The SBOC Small Business Awards FAQ

Who is eligible to enter?
The SBOC Awards are open for business owners and entrepreneurs to compete. You do not need to be a member of the Small Business Owners Community to enter and our existing community members will receive no advantage in the judging. In addition, you are NOT required to attend the SBOC Conference to win.

Can I enter myself for an award?
Absolutely. One of the goals of this program to shine the light on the hard work and accomplishments that can go unnoticed in the small business space. Many of us are solopreneurs, so, if we didn't nominate ourself who would?!?

Who will judge the entries?
The preliminary round of judging will be done by a volunteer committee made up of Small Business Owners Community members. Once the finalists (nominees) are established, the judging committee will expand by one member to include the category sponsor. The category sponsor does not select the winner, they simply get one vote along with a vote from each of the judges on the panel.

May I enter more than one category?
Yes. But, please understand that 3 of the 5 categories will strongly rely on the strength of the narrative that can be up to 1,000 words in length. More entries give you more chances but we recommend that you not spread yourself too thin.

Is there a prize for the winner?
The winner of each category will be invited on stage during our Awards ceremony and presented with a trophy from the SBOC. In addition each winner will receive a one (1) year membership in the Small Business Owners Community private membership group. Should a current SBOC member win, they would receive a one-year scholarship for their membership dues.

Do I need to buy anything to enter?
No. In fact, conference sponsors are prohibited from entering the Awards program.

Am I required to attend the SBOC Conference to be eligible to win?
No. You are invited to attend and we would love to have you, but, ticket holders will have no advantage over entrants without a ticket.

When will nominees be announced?

Nominees will be announced at the 2024 Small Business Owners Community Conference "Pre-Conference Virtual Event" on Friday, September 20 at 10am CT. Entrants will be provided a Zoom link to attend the event.

Have a question we didn't answer?

This is our first year of offering this program so it's possible (likely) that we forgot something on the FAQ page - email Pat Miller with your question and we'll get back to you ASAP.