Open the Door - Licensing Your Childcare Business
2026-05-07 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Dream Makers Studio, 39 Dexter Avenue, Suite 209, Montgomery, AL, 36104, United States
There are people in Montgomery right now who are operating informal childcare arrangements who have the skill, the space, the love for children, and the entrepreneurial instinct to build a real licensed childcare business. The only thing standing between where they are and where they could be is understanding the licensing process.
Open the Door: Licensing Your Childcare Business is a 90-minute working session for aspiring and early-stage childcare providers who are ready to make their business official — and for established providers who want to understand their compliance obligations more fully.
The session walks through the complete licensing pathway for both home-based daycare and childcare center operations in Alabama: DHR requirements, the application process, home inspection standards, staff requirements, physical environment standards, certifications, and how to maintain compliance.
This is the roadmap that too many childcare entrepreneurs have had to piece together on their own. SBOSS is putting it in one room, in one session, with the people who can answer your specific questions.
? SBOSS Score: Stamp-eligible event. Check in within the first 20 minutes (by 6:20 PM), attend the full 90 minutes, and complete the post-event survey to earn your stamp.
Register Now

Plate & Permit - Launching Your Food Business The Right Way
2026-05-08 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
The food business idea is rarely the problem. The recipe is solid. The demand is real. What stops most food entrepreneurs isn’t the product — it’s not knowing which permits apply to their specific business model, which agencies they need to talk to, and in what order everything has to happen before they can legally sell.
Plate & Permit: Launching Your Food Business the Right Way closes SBOSS Small Business Week with a direct, practical walkthrough of the licensing and compliance landscape for food entrepreneurs in Alabama — covering cottage food production, food truck and mobile food unit operation, catering, and food product sales.
You will leave knowing exactly which category your food business falls into, which agencies you need to contact, what documents and inspections are required before your first sale, and what the ongoing compliance requirements look like. We’ll also cover the business side: pricing for compliance costs, where to find licensed commercial kitchens in Montgomery, and how to protect your business with the right insurance coverage.
? SBOSS Score: This event closes Small Business Week and earns a stamp. Check in within the first 20 minutes of the posted start time, attend the full session, and complete the post-event survey. Complete all five Small Business Week events and you’re well on your way to Tier 3.
Register Now

AFLAC Small Business Employer Benefits Workshop
2026-05-12 11:00 - 13:00 | Dream Makers Studio, 39 Dexter Avenue, Suite 209, Montgomery, AL, 36104, United States
One of the most overlooked aspects of building a stable small business is understanding what benefits are available — not just for your employees, but for you as a business owner. Most small business owners assume that employer benefits programs are out of reach until they reach a certain size. That assumption is costing them.
The AFLAC Small Business Employer Benefits Workshop is a free, two-hour educational session designed to walk small business owners through the landscape of employee and employer benefits — and to show them what is actually available, accessible, and affordable at every stage of business growth.
Facilitated by AFLAC representatives, this session covers the full spectrum of benefits considerations for small businesses: what employee/employer support structures look like, what free educational services AFLAC provides to business owners, how insurance plans work and what options exist for small teams, and how wellness benefits and eligibility apply to businesses of different sizes.
This is not a sales session. It is an educational workshop designed to give small business owners the information they need to make smart decisions about protecting their teams, their operations, and themselves.
If you have employees — or plan to hire — this workshop gives you the foundation to build a benefits conversation from an informed position.

Understanding Competitive Analysis
2026-05-13 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
Every business operates inside a competitive landscape. Whether you know who your competitors are or not — they know the same customers you’re trying to reach. Understanding how to analyze that landscape is one of the most fundamental and underused skills in small business strategy.
Understanding Competitive Analysis is a beginner-level, one-hour virtual workshop led by Trish Jordan, Project Manager at REACH Women’s Business Center. The session introduces small business owners to the core concepts of competitive analysis — what it is, why it matters, and how to actually do it for your specific business.
Attendees will walk away knowing how to identify who their competitors are, how to evaluate what those competitors are doing well and where the gaps are, and how to use that information to sharpen their own positioning, pricing, and marketing strategy.
No prior business knowledge required. This workshop is designed for entrepreneurs who are new to competitive analysis or who want to build a stronger, more systematic approach to understanding their market.

Intro to Constant Contact
2026-05-19 08:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
Social media algorithms change. Ads cost money. But an email list? That’s an audience you actually own — and for small business owners, it remains one of the most direct, cost-effective ways to reach customers, drive sales, and stay top of mind.
Intro to Constant Contact is a beginner-friendly, one-hour virtual workshop designed to help small business owners learn the fundamentals of email marketing using one of the most accessible tools available.
Led by Trish Jordan of REACH Women’s Business Center, the session covers how to get started with Constant Contact, how to create professional-looking emails without design experience, how to build and grow your subscriber list, and how to use email marketing to build meaningful, consistent connections with your customers.
Whether you have never sent a marketing email before or you’ve been doing it inconsistently and want to do it better — this session gives you the foundation to show up in your customers’ inboxes with confidence and purpose.

Crowdfunding with Kiva
2026-05-20 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
Access to capital is one of the most consistent barriers small business owners face — and traditional lending is not the only answer. Kiva is a nonprofit that has helped more than 2.5 million people around the world collectively raise over $1 billion in crowdfunding loans. And it’s available to entrepreneurs right here in Montgomery.
Crowdfunding with Kiva is a free, one-hour virtual session led by Trish Jordan, Project Manager at REACH Women’s Business Center, that introduces small business owners to Kiva’s crowdfunding loan program — how it works, who qualifies, and how to build a successful campaign.
The session provides an overview of Kiva’s model, how their 0% interest crowdfunding loans work, what the application process looks like, and what kinds of businesses have found success with Kiva funding. A Q&A session is included.
If you are starting or growing a business and having trouble securing capital through traditional channels — or if you simply want to understand all the options available to you — this session opens a door most small business owners don’t know exists.

Hobby to Hustle: Turn Your Passion into Profit
2026-05-21 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
You’ve been doing it for years — creating, crafting, coaching, cooking, designing, or building something that people keep telling you is worth paying for. You know they’re right. What you haven’t had is a clear path from where you are now to a real, functioning business.
Hobby to Hustle: Turn Your Passion into Profit is a free, one-hour virtual workshop led by Trish Jordan, Project Manager at REACH Women’s Business Center. The session is built for entrepreneurs who have a hobby, a talent, or a creative skill they’re ready to turn into income — and who need the foundational steps to make that shift with clarity, confidence, and strategy.
The session covers the mindset shift from hobbyist to business owner, the foundational steps to move from passion to profit, how to evaluate whether your hobby has real market demand, the basics of pricing, positioning, and presenting your offering to customers, and what it means to build a business that is both purposeful and sustainable.
Whether you create handmade products, offer a personal service, have a creative idea you’ve been sitting on, or have already started selling informally and want to make it official — this is the session that helps you take the next step.

The Success Circle
2026-05-27 13:00 - 14:00 | Dream Makers Studio, 39 Dexter Avenue, Suite 209, Montgomery, AL, 36104, United States
Vision without action is just a wish.
The Success Circle is a one-hour in-person workshop led by Trish Jordan, Project Manager at REACH Women’s Business Center, designed to help small business owners do something that gets skipped more than almost anything else: slow down, get intentional, and build goals that actually align with where they want to go.
This is not a motivational session. It is a working session. Participants will gain clarity on what they are actually working toward, build confidence in the direction they are heading, and leave with a concrete, structured roadmap to move forward strategically — not just urgently.
The Success Circle format creates space for honest reflection and peer energy — a room of business owners who are all at the same stage of wanting to move forward with more intention. It’s the kind of environment where the conversation in the room is often as valuable as the content itself.
If you have been running your business reactively — responding to whatever comes next — and you’re ready to step back and build toward something specific, this session is the pause that makes everything after it clearer.
In-person at SBOSS Dream Maker Studio. Registration required by 8:00 AM the morning of the event.

Start Your Business Series: Financial Planning & Budgeting
2026-06-24 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
Build a strong financial foundation. Gain clarity on startup costs, pricing strategies, and essential budgeting practices. You’ll learn how to forecast revenue, track expenses, and plan for profitability—plus tips for managing cash flow and preparing for funding opportunities.
You’ll learn:

How to estimate startup and operating costs
The basics of creating a business budget
How to price your products or services for profitability
How to create simple financial forecasts
Tools to manage cash flow and track expenses

Cooperatively Funded by:

Instructions:
Once you register, you will receive the Zoom meeting information for the event

Start Your Business Series: Business Operations & Customer Experience
2026-07-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
Streamline how your business runs. Learn how to design efficient systems for daily operations—from managing inventory and vendors to setting up workflows and customer service processes. We’ll also explore how to create exceptional customer experiences that drive loyalty and referrals.
You’ll learn:

How to set up smooth day-to-day operations
The importance of systems and workflows for efficiency
Basics of vendor, inventory, and service management
How to design a customer experience that builds loyalty
Tools and tips for customer service excellence

Cooperatively Funded by:

Instructions:
Once you register, you will receive the Zoom meeting information for the event

Start Your Business Series: Taxes & Financial Reporting
2026-07-15 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
Stay compliant and informed. Understand your basic tax responsibilities as a small business owner, including estimated taxes, sales tax, and key deductions. You’ll also learn the importance of financial statements and recordkeeping to stay audit-ready and make data-driven decisions.
You’ll learn:

Key tax obligations for small business owners
The difference between personal and business taxes
Common deductions and how to track them
Basics of financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow)
Best practices for bookkeeping and staying audit-ready

Cooperatively Funded By:

Instructions:
Once you register, you will receive the Zoom meeting information for the event

Start Your Business Series: Marketing & Branding
2026-07-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
Stand out and attract your ideal customer. This session covers the basics of branding, market positioning, and crafting your unique value proposition. Learn how to identify your target audience, create compelling messaging, and choose the right marketing channels to launch and grow your presence effectively.

You’ll learn:

How to define your brand identity and value proposition
How to identify and understand your target market
Basic marketing strategies for new businesses
How to use social media, websites, and content effectively
Low-cost ways to build visibility and attract customers

Cooperatively Funded by:

Instructions:
Once you register, you will receive the Zoom meeting information for the event

Start Your Business Series: Finalizing Your Business Plan & Growth Strategies
2026-07-29 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
Pull it all together with confidence. In this capstone session, you’ll refine your business plan and learn how to use it as a living tool for decision-making, funding, and scaling. We’ll also cover goal-setting frameworks, growth strategies, and how to stay resilient as your business evolves.
You’ll learn:

How to write or refine a simple, effective business plan
What lenders and investors look for in a plan
How to set goals and measure your progress
Growth strategies for sales, marketing, and operations
How to adapt and evolve as your business grows

Cooperatively Funded By:

Instructions:
Once you register, you will receive the Zoom meeting information for the event

2026 Small Business Awards Ceremony
2026-08-01 17:00 - 20:00 | Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, 1 Museum Drive, Montgomery, AL, 36117, United States
The City of Montgomery and the Montgomery County Commission, in partnership with Access Montgomery, SBOSS Montgomery, and Economic Development, proudly present the 2026 Small Business Awards Ceremony — a signature celebration honoring the entrepreneurs, small business owners, and local leaders helping shape Montgomery’s economic future.
Hosted at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, this annual awards ceremony recognizes the businesses that continue to create jobs, serve residents, strengthen neighborhoods, and bring new energy to Montgomery’s small business community.
The evening will begin with an opening reception at 5:00 PM, giving guests, nominees, community partners, and local leaders an opportunity to mingle, connect, and celebrate Montgomery’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem. The formal awards ceremony will begin at 6:00 PM and is expected to conclude at 8:00 PM.
More than an awards program, the 2026 Small Business Awards Ceremony is a community celebration of resilience, excellence, innovation, and impact. From emerging entrepreneurs to established business owners, this event shines a spotlight on the people and businesses helping Montgomery grow, compete, and thrive.
Guests are invited to join us for an evening of recognition, connection, and celebration as we honor the businesses and leaders making Montgomery a stronger place to live, work, and grow.
RSVP for the Ceremony →
