BizX 2026 Nominations are CLOSED.

Winning an award doesn’t just celebrate success — it elevates your brand and amplifies your impact.

Awards aren’t just trophies anymore.

When people search Google or ask AI tools like ChatGPT for the best companies in an industry, award winners and finalists are what appear. Being recognized instantly elevates your credibility.

Each nomination takes 60 seconds and puts a deserving business owner on the radar and invites them to step forward for national recognition.

You may nominate yourself or someone else for any category that applies. Multiple category nominations are welcome.

Entrepreneur of the Year

Entrants must be 30 years old or over. You will demonstrate effective and innovative leadership to strengthen your business and how you add creativity and vision to the business. A detailed plan of your business goals for the future and how you plan to achieve these will be provided along with the milestones you have achieved in the last 3 years.

Minority Owned Business of the Year

Open to businesses that are at least 51% minority-owned and operated. Entrants will demonstrate how their unique perspective has driven business growth, innovation, and community impact. You will provide evidence of business success over the past 3 years, including key milestones, along with a clear vision and strategy for future growth.

Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Entrants must be under 30 years old. You will demonstrate effective and innovative leadership to strengthen your business and how you add creativity and vision to the business. A detailed plan of your business goals for the future and how you plan to achieve these will be provided along with the milestones you have achieved in the last 3 years.

VP/ Director/ Department Head of the Year

Entrants must hold a senior leadership position such as Vice President, Director, or Department Head. You will demonstrate outstanding leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to drive team performance and organizational success. Evidence of key achievements and your impact on company growth, innovation, or culture will be required, along with a vision for continued leadership excellence.

Employee of the Year

Open to individuals at any level who have gone above and beyond in their role. Entrants will demonstrate exceptional performance, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to contributing to their team and organization’s success. You will provide examples of achievements over the past 12 months, including initiatives taken, challenges overcome, and the positive impact made on colleagues, customers, or company culture.

Best Non-Profit Organization

The growth of your company will be assessed from your business valuation across a selected period. You will also demonstrate the business benefits from the growth as well as your personal benefits.

Best Retailer of the Year

This company will have growth in sales since launching / the past 3 financial years. This could be in a face to face setting or online. You will provide evidence of how you show longevity, innovation and excellent customer service.

Best Food Service/ Quick Service

Open to businesses in the food service or quick service industry, including cafes, restaurants, food trucks, and fast-casual concepts. Entrants will demonstrate excellence in service, quality, innovation, and customer experience. You will provide evidence of business performance, unique offerings, operational efficiency, and how you’ve adapted to market trends or challenges.

Female Entrepreneur of the Year

Entrants must be 30 years old or over and identify as female. You will demonstrate effective and innovative leadership to grow and strengthen your business, along with how you bring creativity, resilience, and vision to your role. A detailed plan of your business goals for the future and how you plan to achieve them will be provided, along with the key milestones you have achieved in the last 3 years.

Best Manufacturer/ Wholesaler/ Distributor

You will demonstrate what has driven your company’s success and why. A detailed plan of your business goals for the future and how you plan to achieve these will be provided along with the milestones you have achieved in the last 3 years.

Most Innovative Organization

You will provide details of the processes you use to research and develop new products or services and also demonstrate how you introduce them to the market. Details of your current strategy for the development of the business will also be provided.

CEO of the Year

You will demonstrate effective and innovative leadership to strengthen your business, as well as how you serve as a role model and mentor to your team. A detailed growth plan to reach your business objectives will also be demonstrated.

Best Community Impact

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) we measure are how many jobs you create and how much extra revenue you put into the marketplace? You will demonstrate your ongoing commitment to the community and describe specific activities the business engages in that have a positive impact on the community.

Favorite Neighborhood Business

Open to locally owned businesses that play a vital role in their community. Entrants will demonstrate a strong connection to their neighborhood, excellence in customer service, and positive community impact. You will provide examples of how your business supports local residents, builds relationships, and contributes to the neighborhood’s identity and well-being. Community testimonials or customer feedback are encouraged.

Best Service Based Over 10 Employees

This company will be based on providing a service for customers rather than on manufacturing. Growth in sales will have increased year on year, your USP will clearly be defined along with the actions you’ve taken to drive your company’s success and a detailed plan for the future.

Best Overall Company

Winners from each category will be put into the running for Best Overall Company. 

Best Service Based Under 10 Employees

This company will be based on providing a service for customers rather than on manufacturing. Growth in sales will have increased year on year, your USP will clearly be defined along with the actions you’ve taken to drive your company’s success and a detailed plan for the future.

Best Customer Service

Customer service is something that every business has to do to survive, but some businesses go the extra mile which makes them stand out from the rest. You will demonstrate how the company promotes ongoing customer service improvement across the organization and how your team participates to improve their development. Customer testimonials will be provided as supporting evidence.

Best Company Culture

You will demonstrate how your company creates a positive culture within the business and outside with customers, sponsors and the local community. How do you celebrate team member achievements and what does it take for someone to be successful in the company? You will provide evidence to show your ongoing efforts to build and improve your company culture and this will be backed up with testimonials from your team members.
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