Start Your Business Series: Business Operations & Customer Experience
2026-07-08 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | 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 →

AI Without the Overwhelm
2026-08-27 17:30 - 19:00 | Dream Makers Studio, 39 Dexter Avenue, Suite 209, Montgomery, AL, 36104, United States
AI is everywhere—but figuring out where it actually fits into your business can feel like another task on an already full plate.

AI Without the Overwhelm is a practical, beginner-friendly workshop designed to help small business owners understand how AI can save time, simplify everyday tasks, and support the work they are already doing.
No coding. No technical background. No endless list of tools.
Instead, we’ll start with your business.
During this session, participants will explore how AI can support areas such as:

Marketing and content creation
Emails and customer communication
Research and business planning
Administrative tasks
Document development
Everyday productivity

We’ll also look at how to identify the right AI tools for your needs, communicate with AI more effectively, and determine where AI makes sense—and where it doesn’t.
What You’ll Learn

What AI is and how small businesses are using it
How to identify tasks where AI may save you time
How to select AI tools based on your business needs
Practical prompting techniques
Ways to incorporate AI into everyday business activities
How to begin using AI without becoming overwhelmed by the technology

Who Should Attend?
This workshop is designed for entrepreneurs and small business owners who are:

Completely new to AI
Using tools like ChatGPT occasionally but want to get more value from them
Unsure which AI tools are right for their business
Looking for ways to reduce repetitive work and improve productivity

Register Now

Plate & Permit: Food Truck Accelerator
2026-09-21 17:30 - 19:00 | Dream Makers Studio, 39 Dexter Avenue, Suite 209, Montgomery, AL, 36104, United States
Plate & Permit: Food Truck Accelerator is a one-week intensive for Montgomery food entrepreneurs who are ready to move from kitchen to curb.
Over five days at Dream Makers Studio, current and aspiring food truck and restaurant owners work through what it actually takes to launch and operate a mobile food business in Montgomery the right way. The week covers what the City and County require, the health and safety regulations that apply, the business plan you actually need, where you can legally operate, and how to market and grow once the window opens.
This is a hands-on week built for owners who are serious about launching. You will leave with a working understanding of the permitting path, the compliance picture, and the business fundamentals that keep a truck running past its first season.
Cohort Eligibility

Must be a current or aspiring daycare owner in the City of Montgomery or Montgomery County (Pike Road and Mt. Meigs included)

Cohort Information

Format: Hybrid (Virtual and In Person Sessions)
Cohort Start: September 21st
Cohort Ends: September 25th
Fee: $100 (Must be paid before first session)

Apply by September 10

Pitch Competition and Grant Program Eligibility
Cohort completers who are Montgomery business owners with an active business license are eligible to compete in the pitch competition. One winner receives a $5,000 grant for relocation or technical assistance, provided by the City of Montgomery Economic Development Department and Access Montgomery.
Separate from cohort eligibility. To compete in the pitch competition, a participant must:

Montgomery business owner with an active business license
Complete the Child Care Cohort

What “technical assistance” means
The $5,000 grant is a technical assistance grant, which means it pays for professional expertise and services that strengthen your business. It is not intended for day-to-day operating costs like rent, inventory, or payroll.
Example: A child care provider uses her grant to hire a consultant who walks her through the state licensing application, and an accountant who sets up her books and payroll classification before she brings on her first employee. She is buying expertise she does not already have — the kind that removes a barrier standing between her and her next stage of growth.

Cohort eligibility and grant eligibility are not the same. The cohort is open to current and aspiring owners. The grant program requires an active Montgomery business license.

The cohort runs September 21 through 25 at Dream Makers Studio, 39 Dexter Avenue, Suite 209. The cohort fee is $100. Applications close September 10.
SBOSS shares critical information to help Montgomery small businesses start, stabilize, and grow. SBOSS does not provide legal, tax, or HR advice and does not guarantee licensure outcomes.

One-Week Daycare Intensive
2026-09-21 17:30 - 19:00 | Dream Makers Studio, 39 Dexter Avenue, Suite 209, Montgomery, AL, 36104, United States
The One-Week Daycare Intensive is a five-day cohort for current, aspiring, and home-based child care providers in the City of Montgomery and Montgomery County who are ready to move from home-based to licensed.
Over five days at Dream Makers Studio, providers work through the requirements, systems, and business fundamentals that separate an informal care arrangement from a licensed, growing child care business.
Cohort Eligibility

Must be a current or aspiring daycare owner in the City of Montgomery or Montgomery County (Pike Road and Mt. Meigs included)

Cohort Information

Format: Hybrid (Virtual and In Person Sessions)
Cohort Start: September 21st
Cohort Ends: September 25th
Fee: $100 (Must be paid before first session)

Apply by September 10

Pitch Competition and Grant Program Eligibility
Cohort completers who are Montgomery business owners with an active business license are eligible to compete in the pitch competition. One winner receives a $5,000 grant for relocation or technical assistance, provided by the City of Montgomery Economic Development Department and Access Montgomery.
Separate from cohort eligibility. To compete in the pitch competition, a participant must:

Montgomery business owner with an active business license
Complete the Child Care Cohort

What “technical assistance” means
The $5,000 grant is a technical assistance grant, which means it pays for professional expertise and services that strengthen your business. It is not intended for day-to-day operating costs like rent, inventory, or payroll.
Example: A child care provider uses her grant to hire a consultant who walks her through the state licensing application, and an accountant who sets up her books and payroll classification before she brings on her first employee. She is buying expertise she does not already have — the kind that removes a barrier standing between her and her next stage of growth.
Cohort eligibility and grant eligibility are not the same. The cohort is open to current and aspiring owners. The grant program requires an active Montgomery business license.
The cohort runs September 21 through 25 at Dream Makers Studio, 39 Dexter Avenue, Suite 209. The cohort fee is $100. Applications close September 10.
SBOSS shares critical information to help Montgomery small businesses start, stabilize, and grow. SBOSS does not provide legal, tax, or HR advice and does not guarantee licensure outcomes.

Let’s Talk Shop: Salon Edition
2026-09-30 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
Join us for an engaging and practical conversation featuring Sherian McGhee of Rainy Expressions and Kanecia Davis of Klassy Kutz.
Designed for current and aspiring salon owners, hairstylists, barbers, estheticians, and beauty professionals, Let’s Talk Shop offers an inside look at what it really takes to build, grow, and sustain a successful business in the beauty industry.
Sherian and Kanecia will share their entrepreneurial journeys, lessons learned along the way, and real-world experiences with salon ownership and business growth. The conversation will explore managing daily operations, building and retaining clientele, marketing and branding, overcoming challenges, and making the transition from beauty professional to business owner.
Whether you are dreaming of opening your own salon, currently building your clientele, or ready to take your existing beauty business to the next level, come ready to learn, ask questions, and talk shop.
Tuesday, September 30 at 10:00 AM CST. This is a virtual session. Registration is required.
Register — Sept 30
