It’s a special time for FranNet as we celebrate the annual National Small Business Week in America. This year, it runs from May 1-7 and centers on the theme, “Building a Better America Through Entrepreneurship.” For more than 50 years, the U.S. Small Business (SBA) has been leading this celebration that’s specifically designed to focus and recognize the businesses of America’s Main Street, not Wall Street.
The reason this is such a special time for FranNet is that it’s our opportunity to remind the country that franchisees are small business owners, too! Here’s what you can expect for this year’s National Small Business Week…
Kick-Off and a White House Proclamation
SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman will kick off the National Small Business Week festivities on Monday, May 2, by greeting the participants of their national virtual networking summit, complete with prepared remarks from President Biden. Earlier this week, the White House released a proclamation marking this year’s celebration, stating,
“For generations, small businesses across America have shaped and embodied our Nation’s entrepreneurial spirit and driven our economy forward. Today, more than 32 million small businesses employ almost half of America’s workforce and represent the heart and soul of countless communities. During National Small Business Week, we celebrate America’s small businesses and their enormous contributions to American life and prosperity.”
Partners and Sponsors
For over 50 years, SCORE’s 10,000 volunteers have provided mentorship and education to over 11 million entrepreneurs. And FranNet’s independent consultants are quite active with their local chapters, often offering seminars, webinars, and presentations to candidates enrolled in a wide variety of SCORE programming. Visa USA is also a long-time participant and platinum-level sponsor of the 2022 National Small Business Week festivities. A full list of co-sponsors can be found by following this link.
How to Get Involved
If you live in one of the nine select cities on the SBA’s national bus tour, you can get involved in person. The full list of cities and dates are:
May 2- San Francisco, CA
May 3 – Denver, CO
May 4 – Atlanta, GA, Augusta, GA, and Columbia, SC
May 5 – Richburg, SC and Charlotte, NC
May 6 – Raleigh, NC and Norfolk, VA
The National Small Business Week Virtual Summit runs May 2-5, with a schedule of daily events beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. By registering for the free virtual networking event, you can gain access to keynote speeches from brands such as T-Mobile, Square, Google, Meta, Samsung, Chase, and Vistage. The summit closes on Thursday with an awards presentation, including recognition for the 2022 State & Territory of the Year, Small Businessperson of the Year, Phoenix Small Business of the Year, and several specialty winners.
There are an estimated 32.5 million small businesses operating in the U.S. today, including hundreds of thousands of franchises. As we celebrate National Small Business Week, we should do our part to shop local, patronize them, and celebrate their contributions that have built the backbone of America’s economy.
When it comes to small business ownership, there is simply no substitute for the proven business models and sheer economic opportunity available to entrepreneurs through franchising. And if this is a route you’d like to pursue, FranNet can help you get started today by setting up a no-cost, no-obligation appointment with a qualified FranNet representative who both lives and works in your area. Together, we can find a franchise ownership opportunity that matches up perfectly with your lifestyle and income-oriented goals.