Last updated October 20, 2026
A plaque by the register tells a first-time customer that someone vouched for you. Picking which award to chase is harder. A Chamber honor, a Yelp window cling and an SBA trophy each come from a different judge, cost a different amount and reach a different audience.
In October 2026, we pulled the current rules, fees, deadlines and honoree counts for seven types of recognition awards for small businesses. We took them from the SBA, local BBBs, Energage, Quantum Workplace, the Greater Phoenix Chamber, NARI and Inc., and paired them with BrightLocal’s 2026 survey of 1,002 U.S. consumers. Every figure carries the year it describes.
Key Statistics
- 53 state and territory Small Business Persons of the Year were named by the SBA in 2026.
- 7,500+ chambers of commerce operate in the U.S. (ACCE).
- 90+ local BBBs run programs such as the Torch Awards for Ethics, and most charged $0 to apply in 2026.
- 46 U.S. cities have an American City Business Journals publication as of October 2026.
- 2.3% of employers invited to Philadelphia’s 2026 Top Workplaces program won (172 of 7,362).
- $0 to $895: the 2026 entry fee range across the programs in this guide.
- 68% of U.S. consumers only use businesses rated 4 stars or higher, up from 55% in 2025 (BrightLocal).
Types of Recognition Awards Compared
In the table below, we compare the seven award types on who judges, what it costs, the size threshold and the scale of each program in 2026.
Small Business Recognition Awards at a Glance, 2026
| Award type | Example program | Who judges | Entry fee (2026) | Size or tenure rule | Scale (latest) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community voting | Voted Number One | Customers, 1 vote per category | $0 | None | 105 winners, 10 communities |
| Chamber of Commerce | Greater Phoenix Chamber Excellence in Business | Chamber judges | Membership + 2 event tickets | Small = 1 to 99 employees | 3 Businesses of the Year, 9 honorees |
| Business journal | Phoenix Business Journal Best Places to Work | Employee survey (Quantum Workplace) | Not published | 10+ eligible employees | Nearly 100 honorees |
| SBA NSBW | Small Business Person of the Year | SBA and non-federal judges | $0 | U.S. citizen or national | 53 state/territory winners |
| Industry and trade | NARI Remodeler of the Year (national) | Industry judges | $195 to $245 per entry | NARI member | Project finished Dec 2023 to Nov 2025 |
| Review platform | BBB Torch Awards; Yelp cling | Volunteer panels; Yelp ratings | $0 | BBB: B rating, 3+ years | 90+ local BBBs |
| Employer and workplace | Energage Top Workplaces; Inc. Best Workplaces | Employee survey | $0; $395 to $895 | 35+ (Energage, 2026 McClatchy markets); 5+ (Inc.) | 80,000+ orgs surveyed by Energage |
Entry Fees and Deadlines, 2026
Four of the six programs we priced charge nothing. Fees climb for trade competitions and national business media lists.
Highest Entry Fee by Program, 2026 (USD)
| Program | Fee range (2026) | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Voted Number One | $0 | Varies by city campaign |
| SBA NSBW | $0 | Dec 7, 2026, 3 p.m. ET |
| BBB Torch Awards | $0 in most regions | Set by each local BBB |
| Energage Top Workplaces | $0 | Set by regional partner |
| NARI RotY, national | $195 to $245 per entry | Nov 19, 2026 (late) |
| Inc. Best Workplaces | $395 to $895 | Feb 20, 2026 (closed) |
Our researchers took two findings from the fee data:
- We found that the free programs ask for effort in place of money. The SBA wants a full nomination package and a background check. BBB Torch entries go to a scoring panel.
- We found that some programs charge in ways the entry form doesn’t show. The Greater Phoenix Chamber’s award is open to members only, nominees must buy at least two event tickets, and finalists must buy a table of ten.
1. Community and People’s Choice Voting Awards
What it is: Customers nominate local businesses, then the public votes for winners in each category. Newspapers, city magazines and platforms like Voted Number One run these contests.
Who judges: Customers. At Voted Number One, each person casts one email-verified vote per category, and the top three in each category win Diamond, Platinum and Gold.
Cost and effort: At Voted Number One, nominating, voting and winning cost $0, and self-nominations count. Physical awards are an optional purchase. Fees at other voting contests vary, so check each program’s rules. The work sits in asking customers to vote.
Scale: As of October 2026, the Voted Number One community has picked 105 winners across 10 Arizona communities in 15 business categories.
Benefit: A people’s choice title speaks the same language as reviews: real customers picked you. 97% of U.S. consumers read reviews for local businesses (BrightLocal, 2026).
2. Chamber of Commerce Awards
What it is: More than 7,500 chambers of commerce operate in the U.S. (ACCE), and many give annual awards such as Small Business of the Year. The Greater Phoenix Chamber has run awards programs since 1987. In 2026 its Excellence in Business Awards named three Businesses of the Year, including S2RC as Small Business of the Year, from nine honorees.
Who judges: Chamber-appointed judges. Greater Phoenix scores nominees on three pillars: economic growth and leadership, community impact, and workplace culture. Finalists submit a video interview.
Cost and effort: Greater Phoenix’s 2026 rules required chamber membership, an Arizona headquarters or major presence, and a minimum two-ticket purchase for every nominee. Finalists had to buy a table of ten. Small business meant 1 to 99 employees. Nominations closed February 13, 2026, and application packets were due February 27.
Benefit: Exposure on the chamber’s website, newsletters and social channels, plus a room full of local leaders at the June ceremony.
3. Local Business Journal Awards
What it is: Regional business papers publish ranked lists such as fastest-growing companies, 40 Under 40 and Best Places to Work. American City Business Journals, the largest U.S. publisher of local business news, operates in 46 cities as of October 2026, after launching the Fort Worth Business Journal.
Who judges: Editors pick some lists. Best Places to Work rankings come from confidential employee surveys run by Quantum Workplace. The Phoenix Business Journal honors nearly 100 companies in its 2026 Best Places to Work in the Valley program.
Cost and effort: Phoenix requires at least 10 eligible employees in Maricopa or Pinal County, excluding partners and owners. Boston requires 20, and Omaha requires 25. Quantum Workplace does not publish a fee for the Phoenix list. Every participant gets a high-level engagement report.
Benefit: Coverage in a publication that local decision makers and B2B buyers read.
4. SBA Awards (National Small Business Week)
What it is: Presidents have declared National Small Business Week every year since 1963. In 2026 the SBA named 53 state and territory Small Business Persons of the Year and honored them in Washington, D.C. on May 3. Arizona’s 2026 honoree was The Best Taquito in Yuma, owned by Alma Ornelas. National categories also include Exporter, Manufacturer, Rural, Blue-Collar and Veteran Small Business of the Year, and the Phoenix Award for disaster recovery.
Who judges: A panel of SBA staff and non-federal judges. Outside judges sign a conflict of interest certification, and every nominee goes through a background check.
Cost and effort: $0, but the nomination package takes real work. Nominees must be U.S. citizens or nationals, and each can enter one category. Nominations for the next cycle close December 7, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. ET (9:00 p.m. Berlin time).
Benefit: A trophy, a media kit and possible features in SBA channels that reach more than 1 million small business owners.
5. Industry and Trade Association Awards
What it is: Trade groups recognize top work in one field. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry runs the Remodeler of the Year (RotY) awards, formerly Contractor of the Year, at the national and chapter levels.
Who judges: Industry judges score project entries with photos, drawings and cost details.
Cost and effort: NARI’s 2026 national entry fee runs $195 (early bird, through Oct 19), $215 (standard, Oct 20 to Nov 12) and $245 (late, Nov 13 to 19), plus $175 per team member. Projects must have finished between December 1, 2023 and November 30, 2025. Chapter fees differ: NARI North Texas charged $150 to $250, and NARI Greater Charlotte charged $250 to $350 per project in 2026.
Benefit: Credibility with buyers who compare contractors on craftsmanship.
6. Review Platform Badges (Yelp, Google, BBB)
What it is: Recognition tied to your online reputation.
- Yelp: Yelp mails its “People Love Us on Yelp” window cling twice a year to businesses that qualify based on their Yelp rating and history. You can’t request one, and advertising on Yelp has no effect on eligibility.
- Google: Your Google rating and review count act as the badge. Google remains the top review source, though the share of consumers using it for reviews fell from 83% in 2025 to 71% in 2026 (BrightLocal).
- BBB: More than 90 local BBBs serve the U.S. and Canada. Their Torch Awards for Ethics charged $0 to apply in most 2026 programs, required a B rating or higher and three years in business, and did not require accreditation. Winners in BBB Northeast California get lifetime use of the Torch Awards seal while they hold a B rating.
Benefit: These signals show up at the moment of choice. In the chart and table below, we show how fast rating expectations rose in one year.
Consumers Who Only Use Highly Rated Businesses
| Rating rule | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only use 4+ star businesses | 55% | 68% | +13 pts |
| Only use 4.5+ star businesses | 17% | 31% | +14 pts |
| Only use 5-star businesses | n/a | 10% | n/a |
| Always read reviews when browsing | 29% | 41% | +12 pts |
7. Employer and Workplace Awards
What it is: Rankings of the best places to work, based on employee feedback. Energage runs Top Workplaces with newspaper partners and draws on surveys from more than 80,000 organizations. Quantum Workplace runs Best Places to Work lists with business journals and Inc.
Who judges: Your staff, through a confidential survey. In Philadelphia, results count only if 35% or more of employees respond.
Cost and effort: Energage charges $0 to nominate, participate or win, with a 35-employee minimum in its 2026 McClatchy markets. Inc. Best Workplaces charged $395 to $895 for its 2026 list, depending on company size and deadline, and requires at least 5 employees and 2 years in business.
Benefit: A recruiting edge, and a hard one to win. In Philadelphia’s 2026 program, 172 of 7,362 invited employers earned the title.
Philadelphia Top Workplaces Funnel, 2026
| Stage | Employers | Share of invited |
|---|---|---|
| Invited | 7,362 | 100% |
| Surveyed staff | 223 | 3.0% |
| Won | 172 | 2.3% |
How Consumers Respond to Reviews and Ratings
Awards based on customer opinion sit next to the signals buyers already check. In the chart below, we show five 2026 findings from BrightLocal’s survey of 1,002 U.S. adults.
How Consumers Use Reviews, 2026
- We found that consumers use six review sites on average, and BBB, Apple Maps and Tripadvisor usage rose in 2026.
- We found that 16% of consumers wrote a BBB review in the past year, the same share as Tripadvisor.
- We found that 74% of consumers only care about reviews from the last three months, so a 2019 award carries less weight than a 2026 one. See what percentage of Google reviews are 5 stars for how ratings spread.
How to Choose the Right Award
- You sell to local consumers: Start with community voting awards and your review profiles.
- You sell to other businesses: Chamber, business journal and trade awards reach referral partners and buyers. Budget for tickets and entry fees.
- You have 10 to 35 or more employees: Enter a workplace survey program.
- You have a strong growth or comeback story: Build an SBA nomination package before December 7.
How Voted Number One Awards Work
Voted Number One runs community voting awards for local small businesses in Arizona, with more U.S. cities on the way. Customers nominate the businesses they use. The community votes, one verified vote per person per category, and the top three in each city and category win Diamond, Platinum or Gold. Read the full process on how Voted Number One works. Nominating, voting and winning cost nothing.
Know a business that earns its reviews? Nominate a local business, or browse past Voted Number One winners. See current cities and categories on our Small Business Awards page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to enter a small business award?
Costs range from $0 to several hundred dollars per entry. In 2026, the SBA National Small Business Week awards, most BBB Torch Awards, Energage Top Workplaces and Voted Number One charged nothing to enter. NARI’s national Remodeler of the Year awards charged $195 to $245 per entry, and Inc. Best Workplaces charged $395 to $895 depending on company size and deadline.
How many SBA Small Business Persons of the Year are there?
The SBA named 53 state and territory Small Business Persons of the Year in 2026: one for each of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. The national winner is picked from that group.
When is the deadline for SBA National Small Business Week award nominations?
Nominations for the next cycle close December 7, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. ET. A panel of SBA staff and non-federal judges reviews them, and every nominee goes through a background check.
Do I need BBB Accreditation to win a Torch Award?
No. Most 2026 Torch Award programs require a BBB rating of B or higher and at least three years in business, and they charge nothing to apply. Rules vary by local BBB, and there are more than 90 local BBBs in the U.S. and Canada.
Do customers care about awards and ratings?
Customer ratings carry clear weight. In BrightLocal’s 2026 survey of 1,002 U.S. consumers, 97% read reviews for local businesses, 68% only use businesses rated 4 stars or higher, and 85% are more likely to use a business after reading positive reviews.
Sources
- National Small Business Week Awards. U.S. Small Business Administration. 2026. Washington, DC.
- National Small Business Week Awardees. U.S. Small Business Administration. 2026. Washington, DC.
- SBA Announces National Small Business Week 2026 Award Winners. U.S. Small Business Administration. March 2026.
- Chambers of Commerce. Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Accessed October 2026. Alexandria, VA.
- Excellence in Business Awards Nominations. Greater Phoenix Chamber. 2026. Phoenix, AZ.
- Greater Phoenix Chamber Announces Recipients for 2026 Excellence in Business Awards. Greater Phoenix Chamber. June 2026. Phoenix, AZ.
- American City Business Journals Launches Fort Worth Business Journal. citybiz. October 2026.
- Best Places to Work. Phoenix Business Journal. 2026. Phoenix, AZ.
- Best Places to Work Contests. Quantum Workplace. October 2026. Omaha, NE.
- How to Enter: NARI Remodeler of the Year Awards and 2026 RotY Program Rules. National Association of the Remodeling Industry. 2026.
- RotY Awards. NARI North Texas. 2026. Dallas, TX.
- 2026 RotY Awards. NARI of Greater Charlotte. 2026. Charlotte, NC.
- BBB Serving Southeast Florida and the Caribbean (network size). Better Business Bureau. 2026.
- Torch Awards for Ethics. BBB Northeast California. 2026. Sacramento, CA.
- BBB Awards FAQ. BBB Great West + Pacific. 2026.
- How do I get a “People Love Us on Yelp” window cling? Yelp for Business. Accessed October 2026.
- Local Consumer Review Survey 2026. BrightLocal. February 2026. Brighton, UK.
- Energage and McClatchy Partner on Top Workplaces Awards in Five Markets for 2026. Business Wire. March 2026.
- The Making of This Year’s Top Workplaces. The Philadelphia Inquirer (sponsored). 2026. Philadelphia, PA.
- Inc. Best Workplaces 2026 Application Form. Inc. 2025. New York, NY.
- Small Business Awards. Voted Number One. October 2026.
Written by Savannah Davis, Voted Number One team. Savannah works with the local business owners who take part in the Voted Number One community awards.