and invest it back into your business.

7. Give Back to Your Community

Your small business gives character to your local community. And your local community makes your small business stronger. National Small Business Week, then, is one of the best times to say thank you to the customers and community that give your business life. Consider sponsoring a local event or donating to a community charity to show your community that you see them.

8. Create an Exclusive Product or Service

Consumers are just as aware of National Small Business Week as business owners themselves. That means there is no better moment to remind your customers or clients of the holiday with a special promotion or exclusive product celebrating NSBW.

9. Say Thank You with Every Purchase

It may sound basic, but the best small business owners know that even the little touches like an extra ‘thank you’ or holding the door is all it takes to make a memorable experience for your customers. Take a chance to remind your customers about NSBW and why you’re so thankful.

10. Don’t Forget to Thank the Small Businesses You Work With

In addition to thanking the customers that keep your business going, don’t forget to thank the other small businesses that do the same thing. Your vendors and suppliers are likely small businesses too and keeping up good relations with them has more value than just social good. Keeping in good touch with your suppliers and vendors can lead to discounts and specials. Just be sure to return the favor when you get the chance.

11. Offer Sales & Discounts, Special Promotions or Offers

Especially if you’re planning on investing in your business during NSBW, it’s essential that you get your customers involved and get sales up. One of the best ways to remind your customers about NSBW is through special timed sales and discounts. Be sure to get the word out about your promotions on your social media and through other small businesses in your area.

12. Host a Live Event

As a small business owner, you are in a prime spot to become a community organizer. Consider setting up a live event at your store or somewhere in your local community to celebrate National Small Business Week. Be sure to invite as many local business owners as you can. Further, feel free to make your event anything from an award ceremony, gala, or even an educational seminar.

13. Celebrate your Team

Remind your team how important they are during this NSBW in the most extravagant way that you can. Your loyal and dedicated employees contribute significantly to the success of your small business, so be sure to remind your team how essential they are. Beyond verbal or written recognition, consider making some concrete changes like promotions or wage increases if possible. There is no better time than now to show your team how much they mean to you.

14. Look Back on Your Own Success

Take a step back and reflect on what you’ve accomplished over the past year. Small business owners tend to look ahead, which is usually a good thing when it comes to productivity and efficiency. But consider taking an afternoon or evening and thinking about everything you and your business have accomplished over the past year(s). Just a little bit of self-reflection can go a long way.

15. Tell Your Small Business Story

Have you ever sat down and told your small business story? Running a small business doesn’t necessarily sound like a riveting story idea at first glance but, anyone who’s run a small business knows that everything from your first day with the keys onward is a unique kind of always-on work. 

Your days of perseverance and endurance are a story worth telling. So, consider documenting your small business story for your social media, sitting down with a local business-interest journal, or even just for your own sake.

16. Support Other Small Businesses

Especially if you are running an established small business in your local area, this is a great time to support younger or struggling small businesses. Look around in your local area or consider reaching out to your regional SCORE office to see what business owners may need a mentor or could benefit from a referral program.

17. Spread the Word about Small Business Impact

Any community that has lost its small businesses can tell you the true impact of dynamic and unique local businesses. 

So while your business is still making a mark on your local economy, kindly remind your customers and clients why they should stick with small businesses rather than take up bigger corporate counterparts. Put together some statistics about the impact of small businesses or some real stories from the small business owners in your area and either post them on your social media or pass them on to a local paper to publish.

18. Take Advantage of Resources

This National Small Business Week, several of the biggest government and private authorities on small business – from the SBA to local small business development centers – are getting active and debuting great small business week events for expanding your network or upping your education. Several of the best and most exclusive events of the week, however, are only available until May 4th, so act quickly!

19. Get in Touch with Your Local Media

Consider contacting your local newspaper, radio, or television station to see what ways they may be willing to help the community celebrate National Small Business Week. Even just a small nudge from your business is all it takes to get more focus on the week! Most local media would snap at the chance to celebrate and honor local small businesses, so being that point of contact can be more than valuable.

20. Get Ready for Next Year!

It’s never too early to get your business in shape for next year’s National Small Business Week! In addition to your local festivities, consider nominating your business or another local owner for one of the SBA’s National Small Business Week awards. In addition to being great for morale, earning an SBA award is also a phenomenal networking opportunity, as there are more than 50 winners each year.

Happy National Small Business Week

Kapitus is proud to support entrepreneurs and small business owners every day of the year. Best wishes and thank you to the businesses that strengthen our local communities. We hope your business makes Small Business Week 2024 a little brighter through one of these 20 celebration ideas. Don’t forget to reach out to us on social media and tell us if one of your NSBW celebrations goes well or if you have your own small business week ideas!