Under-Appreciated Small Business Owners Get Their Own Awards Recognition Program: 2005 Small Biz Games Calls For Entries

The 2005 Small Biz Games honors outstanding home business and micro small business owners with cash awards, Olympic style medals, and positive public exposure. Jay Conrad Levinson, best selling author of the Guerrilla Marketing series of books and Francie Ward, Founder of the popular Business Owners Idea Cafe (www.ideacafe.com), are among the judges for the unique competition.

Michael Brooks, co-founder of The Small Biz Games, says, “Existing awards recognition programs, even when they have small business categories, usually give awards to much larger ‘small businesses’ - companies that have 25 or more employees and revenues in the millions of dollars.” Brooks adds, “There just aren’t enough opportunities for true small businesses with 4 or fewer employees to receive recognition even though many of these businesses are thriving.”

Newsweek Magazine reports that by the end of 2005, 50% of the households in the United States will be involved in a home-based business. According to the SBA Office of Advocacy, 90% of all U.S. businesses employ between zero and four workers, making them either home based businesses or micro small businesses. “Of those businesses, only 4% will go on to become the fast-growth companies recognized by existing business awards programs and those you read about in Inc., Forbes, Fortune and other small business publications,” said Brooks. “Thus, The Small Biz Games is filling a void.”

Current Small Biz Games contest entrants already see the value in participating. Entrant Stephanie Chandler, Owner of Book Lovers Bookstore in Sacramento, California and founder of http://businessinfoguide.com says, “I am excited about participating in the Small Biz Games because it is a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to get exposure for our businesses and to learn from our peers.”

Reflecting the International flavor of The Small Biz Games, Magdalena (Maggie) Ball from Martinsville, Australia and founder of The Compulsive Reader, http://www.compulsivereader.com/html comments, "At the top end, the Small Biz Games provides much needed recognition for small business owners who have taken their concepts to a truly magnificent level—true gold medalists. For the rest of the entrants however, the benefits are almost equally positive. All entrants get to promote themselves and their businesses to a new group of potential customers and colleagues that they would otherwise not come in contact with. The secrets of business success are shared between the super-successful and the not so successful (since the Games are open to all). There are opportunities for all sorts of exposure, and above all, the opportunity to schmooze with other like minded small business owners in a safe, virtual environment that crosses cultural, national, and business boundaries….and of course, the chance to win cash!"

Home and micro small business owners with 4 or fewer employees and can enter at http://smallbizgames.com for a chance to win $2000 for first place, $1000 for second place, and $500 for third place in each the following categories: Entrepreneur of the Year, Best Young Entrepreneur, Best New Company, Best Internet Business, Most Unusual and Creative Company, Best New Product, Best New Service, and Most Creative Marketing Campaign. Deadline for entries is August 19, 2005 and winners will be announced nationally on September 15, 2005. The 2005 Small Biz Games awards banquet will celebrate the winners on October 22 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jay Conrad Levinson will act as Master of Ceremonies and Keynote speaker.

About The Small Biz Games: The Small Biz Games recognizes and honors Home Businesses Owners and Micro Small Business Owners (less than 4 employees) with cash awards, Olympic style medals, and public exposure for their often unrecognized contributions to the economy and their communities. Micro Small Business Owners and Home Business Owners may enter The 2005 Small Biz Games prior to the entry deadline of August 19, 2005 at http://smallbizgames.com.