The Really Big List of National Small Business Week 2018 Events, Promotions and Deals


The Really Big List of National Small Business Week 2018 Events, Promotions, Deals, and More

Before you go anywhere or do anything during National Small Business Week 2018, you’ve got to check out this Big List of National Small Business Week 2018 events, promotions, and deals we’ve compiled.

National Small Business Week 2018 is from April 9 through May 5. Small Business Trends is again proud to be a co-sponsor of the Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week this year.

Our list this year has events you can attend in person or watch online. There are even some special promotions specifically for small business owners this week that we’ve included, too. Be sure to check the many other National Small Business Week events happening all across the country starting on April 29. Many local business organizations are hosting their own events to coincide with the SBA’s national celebration.

If you have an event or promotion or deal to submit to our list, please write and share to sbtips@gmail.com.

National Small Business Week 2018 Events

Friday, April 27

#SmallBusinessWeek Hackathon

The goal of this event is to help improve a small business’s financial management process. Owners going to Hackathon will be given help from the federal government, third-party companies, and event sponsor Visa to build an automation tool aimed at some portion of that process. The small business that designs the best tool at this event will win $10,000.

Hackathon kicks off on Friday, April 27, and runs through Sunday, April 29. It’s at the Ronald Reagan Building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC.

Sunday, April 29

National Awards Ceremony for SBA Resource Partners

The SBA will present the following national awards to its Resource Partners as part of National Small Business Week:

  • Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Excellence and Innovation Award
  • Veterans Business Outreach Excellence in Service Award
  • Women’s Business Center of Excellence Award
  • SCORE Chapter of the Year
  • Jody C. Raskind Lender of the Year
  • Small Business Investment Company of the Year
  • Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery, Volunteer
  • Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery, Public Official
  • Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Recovery

You can watch these awards being presented on Sunday, April 29, at 6 p.m. (EDT). The event will be streamed live on the SBA’s Facebook page.

Monday, April 30

National Awards Ceremony for Federal Procurement and More

The SBA wraps up its awards ceremonies for National Small Business Week 2018 by giving out awards for Exporter of the Year and the Small Businessperson of the Year. The Small Businessperson of the Year is awarded to one company from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The SBA also gives an award to the National Small Businessperson of the Year.

These Federal Procurement awards will also be handed out on Monday:

  • Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year
  • Small Business Subcontractor of the Year
  • Dwight D. Eisenhower Awards for Excellence (Services, Research & Development, and Manufacturing)
  • 8(a) Graduate of the Year

These awards will be announced on a stream at the SBA’s Facebook page starting at 12:45 p.m. (EDT).

IRS Webcast: Can I Deduct This?

The agency will discuss common tax deductions for small business owners and entrepreneurs. There are two sessions, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. EDT, that this webcast will play. Register for any of the webcasts by clicking here.

Small Business, Big Celebration – Pittsburgh, PA

Vistaprint and Good Morning America are teaming up for a cross-country, 5-city tour across America to celebrate small businesses making a difference in each city. The first stop of the “Deals and Steals on Wheels” tour is in Pittsburgh, PA. Good Morning America will air this segment in the tour stop city each day. You can join the live audience in Pittsburgh by clicking here. Follow @Vistaprint on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for a chance to win giveaways all week.

National Small Business Week Events at The Microsoft Store Locations Nationwide

The Microsoft Store is hosting a series of events for small business owners in celebration of National Small Business Week 2018.

Customers can register for National Small Business Week Events online or in person at Microsoft Store locations across the U.S. Workshops will take place now through May 21, and specific dates and times will depend on your local Microsoft Store. Here is a rundown of the events:

  • ChangeMakers: NYC Speaker Series
    • What: Enjoy a night of networking and candid conversation with business experts including Rachel Tipograph, founder and CEO of MikMak, Amani Martin, founder and executive producer of Peaceful Warrior Productions, LLC, Pete Krainik, founder of The CMO Club, and Vince Poscente, motivational keynote speaker.
    • When: Thursday, May 3, from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
    • Where: Flagship Microsoft Store, 3rd Floor | 677 5th Ave. New York, NY 10022
    • Register: At your local Microsoft Store, online or in person.
  • Networking Events
    • Modernize Your Small Business in the Cloud
      • What: Learn how to boost productivity and modernize your small business in the cloud using productivity tools like Office 365, and network with other local small business owners and entrepreneurs.
      • When: Specific dates and times will depend on your local Microsoft Store
      • Register: At your local Microsoft Store, online or in person.
    • Modernize Your Small Business in the Cloud for Realtors:
      • What: Learn how to boost productivity and modernize your real estate business in the cloud using productivity tools like Office 365, and network with other local realtors. This event features a livestream keynote talk and Q&A with Josh Altman, star of Bravo TV’s Million Dollar Listing.
      • When: Friday, May 8 at 8 a.m. PT/11 a.m. ET 
      • Register: At your local Microsoft Store, online or in person.
    • Modernize Your Small Business in the Cloud for Medical Professionals
      • What: Learn how to boost your productivity and modernize your medical practice in the cloud using productivity tools like Office 365, and network with other local medical professionals.
      • When: Specific dates and times will depend on your local Microsoft Store
      • Register: At your local Microsoft Store, online or in person.
    • Modernize Your Small Business in the Cloud for Accountants
      • What: Learn how to boost your productivity and modernize your accounting business in the cloud using productivity tools like Office 365, and network with other accountants.
      • When: Specific dates and times will depend on your local Microsoft Store
      • Register: At your local Microsoft Store, online or in person.
  • LinkedIn Lunch and Learns
    • Grow Your Network
      • What: Learn how to create a compelling LinkedIn profile and grow your grow business’s professional network on LinkedIn.
      • When: Specific dates and times will depend on your local Microsoft Store
      • Register: At your local Microsoft Store, online or in person.
    • Fuel Your Business with LinkedIn
      • What: Discover how to use free LinkedIn features to tune your professional profile, promote your professional brand, and create a LinkedIn Company Page.
      • When: Specific dates and times will depend on your local Microsoft Store
      • Register: At your local Microsoft Store, online or in person.
    • Build Your Business Pipeline with LinkedIn Sales Navigator
      • What: Discover how to use LinkedIn Sales Navigator to take selling to the next level.
      • When: Specific dates and times will depend on your local Microsoft Store
      • Register: At your local Microsoft Store, online or in person.
  • Microsoft 365 Business Mondays
    • Get to Know Microsoft 365 Business: Safe and Secure
      • What: Learn how Microsoft 365 Business can fuel productivity, grow your business and safeguard your company and customer data, and help protect your data and devices from one simple dashboard.
      • When: Specific dates and times will depend on your local Microsoft Store
      • Register: At your local Microsoft Store, online or in person.
    • Get to Know Microsoft 365 Business: Outlook Customer Manager
      • What: Learn how Microsoft 365 Business can fuel productivity, grow your business and safeguard your company and customer data, using tools like Outlook Customer Manager, which organizes customer information so you can spend less time managing data and more time with customers.
      • When: Specific dates and times will depend on your local Microsoft Store
      • Register: At your local Microsoft Store, online or in person.

Tuesday, May 1

National Small Business Week Bus Tour – Jacksonville, FL and Savannah, GA

This is the kickoff to a three-day bus tour of small business owners in the southern U.S. The SBA says the goal of the even is to highlight outstanding small business owners at stops along the tour. The event pulls into Jacksonville, FL, and Savannah, GA, on May 1. If you’re not in or near any of the cities on the tour, you can follow along online on Twitter by tracking #SmallBusinessWeek.

National Small Business Week Virtual Conference – Day 1

The Virtual Conference is a FREE three-day webinar series hosted by SBA and SCORE Association. Registration for each of the webinars in this series is free. Organizers say each is an opportunity to meet other small business owners, meet small business experts, and participate in the presentations.

  • To register for any of the webinars in this series, click here.

Here is a schedule for the first day of Virtual Conference:

  • How Changing Consumer Behavior Impacts Your Business: Anastasia Kudrez of Google shares how technology can help you better understand consumer behavior. The webinar starts at 1 p.m. EDT.
  • Addressing Discrimination and Harassment in the Workplace: All aspects of these very important topics for both employers and their employees will be discussed. This webinar starts at 2:30 p.m. EDT.
  • Get New and Repeat Business On Autopilot with Email Marketing: This webinar from Constant Contact gives advice on using email marketing to get new and keep existing customers. The event starts at 4 p.m. EDT.
  • Creating and Sustaining a Strong Social Presence: Sarah Nunes of Vistaprint shares advice on creating a social media campaign for your small business. The webinar starts at 5:30 p.m. EDT.

IRS Webcast: Employee vs. Independent Contractor

This event will discuss the differences between an employee and a freelance contractor, an issue increasingly important to small business owners and freelancers. There are two 30-minute sessions for this event, starting at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. EDT. Register for any of the webcasts by clicking here.

Small Business, Big Celebration – Charlotte, NC

Vistaprint and Good Morning America team up for the second stop on this 5-city tour celebrating small businesses that make a difference there. The GMA segment “Deals and Steals on Wheels” will record live in Charlotte, NC on May 1. You can join the live audience in Charlotte by clicking here. Follow @Vistaprint on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for a chance to win giveaways all week.

Wednesday, May 2

National Small Business Week Bus Tour – Columbia, SC and Fayetteville, NC

The National Bus Tour continues for Day 2 with stops in South Carolina’s capital city, Columbia, and Fayetteville, NC. Look for updates as the SBA highlights some of the top small business owners in these cities. They’ll be tweeting under #SmallBusinessWeek along the tour.

National Small Business Week Virtual Conference – Day 2

The Virtual Conference hosted by SBA and SCORE Association continues for the second of three days. Registration for these webinars is free.

  • Register for any of the webinars by clicking here.

Here is a schedule for the second day of Virtual Conference:

  • The U.S. Economic Outlook and Its Impact on Small Businesses: Vice President of the Visa Business and Economic Insights team Bruce Cundiff shares a short-term economic forecast for small businesses. The webinar begins at 1 p.m. EDT.
  • Managing Your Finances in the Cloud: The advantages of cloud technology in finance management will be discussed in this webinar from Intuit. The program starts at 2:30 p.m. EDT.
  • Grow Your Business in 2018: This webinar from Square focuses on using technology to save you time running a small business. This event starts at 4 p.m. EDT.
  • Simple Steps to Choosing the Right Financing: OnDeck presents this webinar on helping your small business choose the right type of financing among the options available today. It starts at 5:30 p.m. EDT.

IRS Webcast: Pay Now? Pay Later? Can’t Pay? (Payment options)

This webcast, part of a week-long series from the IRS will cover the following topics related to paying taxes:

  • Paperless payment options
  • Setting up payment installments at irs.gov
  • Eligibility for an Offer in Compromise

There are two sessions for this webcast. They start at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. EDT. Register for any of the webcasts by clicking here.

Hour of Power Speed Networking Event

HOP events are being held throughout National Small Business Week in Northeast Ohio. The first event during NSBW happens at HiHo Brewing Company in Cuyahoga Falls, OH at 4 p.m. You can register for the event here.

Small Business, Big Celebration – Indianapolis, IN

This week-long tour from Vistaprint and Good Morning America continues with a stop in Indianapolis. GMA will highlight the small businesses making a difference there and air the segment “Deals and Steals on Wheels” that morning. You can join the live audience in Indianapolis by clicking here. Follow @Vistaprint on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for a chance to win giveaways all week.

Thursday, May 3

New York City Small Business Expo

More than 12,000 people are expected at what’s billed as the largest one-day B2B trade show in the country. Small Business Expo is happening at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center | Hall 1A – 655 W 34th Street, New York, NY from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. EDT.

Anne Chow, the President of National Business at AT&T Business, will deliver the keynote presentation at 9:30 a.m. on digital transformation.

National Small Business Week Bus Tour – Raleigh, NC

The SBA National Small Business Week Bus Tour pulls into the Triangle for its final stop on Day 3 of the event. Small Business owners in Raleigh, NC, will be honored by the SBA as the tour winds down.

National Small Business Week Virtual Conference – Day 3

The Virtual Conference hosted by SBA and SCORE Association winds up on the third and final day. Registration for these webinars is free.

  • Register for any of the webinars by clicking here.

Here is a schedule for the third day of the Virtual Conference:

  • Hug Your Haters: How to Embrace Complaints & Keep Your Customers: Jay Baer, founder of Convince & Convert, discusses the opportunities your small business has when it gets a customer complaint. The event sponsored by Chase begins at 1 p.m. EDT.
  • Sharing Your Story Through Video: Google presents another webinar in the series, this one on the power of video in presenting your small business. The webinar starts at 2:30 p.m. EDT.
  • Pop & Play: How Opening a Pop-Up Shop Can Help Launch Your Retail Brand: Kimco Realty hosts this presentation on the rise in pop-up shops and their ability to launch a retail brand. This event starts at 4 p.m. EDT.
  • Fusion Marketing: The Next Generation of Marketing: Author and entrepreneur Lon Safko brings up the idea of combining your traditional business tools with the high-tech ones of today. It starts at 5:30 p.m. EDT.

IRS Webcast: Small Business Resources

The IRS discusses the informational resources available in the Small Business & Self Employed Tax Center. There are two webcasts, starting at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. EDT. Register for any of the webcasts by clicking here.

Hour of Power Speed Networking Event

HOP events are being held throughout National Small Business Week in Northeast Ohio. This event takes place at Wicked Pickle in Massillon, OH, at 9 a.m. EDT.  You can register for this event by clicking here.

Small Business, Big Celebration – Atlanta, GA

Vistaprint and Good Morning America roll into Atlanta to highlight small businesses there and record the live segment “Deals and Steals on Wheels”. You can join the live audience in Atlanta by clicking here. Follow @Vistaprint on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for a chance to win giveaways all week.

Friday, May 4

National Small Business Week Twitter Chat

The SBA is gathering small business experts from around the country to come together on social media at the end of Small Business Week. This Twitter chat will start on Friday, May 4, at Noon (EDT).

The focus of this Twitter chat will be on starting and growing a small business. Industry and SBA experts (from @SBAgov) will be online offering tips and advice on these subjects so get your questions ready for them now. You can participate in or watch the conversation on Twitter by following #SmallBusinessWeek.

IRS Webcast: Paycheck Checkup

The IRS presents experts during two webcasts (starting at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. EDT) who will discuss whether or not you’re taking the proper taxes from an employee’s paycheck, according to new rules in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Register for any of the IRS webcasts during the week by clicking here.

Small Business, Big Celebration – Nashville, TN

Small businesses in Nashville are highlighted and the final “Deals and Steals on Wheels” segment is going to be recorded in this final leg of this event from Vistaprint and Good Morning America. You can join the live audience in Nashville by clicking here. Follow @Vistaprint on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for a chance to win giveaways all week.

Small Business Week Special Promotions and Deals

Outlaw Giving Small Businesses 20%+10% Off Year Subscription

If you’re in the market for a modern contract management solution for your small business, check out the deal Outlaw is offering small businesses. In honor of National Small Business Week, from now through May 31, the company is offering 20% off all Outlaw subscriptions for 12 months over at https://getoutlaw.com/start/smallbusinessweek. Businesses can also retweet an Outlaw tweet, and send them a DM to receive an additional 10% off.

Dell Has Small Business Tech Deals for NSBW

Need a new computer or want to update the technology in your office? Check out the offers Dell has for small business owners like you this National Small Business Week. You can find the deals available at www.Dell.com/BusinessDeals. All these offers are available from now until May 30, 2018, at 8 a.m. EDT (unless noted otherwise):

  • Dell Vostro Small Desktop – $399 (Save $285)
  • Dell Vostro Desktop – $539 (Save $360.99)
  • Dell Vostro 15 3000 Laptop – $539 (Save $359.57)  
  • Dell OptiPlex 3050 Micro Desktop – $609 (Save $403.86)
  • Dell OptiPlex 3050 Small Form Factor Desktop with Free Hard Drive – $621.99 after SAVE35 coupon (Save $333.72)
  • Dell Precision Tower 3000 Series (3620) – $679 (Save $465.99)
  • Dell Latitude 3590 Laptop with Free Hard Drive – $704.79 after SAVE35 coupon (Save $449.49)
  • Dell Vostro 15 5000 Laptop – $789 (Save $538.14) 
  • Dell Precision 7520 Laptop – $1,499 (Save $1,011)
  • Dell Latitude 5590 Laptop – $1,079 (Save $719.57)
    • Available now until May 13, 8 a.m. ET

National Small Business Week One-Page Website Special

During National Small Business Week, Rachel Miller Designs is offering small businesses the chance to get a one-page website for just $100. A one-page website is a great way to get your small business online for the first time or for a special promotion or product.

The offer includes several stages: Design, Development, Test, and Launch. The deal includes one round of revisions under Design and Development. The cost is just $100. Hosting and domain costs are not included. To get the deal, message Rachel Miller Designs on social media (@rachelmillerdesigns) or email hello@rachelmillerdesigns.com. This offer is only valid from April 29 through May 5.

Small Business Week Website Special

From April 29-May 5, WebDesign59.com is offering service businesses the opportunity to create a custom website with the company’s designer. Service businesses can pay off the cost of this special over a 24-month period. The deal is for new clients of the company only. Other small businesses can participate in this offer if they share news of this special with their audience and WebDesign59.com will share theirs.


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Joshua Sophy Joshua Sophy is the Editor for Small Business Trends and the Head of Content Partnerships. A journalist with 20 years of experience in traditional and online media, he is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. He founded his own local newspaper, the Pottsville Free Press, covering his hometown.

One Reaction
  1. Great list of events. Thanks for compiling this and publishing. Wish I was closer to NYC for the expo.