2026 APPLICATIONS OPEN
Apply today!
Get recognized. Get rewarded.
The CO—100 honors the small businesses doing big things — driving innovation, growth, and impact locally and globally. Apply to earn your place on our list of America’s top small businesses.
Enter your business in up to five award categories, from innovation and marketing to global expansion and company culture.
Applications are now open! See below for more information on deadlines and fees.
Apply Early and Save
Why Enter?
National Exposure
Get your business in front of a national audience through print, radio, broadcast, and digital media—plus a dedicated business profile on CO—.
Exclusive Access
Learn from top experts and connect with standout small business owners from across the country.
VIP Perks
Receive invitations to exclusive events in Washington, D.C., along with opportunities to speak at CO— virtual and in‑person programs.
CO—100 Benefits
Our Expert Panel
Stan Chen
Vice PresidentBerryClean2024 CO—100 Honoree
Stan Chen
Vice PresidentBerryClean2024 CO—100 Honoree
10 Categories Honoring the Best Small Businesses in America
Each applicant will have the opportunity to opt into up to five categories.
Growth Accelerators
The Growth Accelerators category celebrates businesses that have used innovative and effective strategies to achieve business growth. These businesses demonstrate exceptional creativity and ingenuity in their approach to growth, highlighting their unique tactics and strategies in aspects like marketing, product innovation, and customer service.
Community Champions
The Community Champions category celebrates businesses that have achieved growth while making a significant positive impact on their local communities. These businesses go beyond their own success to contribute meaningfully to the area surrounding them, and those in it. Whether through job creation, innovative community service projects, or fostering a strong and supportive community environment, these businesses exemplify the spirit of community engagement.
Micro-Business Leaders
The Micro-Business Leaders category honors small businesses with one to five employees that have managed to build profitable and thriving enterprises while maintaining their small and nimble structure. Despite the unique challenges that can come with running a micro-business, these businesses exemplify resilience, innovation, and adaptability, proving that success does not necessarily require large teams.
Champions of Adaptability
The Champions of Adaptability category honors businesses that have demonstrated extraordinary resilience and tenacity in overcoming significant challenges or adversity. These businesses have shown the grit and determination needed to navigate through tough times with unwavering resolve and innovative problem-solving.
Customer Champions
The Customer Champions category celebrates businesses that have set themselves apart through outstanding customer service and innovative engagement strategies. These businesses have not only prioritized customer satisfaction but have also significantly expanded their customer base by employing unique and creative approaches.
Global Stars
The Global Stars category celebrates businesses that have made remarkable strides in expanding their reach across international borders and increasing their global footprint over the last year. These businesses have successfully navigated the complexities and overcome the challenges of global expansion and operating in different markets.
Tech Innovators
The Tech Innovators category celebrates businesses that have harnessed the power of new technologies and automated solutions to drive their success. These businesses have scaled their operations, enhanced their customer experience, or revolutionized their product and service offerings through digital innovation and forward-thinking strategies, highlighting the transformative impact of technology on business growth.
Enduring Businesses
The Enduring Businesses category celebrates businesses that have demonstrated remarkable long-term growth and sustainability, standing the test of time for more than 10 years. These businesses have not only survived but thrived through changing markets and evolving landscapes, proving their resilience, stability, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
The Disruptors
The Disruptors category celebrates businesses that have boldly ventured into uncharted territory by introducing groundbreaking products or services, or by redefining traditional business structures. These businesses embody innovation and creativity, challenging the status quo and setting new industry benchmarks. From pioneering new markets to revolutionizing operational models, these businesses exemplify the spirit of disruption—by dreaming big and bringing those visions to life.
Culture Champions
The Culture Champions category celebrates businesses that have cultivated a vibrant and rewarding company culture, drawing in and retaining dedicated employees who drive the company's success. Through hard work, dedication, and a shared commitment to goals, these businesses have created a thriving and profitable enterprise, with a spotlight on the power of unity and shared purpose that showcases the pivotal role of culture in fostering a motivated and successful workforce.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Frequently Asked Questions
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s CO— 100 recognizes and celebrates America’s top small businesses. The annual list of CO— 100 includes thriving, successful companies that are committed to growing the American economy and supporting their local communities. The CO— 100 businesses embody the entrepreneurial spirit, growth mindset, and resilience that define the American enterprise system and drive innovation. Ten CO— 100 businesses will be recognized as the best in class for ten different categories of excellence. One business will be named the CO—100 Top Business of 2026.
To apply for the CO— 100, an applicant must:
- Be a legal resident of the United States.
- Be a for-profit business operating for at least one (1) year prior to May 4, 2025, primarily based within the United States.
- Have fewer than 250 employees and gross revenues of less than $20 million for both 2024 and 2025.
- Agree to all of the Award Rules, including potentially attending the award ceremony.
Employees, officers, and directors of Sponsors and any affiliated entities, and their respective immediate families (parents, spouse, children, siblings) or individuals residing in their household (whether or not related) are not eligible applicants.
Businesses named to the CO—100 in prior years are not eligible to apply for the awards program again.
Click here to learn more about the terms and conditions and the full program rules.
Eligible applicants may click here to create an account on CO— and apply for the awards.
Please be aware that once you submit your application, it will be considered final and no revisions are permitted.
Entry fees are $300 for early deadline applications and $350 for regular deadline applications. Please consult the Program Rules for details on a no-fee method to submit your application.
The deadline to apply is July 23, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
The CO—100 application allows you to holistically describe and showcase your business. There are three main parts of the application:
- Eligibility — Answer a few questions about your business to determine if you’re eligible to apply.
- Business and Financial Information — Share the basics about your business (name, location, etc.), as well as some straightforward questions about your approximate annual revenue.
- Categories and Scored Answers — We ask you to select three to five categories from a predetermined list of 10 categories that best represent your business’s strengths. Based on your selection, you’ll answer a mix of multiple choice and open response questions related to how and why your business excels in the categories you selected.
A panel of judges, including representatives from U.S. Chamber of Commerce staff, will choose 100 businesses ("Honorees") to be named the CO— 100. They will then choose from the list of 100 Honorees a total of 10 Top Honorees; and from those 10, they will choose one to be named the CO—100 Top Business of 2026.
A business must fill out an application in order to enter. Chambers of commerce and trade associations are encouraged to refer businesses to the program. However, the business itself must submit an application for the CO— 100 to be considered.
No. If you’ve been previously named to the CO—100, you are not eligible to apply again.
Reach out to us at co100@uschamber.com to learn about other opportunities to get involved in this year’s awards program as a previous honoree.
Yes! You should still apply. In your application, be sure to address the sales figures you reported and outline your business plan or strategies for growth in 2026 and beyond.
A strong application will draw a clear and concise picture of how the business was started, what makes it unique, and how it has overcome challenges. Make sure your completed application clearly describes your business’s relationship with its community, customers, and employees.
After creating an account and before submitting your final application, answers will be saved automatically so you can revisit or edit any previous responses.
Only businesses that are members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce need to enter their member number during the application process. If you are a member and do not have your member number on hand, please call Customer Service at (800) 638-6582 for assistance.
Encourage small and medium-sized businesses in your network to apply for this year’s awards program via your social media and email platforms using the information and graphics in this toolkit.
Please email partnerships@uschamber.com for more information on sponsorship opportunities for the CO—100.
Questions regarding CO—100 can be sent to co-100@uschamber.com.
Showcase: The CO—100 2025 VIP Experience
Step inside our 2025 CO—100 event through a curated gallery of standout moments—from the high-energy gala to exclusive VIP experiences and everything in between.
Browse the 2025 CO—100 Honorees!
Meet Dynamic Automotive: CO—100 Top Business 2025
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