CONCORD, NH – If you’re impressed by a New Hampshire small business or owner, now is the time to see that it, or they, gets the recognition it deserves.
The nomination period for the New Hampshire Small Business Association Awards is open through 7 a.m. Monday, Dec. 8.
To qualify, nominees must meet the specific criteria for the category, demonstrate at least three years of success in sales and/or profits, and have received at least one form of SBA assistance, according to a news release from the SBA.
The award-winners will be announced in early spring, and later feted following Small Business Week, which is May 3-9. Last year’s winners were honored in a ceremony in Manchester May 12. The state Small Business Person of the Year and Business Exporter of the Year are eligible to win national titles, which are announced during Small Business Week, in Washington, D.C.
New Hampshire’s categories include the two national awards, and eight New Hampshire District Awards. The categories for the 2026 New Hampshire Small Business Awards are:
Small Business Person of the Year: Anyone who owns at least 51% of a small business. Partners who jointly own and operate one may be nominated as a team, as long as the number of individuals in the team nomination does not exceed four.
Small Business Exporter of the Year: Recognizes individuals for their success and dedication to exporting products or services. Significantly increased export sales and profits, encouraging other firms to export, increased jobs through exports, and innovative methods of creating markets.
Small Business Manufacturer of the Year: A business with at least a three-year track record, and designs, manufactures, fabricates, assembles, or processes a finished product. This includes value-added food products.
Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Business of the Year: A family-owned business that has passed from one generation to another, with an owner who has responsibility for operating the business. Nominees must serve as majority owners and operators or bear principal responsibility for operating a small business with at least a 15-year track record.
Micro-Enterprise of the Year: Any small business with five or fewer employees, including the owners.
Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year: A business with at least a three year track record that is majority-owned by a U.S. armed forces Veteran.
Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year: An individual who has fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of women’s business ownership.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Any individual who serves as majority owner and operator for a small business with a three-year track record, and who will not be older than 30 by June 1, 2026.
Home-Based Business of the Year: A business based in the owner’s home.
Financial Services Champion of the Year: This award recognizes a financial services professional for, outside of regular business duties, the amount and quality of assistance they give to small businesses to help get financing, advocating for change in the financial services industry to assist small companies, encouraging the flow of investment capital to small ventures, actively supporting legislative or regulatory action designed to help small firms, and measurable accomplishments through the advocacy efforts of the financial services or accounting industries to advance small business interests.
For more information on guidelines and how to submit a nomination for the SBA Small Business Awards, visit the New Hampshire SBA website.