The Small Business of the Year Award honors an exemplary South Carolina small business that demonstrates outstanding achievement in business growth, customer focus, community engagement, leadership, and workforce empowerment.
SCMC Small Business of the Year Award
Award Ceremony
The award will be presented as part of Small Business Day on April 30, 2026. This is an annual event that brings together small business owners and entrepreneurs to meet with state officials to discuss key legislative issues impacting small business growth and development.
Selection Process
Businesses may be nominated by peers, employees, community members, or may self-nominate. All nominees must complete an online application outlining their qualifications and achievements.
Applications are first reviewed by a SCMC selection committee to ensure eligibility and completeness. Qualified applications are then evaluated by a judging panel comprised of members of the Small Business Council. Judges score each business using established criteria, and weighted scores are calculated to determine rankings. The top three to five finalists may receive a site visit or virtual interview to verify achievements and gather additional insights before final scoring.
To be eligible, a small business must:
- Location: Must be headquartered in South Carolina.
- Business Size: Must meet the SBA definition of a small business based on industry-specific standards (e.g., below $40M in revenue, fewer than 500 employees).
- Operational History: Must have been in continuous operation for at least three years.
- Industry Representation: Open across all industries, including retail, manufacturing, technology, service, and agriculture.
- Compliance: Must be in good standing with all regulatory and licensing requirements. No ongoing legal or ethical issues.
