13 December 2021
Liam Edwardson

Small Businesses Conferences to Attend in 2022

Small business conferences attract small business owners and staff members in all sorts of industries around the world. Our current and future COVID-19 conditions notwithstanding, why should you consider attending one (or more) of them? For a myriad of good reasons.

Educate yourself

The opportunity to learn something new and broaden your knowledge and expertise is one of the biggest benefits of small business conferences. Of course, many conferences are held virtually, using web conferencing and other remote means. But no one needs to tell you that even the fastest Wi-Fi cannot deliver the atmosphere, networking and camaraderie you will get in a live, face-to-face setting.

Network

Small business conferences are ideal for meeting new people from all different geographical areas. You will mingle with like-minded people and industry peers from a wide range of backgrounds who you may not ever get the chance to interact with otherwise. Even the most casual of connections could dramatically impact your professional career.

Introduce yourself

A small business conference is also an effective way to get your name and small business out there. Major bonus points if you are invited to speak and make a presentation during the conference. You may discover people to exchange ideas with, who want to collaborate or who perhaps even become partners or clients.

Expand your horizons and find new solutions

Conferences will expose you to new techniques and philosophies, new types of equipment, unpublished data and more. You will have the opportunity to ask presenters and thought leaders questions about their work one on one. They may even impart invaluable advice on how to improve your own small business.

Learn above and beyond

Once at the conference, you may consider venturing outside your discipline.

Expand your knowledge base by attending a symposium, panel discussion or professional development session. After all, you never know when a nugget of information can positively influence your business or even you personally.

Inspire creativity and innovation

Taking a break from your small business’s day-to-day operations in a totally new environment could prove immensely fruitful. The conference may very well spark your creativity, inspire new ideas and unlock innovative ways of thinking.

It is quite likely you will return home refreshed and reinvigorated, armed with new tools, valuable contacts and a renewed approach that will help you manage and grow your business better than before.

Of course, the last two years have changed the entire process of get-togethers — with social distancing, mask-wearing, the prospect of spreading COVID-19 variants and more.

If you decide to attend a conference virtually or in person, here is a selection of some of the best small businesses conferences to consider in 2022.

Annual America's SBDC Conference brings together the ecosystem of business development experts, counselors, SBDC leadership and many corporate and small business suppliers of products and services for Small Business America.

September 6–9, 2022
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
San Diego, California

Small Business Expo is an exhibition and conference billed as America's biggest business networking and educational event and is dedicated to unique products or services that help small businesses run their business. Some key dates are Charlotte, North Carolina, on February 17, 2022, Boston, Massachusetts on April 21, and Chicago on May 19—you can also check the full schedule for additional times.

The Federal Small Business Conference is tailored to small businesses working or aspiring to work in the federal market. Government agencies will share their upcoming procurement and contracting requirements, and education sessions will shed light on how to succeed. Promoters say it is a must-attend event guaranteed to prove great returns on investment.

Federal SBC will be held November 1–3, 2022, at Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

If you’d like to travel abroad and make inroads into the international market, check out Conference Index. Some notable conferences are also listed below. As regulations pertaining to COVID-19 continue to change, be sure to review the latest international travel laws and restrictions.

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