What is National Small Business Month & When Does It Take Place?

National Small Business Month is an important day for U.S. small business owners because it recognizes their contributions to their communities each year.

It’s organized by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) – an organization committed to helping small business owners build and maintain companies over time. The SBA uses this month, as well as others, to celebrate small business owners throughout the U.S.

In this post, we’ll explain what National Small Business Month is and when it takes place each year. We’ll also list a few other Small Business Months that the SBA recognizes so you can be aware of them, too. Finally, we’ll wrap up with ways you can use National Small Business Month to promote your company and attract more customers.

It kicks off with National Small Business Week – a week dedicated to handing out awards that recognize the outstanding performance of different business owners in the past year. There are conferences and ceremonies, and the President even makes a speech to commemorate the occasion.

Here’s a clip of what it looked like last year:

In addition to National Small Business Month, the SBA sponsors months that celebrate underrepresented business owners like women and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color) communities. Let’s review these holidays in the section below.

National Small Business Months

Here’s a list of Small Business Months that the SBA celebrates each year.

National Women’s Small Business Month

This month honors women business owners. It takes place in October.

National Black Business Month

The SBA recognizes Black History Month in February, but most businesses celebrate National Black Business Month in August. This month celebrates the contributions made by Black business owners each year.

National Veteran’s Small Business Week

National Veteran’s Small Business Week has yet to be announced for 2025, although it typically takes place in October or November. This week recognizes businesses owned by U.S. veterans.

Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month celebrates business owners who are Native American, Alaskan Native, or Native Hawaiian. It’s celebrated in November each year.

AANHPI Heritage Month

May is AANHPI Heritage Month, which honors businesses owned by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is held between September 15th and October 15th. It recognizes Hispanic entrepreneurs and the impact they’ve had on the U.S. economy.

LGBTQ+ Pride Month

LGBTQ+ Pride Month celebrates LGBTQ+ business owners. It takes place in June each year.

How to Celebrate National Small Business Month

National Small Business Month recognizes your contributions as a business owner. It’s a time to not only pat yourself on the back but to promote your company as well. Read on for a few ways to leverage National Small Business Month to spread the word about your business this year.

1. Celebrate National Small Business Week.

National Small Business Week is like the opening ceremony for the Olympics. It’s a spectacle, and there are plenty of activities that you can participate in, whether you attend in person or online. One option is to attend the free virtual summit, which will take place between May 6th and May 7th.

This virtual small business conference features expert-led webinars and networking opportunities with business leaders. You’ll also get access to a government resource guide to funding, contracts, and support programs.

2. Post on social media.

Consider leveraging different social media platforms to post about your business, as well as National Small Business Month. For example, you could tell your followers how you started your business or do an AMA (ask me anything) and answer questions about your experience, your business, or anything else that people want to know. Remember to use hashtags like #SmallBusinessMonth, as this will make your post easier to find on the channels that use them.

3. Support local businesses.

If you are close with other business owners, ask them if they want to partner with you on a marketing campaign. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. You could just add each other’s logos to your email newsletters or place a stack of their business cards on your front desk. These are low-touch ways to subtly promote your business without spending hours crafting complex marketing campaigns.

4. Thank your customers.

National Small Business Month is also a time to thank customers for their ongoing support. It’s hard to have a business without customers, giving them a little token of your gratitude can go a long way for managing your business’s reputation. Give out a discount, publish a thank you post, or just shake your customer’s hands to let them know you appreciate their business.

5. Update your business software.

National Small Business Month is all about improving your company. One way to do that is by upgrading your business technology. AI tools and other management software can improve your operations, and marketing platforms can help you craft effective advertisements and automate customer communication.

If you haven’t done it already, you should audit your business software every year. Continue to invest in these tools, and you’ll improve your business’s productivity. There’s huge potential with AI, so use Small Business Month to explore new technology and network with other business owners who’ve tested these tools.

6. Host a team training.

If you manage a team, National Small Business is a perfect opportunity to host a workshop or professional training. Collect feedback from your team and ask them what type of training they would like to have. Make it engaging and leave plenty of space for discussions, brainstorming, and questions. Bonus points if it’s catered and features experts from your team or industry.

If you have the time, you can also attend an event like a seminar or trade show. These are great places to network with other business owners and learn new skills. Check out this post for a list of small business conferences happening in May.

Celebrating National Small Business Month

You’ve worked hard this year, and National Small Business Month is the time to celebrate all your achievements. Your contributions to your community are invaluable, and you deserve congratulations on a job well done. Bookmark the dates above so you don’t forget the other Small Business Months throughout the year, and follow these tips to get the word out about your business.