Small Business Month

Celebrating small business this month, and year-round.

Small Business Month: Events, Tools and Resources

May is National Small Business Month! At CO—, our goal is to help small business and startup owners begin and succeed in their businesses. Here, we've curated a collection of content—from events happening this month, to tools your business can use year-round—to help guide you through your entrepreneurial journey.
Strategy

9 Small Business Month Events to Register for Now

From local conferences to virtual webinars, these events offer small business owners the opportunity to network and learn through the month of May.

Featured

Strategy

4 Things to Do During Small Business Month to Grow Your Company

Want to scale your business? Achieve your goals with these core growth strategies and activities.

Strategy

19 Free Resources for Small Businesses to Leverage Year-Round

Many organizations provide support and online tools for small business owners and employees. Take advantage of these free resources during Small Business Month and throughout the year.

Event Replays:

5 Key Takeaways from CO—’s Ready. Set. Scale. Small Business Day Edition

In this special Ready. Set. Scale. event, small business experts and leaders share insights on the economy, marketing and growth trends, AI, and more.

Ready. Set. Scale. How Small Business Can Leverage AI

Are you hesitant to implement AI in your small business? Experts discuss why it’s less of a challenge — and more beneficial — than you may think.

Ready. Set. Scale. Smart Tax Tips for a Stress-Free Filing

Discover expert tax and financial planning strategies for small businesses, from ensuring healthy cash flow to aligning business goals and financial decisions.

Business Resources

Growth Studio

How to Improve Equality of Opportunity for Women in Business

Female entrepreneurs and leaders highlight measures and programs in place to accelerate the growth of the U.S. women-owned business ecosystem.

Strategy

Considering Starting a Business Later in Life? Here are 4 Resources for Older Entrepreneurs

For business owners who are launching later in life, there are plenty of available resources for older entrepreneurs.

Strategy

15 Resources for Women-Owned Businesses

Here are some top programs providing assistance to women-owned businesses.

Strategy 9 Top Resources for Veteran-Owned Businesses
Strategy 13 Resources for Hispanic- and Latino-Owned Businesses
Strategy 21 Resources for Black-Owned Businesses

Build Your Reputation

Human Resources

How to Build Your Reputation as a Great Employer

An employer brand helps you attract and retain top talent. Here’s how to build an enticing employer brand.

Funding Options

Business Financing Choosing the Best Funding Strategy for Your Business
Business Financing A Guide to Funding Your Business at Every Stage
Business Financing 4 Experts Share Their Business Funding Strategies

Preventing Burnout

Thrive

4 Things That Cause Entrepreneurial Burnout — And How to Avoid Them

You don’t have to live in a constant state of burnout — here are four causes of entrepreneurial burnout and how to avoid them.

Business Directories

Strategy 10 Women-Owned Business Directories for Your Business to Join
Marketing 5 Small Business Listings to Boost Your Online Presence
Strategy 23+ Black-Owned Small Business Directories

Getting Certified

Strategy

A Guide to Business Certifications for Small Business Owners

Obtaining business certifications can give you access to more opportunities. Here are some of those certifications and how to apply.

Business Financing How to Get Certified as a Minority-Owned Business
Strategy How to Become a Certified Veteran-Owned Business
Strategy How to Become a Certified Sustainable Business

Small Business Success

Growth Studio 5 Small Businesses Answering the Call for Alcohol-Free Bars
Growth Studio 5 Small Chocolatiers That Have Found Sweet Success
Growth Studio 6 Small Movie Theaters Still Thriving in 2024
Growth Studio 5 Beachy Small Businesses That Make It Feel Like Summer All Year Long
Growth Studio 6 Small Businesses That Have Mastered the Art of Upcycling
Growth Studio 5 Small Businesses That Honor Veterans and Active Military Year-Round

Cash Flow

Finance

Cash Flow: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Maintain It

Cash flow is critical to the success of any business. Learn more about what it is, why it matters, and how your business can maintain a positive cash flow.

Finance

5 Tips for Ensuring Your Business Has Enough Cash on Hand

Ensuring your business has enough cash on hand is a crucial way to protect your company and employees. Here’s what you need to know.

Tech Must-Haves

Technology 5 Must-Have Technologies for a Brand New Business
Technology Investing in Tech: How to Decide on the Technology Your Startup Needs
Technology 4 Types Of Technology That Can Help Grow Your Sales
Latest—

How Giant Sports Cards Became One of the Fastest-Growing Private Companies Amid an Adult Collecting Boom
The retailer taps into consumers’ interest in trading cards as both a hobby and a potential investment, Founder and CEO Jon Butts tells CO—.
By: Mark Hamstra

What Is ICHRA, or CHOICE? A Guide for Small Business Owners
Learn how CHOICE Arrangements (aka Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA)) works and how it can give your employees more options in their health coverage.
By: CO Staff

How to Change Your EIN
An employer identification number (EIN) is like a Social Security number for your business. While you can’t change it, you can get a new one and change your business details.
By: Emily Heaslip

How to Write an RFP for Your Small Business
Learn how to create an effective procurement request for proposal (RFP), evaluate vendor proposals, compare bids, and choose the right vendor for your small business.
By: Kaytlyn Smith

Not Your Mother’s Franchise: Inside the Sports Tech, Resale, and Winery Businesses Proving Unlikely Categories Can Scale
A basketball trainer, a pair of thrift store brothers, and a Montana vintner all found the systems that let ‘unscalable’ businesses become the successful franchises Shoot 360, BaseCamp, and Waters Edge Wineries.
By: Deborah Lynn Blumberg

AI Transformation: Why Small Businesses Have the Biggest Advantage in the AI Era
In this edition of "Ask the Board," we feature Paul Cheek, MIT Sloan senior lecturer and author of “No One Works Here,” on the strategic shift small businesses must make to turn AI into a lasting advantage.
By: Zarina Yecies

5 Networking Tips Every Small Business Owner Needs to Know
Networking expert Basile Lemba shares five practical strategies to help entrepreneurs build stronger professional relationships, attract the right customers, and turn new connections into opportunities.
By: Zarina Yecies

Monetizing Differentiation: How ByUR, Crowned Skin, SUGARED + BRONZED, and Blushington Are Winning With Distinct Brand Visions in a Crowded Beauty Market
By leaning into their uniqueness ByUR, Crowned Skin, SUGARED + BRONZED, and Blushington are giving consumers a clear reason to choose them.
By: Faye Brookman

Human Resources Software and Compliance Guide
The best HR software can help you simplify payroll, recordkeeping and onboarding while avoiding common administrative and compliance errors.
By: CO Staff

Sports Beverage Brand Cizzle on How the Better-for-You Brand Doubled Revenues
The beverage maker has supercharged growth with both in-house manufacturing and health-geared beverages and snacks, drawing a new breed of health-and-wellness consumers to the sports nutrition market.
By: Mark Hamstra

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