Submit the nominee
Provide the nominee’s official name, business information, category, state, website, and supporting details.
ABAE Awards Nomination
Nominate a business worthy of national recognition.
The American Business & Entrepreneurship Awards recognizes outstanding businesses, entrepreneurs, leaders, and organizations across the United States through quarterly honoree recognition and annual distinction.
Quarterly
Recognition Cycles
50
States Represented
Verified
Winner Records
Nomination Process
From submission to quarterly recognition review.
A nomination is a request for consideration. It does not guarantee recognition, verification, category placement, or advancement to the annual Grand Finale.
Industry judges review
Qualified submissions are reviewed by ABAE industry judges for completeness, category fit, location, supporting evidence, and the relevance of the nominee’s achievement.
Recognition decision
Qualified nominees may be selected for quarterly ABAE recognition within the applicable category and state.
Winner record created
Selected honorees receive an official winner record, verification code, directory listing, and next-step information.
Official Award Categories
Select the category that best matches the nominee’s achievement.
Choose one primary category in the nomination form. ABAE may review category fit before a recognition decision is finalized.
01
Business Excellence
Recognizes sustained business performance, operational strength, and measurable market impact.
View category winners → 02Small Business of the Year
Recognizes a small business demonstrating strong growth, customer value, and local or statewide impact.
View category winners → 03Entrepreneur of the Year
Recognizes an entrepreneur whose leadership, execution, and vision have produced meaningful business results.
View category winners → 04Community Impact
Recognizes organizations and leaders creating measurable social, civic, or community benefit.
View category winners → 05Innovation Award
Recognizes a business, product, service, process, or leader advancing practical innovation.
View category winners → 06Customer Service Excellence
Recognizes exceptional service standards, customer experience, responsiveness, and trust.
View category winners → 07Leadership Excellence
Recognizes a founder, executive, or organizational leader demonstrating clear and responsible leadership.
View category winners → 08Minority-Owned Business Excellence
Recognizes an outstanding minority-owned business with strong performance and community or industry impact.
View category winners → 09Women in Business
Recognizes a woman-owned business or female business leader demonstrating measurable achievement.
View category winners → 10Specialty Award
Recognizes distinct achievement that does not fit another category but merits formal ABAE consideration.
View category winners →Who May Be Nominated
ABAE considers qualified nominees across business, leadership, and community impact.
The nomination should identify a real business, entrepreneur, executive, leader, or organization with sufficient information for review.
BusinessesEstablished or emerging businesses with measurable performance, customer value, innovation, leadership, or market impact.
EntrepreneursFounders and business owners whose execution, growth, leadership, or industry contribution merits formal consideration.
Executives and LeadersIndividuals demonstrating responsible leadership, operational impact, team development, or organizational achievement.
Community OrganizationsOrganizations and initiatives producing measurable civic, charitable, educational, economic, or social benefit.
Women-Owned and Minority-Owned BusinessesQualified businesses may be considered in the applicable ownership category or another category that best reflects the achievement.
Self-Nominations and Third-Party NominationsA founder, employee, customer, partner, or other qualified person may submit the nomination, subject to accurate information.
Nomination FAQ
Common questions before submitting.
Review the answers below before completing the ABAE nomination form.
Who can submit an ABAE nomination?
A founder, employee, customer, partner, community member, industry peer, or other qualified person may submit a nomination. Self-nominations are also accepted when the information provided is accurate and complete.
Who reviews the nominations?
ABAE uses industry judges to review qualified submissions. The review considers category fit, business or leadership achievement, supporting evidence, location, completeness, and the relevance of the nominee’s impact.
Does submitting a nomination guarantee recognition?
No. A nomination is a request for consideration. Submission does not guarantee selection, verification, category placement, an award package, press coverage, or advancement to the annual Grand Finale.
Can I nominate my own business or myself?
Yes. Self-nominations are allowed. The form should still include specific facts, achievements, business information, and supporting links that help the industry judges evaluate the submission.
How do I choose the correct category?
Select the category that best matches the nominee’s primary achievement. ABAE may review category fit before a recognition decision is finalized. Click any category above to view existing winners in that category.
What happens if the nominee is selected?
Selected honorees may receive a public Winners Directory listing, an official verification record with recognition details, and next-step information. Optional plaques, crystal awards, digital assets, and PR visibility packages may also be available.
Is quarterly recognition virtual?
Yes. ABAE quarterly recognition is currently conducted virtually. The annual Grand Finale is the in-person awards experience.
What information should I prepare before starting?
Prepare the nominee’s official business or professional name, website or public profile, city and state, selected category, specific reason for nomination, measurable achievements or impact, and the nominator’s valid contact information.
Official Nomination Form
Complete one nomination for one nominee.
Use the nominee’s official business or professional information. Avoid promotional exaggeration and include specific achievements, results, or supporting facts.
- Nominee’s official business or professional name
- Primary website or public profile
- City and state
- Selected ABAE category
- Specific reason for nomination
- Supporting achievement or impact details
- Nominator’s valid contact information
Nominate a Business
Form ID: CAQQEJYJjZ1oRFSTjGnv. Complete all required fields and review the nomination before submission.
ABAE Awards is an independent recognition platform. Submitting a nomination does not guarantee selection, verification, an award package, press coverage, or annual Grand Finale participation. ABAE recognition is not a government certification, license, accreditation, or legal verification service.