Main Content

Enter Now

Calling all small business owners!

You’re invited to enter your small business in The UPS Store® Small Biz Challenge in Austin, TX for an opportunity to compete for a share of the $35,000 prize to grow your business, a feature in Inc. magazine, expert mentorship, and more!    

Here's how to enter:

Entry Phase: From now through February 19th, eligible small business owners can enter the 2025 The UPS Store® Small Biz Challenge by completing a short, online entry form at inc.com/the-ups-store-challenge.

Semi-Finalist Selection Phase: The UPS Store, Inc., and Inc. Business Media will review all online submissions and select the nine semi-finalists. Each semi-finalist will be partnered with a mentor who will help provide motivation and entrepreneurial advice as they compete in the next phase of the Small Biz Challenge.

The nine semi-finalists, together with their individual mentor, will compete in various challenges. These may range from a variety of common skills and know-how needed to run a successful small business, such as marketing, staffing, operations, and company culture.

Voting Phase: After each challenge, the nine semi-finalists, alongside their entrepreneurial mentors, will share their answers for the public to view and cast votes. The public voting phase will run from March 17th to April 4th and will determine the three final contestants.

Final Phase: The top three contestants will travel to a final event in Austin on April 24th to present in front of a celebrity host and guest judges. A winner will be announced and given the ultimate prize plus an editorial feature in an upcoming issue of Inc. magazine.

Read about the 2024 winner, Lacey Benard of Bitty Bao!

Bitty Bao, based in Los Angeles, California, makes bilingual Chinese books for children, teaching them about a variety of topics – from counting, to food, to cultural moments like Lunar New Year. In the short three years since founding Bitty Bao, over 90,000 Chinese bilingual books have been sold to bookstores, libraries, and families worldwide.

Watch the 2024 Small Biz Challenge recap below and follow The UPS Store on Instagram to catch highlights and other small business advice and inspiration from the competition.  

Finalists of The UPS Store Small Biz Challenge 2024 on stage
The UPS Store Small Biz Challenge finalist standing next to their mentor
The UPS Store Small Biz Challenge finalist standing next to their mentor
The UPS Store Small Biz challenge winner holding a check
Finalists of The UPS Store Small Biz Challenge 2024 on stage
The UPS Store Small Biz Challenge finalist standing next to their mentor
The UPS Store Small Biz Challenge finalist standing next to their mentor
The UPS Store Small Biz challenge winner holding a check

Everyone needs a helping hand every now and then. Sign up for our email program today and enjoy 15% off your next online print purchase.

I AM A BUSINESS OWNER
Yes No Confirmation
YOUR INFORMATION
We will never sell or pass your information on to third parties. Your information given here will only be used by The UPS Store's national email program. You must sign up to receive emails from your local center separately.

BY CLICKING SUBMIT, I AGREE TO RECEIVE NEWS AND OFFERS BY EMAIL FROM THE UPS STORE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

Submit

Retail locations are independently owned and operated by franchisees. Various offers may be available at certain participating locations only. Please contact your local The UPS Store retail location for more details. For more information on The UPS Store, Inc. Corp. Headquarters privacy practices, please consult the Privacy Policy.

Submit