Guide to National Small Business
Week 2026

Every year in May, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) celebrates small businesses across America and honors their contributions through National Small Business Week.

Read more about how Locally Owned & Operated is fighting for the future of small business this National Small Business Week!

Guide to National Small Business
Week 2026

Guide to National Small Business Week 2026

Every year in May, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) celebrates small businesses across America.

Guide to National Small Business Week 2026

Every year in May, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) celebrates small businesses across America.

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Guide to National Small Business Week 2026

The locally owned & operated Cause

Nearly half of all economic activity is generated by small businesses and while National Small Business Week serves to celebrate that, we are also raising awareness for what’s at stake for Main Street.

Approaching a third of small businesses in America are owned by someone nearing retirement and half of them have no succession plan. When those owners step away, their businesses don't automatically stay local. They get absorbed by private equity, sold to out-of-town buyers, or closed entirely.

Supporting local isn't enough anymore. We must protect them.

We believe visibility as a proud Locally Owned & Operated business is protection. When your community knows your business is locally owned — who runs it, why it exists, what it means to the neighborhood — they have a reason to choose you over a chain, refer you to a friend, and fight for you when it counts.

Most locally owned businesses lose the fight to stay local quietly. Not because the community didn't care, but because they didn't know. The business never made it obvious it was worth defending.

As a certified Locally Owned & Operated business, that changes. It puts your business on the directory so customers can find you, and gives you a physical decal so anyone who walks through your door knows exactly who they're supporting.

Your Guide to National Small Business Week

You don't need a marketing team or a big budget. You need to show up consistently for seven days and give your community something to rally around. Here's how to do it.

Announce yourself

This is launch day. Post your LOO badge, say who you are, and tell people why you’re locally owned. One honest sentence about why you started your business will outperform a polished marketing caption every time.

Sample caption: “This week is National Small Business Week — and we couldn’t be prouder to be locally owned and rooted in [City]. Every job we take, every customer we serve, stays right here. We’re [Business Name], and we’re Locally Owned & Operated.”

#NationalSmallBusinessWeek #NSBW2026 #ShopLocal #LOOCertified

Tell your story

Go behind the scenes. Show the shop floor, a job in progress, your team at work. Answer the question customers never think to ask: Why this? Why here? These posts don’t need to be long. They need to be real.

Sample caption: “[X] years ago, I started [Business Name] because [honest one-liner]. It hasn’t always been easy — but every time a customer comes back, I know it’s worth it. Here’s to the businesses that stay.”

#SmallBusinessWeek #MainStreet #LocalBusiness #NSBW2026

Engage your community

This is a good moment to ask happy customers for a Google review — a friendly in-store prompt goes a long way. Cross-promote a neighboring business. Share a milestone: years in business, families served, jobs created in your town. Numbers make it concrete.

Run a promotion

Run a simple promotion if it makes sense for your business — a discount, a bundle, a thank-you offer for loyal customers. Then write a closing post. What did this week mean to you? What does your community mean to you? That’s the post people remember.

Sample caption: “Small Business Week wraps up, but the work never does. Thank you to every customer who chose local this week — and every week. We don’t take it for granted.”

#ThankYou #ShopLocal #NationalSmallBusinessWeek #LOOCertified

Defending Main Street is a National Effort

When you post this week, you're not just promoting your business. You're making the case that locally owned is worth fighting for — for your street, your town, and every Main Street like it across the country.

Be sure to also tag American Operator on socials when you post and use the hashtag #LOOCertified. We’ll be amplifying our members all week long, and every post you share is a chance to reach our full community. Thank you for staying local!

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certified local businesses

Be part of a growing network of locally owned businesses proudly making a difference in their communities. Certification is free, fast, and easy—and it helps customers find and support businesses like yours.