2026 Georgetown Small Business Week

A three-day event designed to equip local business owners, startups, and nonprofit leaders with the tools, insights, and connections they need to thrive in today’s rapidly changing business environment. Whether you're a new entrepreneur, a growing business, or a nonprofit looking to expand your impact, Small Business Week offers a valuable opportunity to learn, connect, and leave with real strategies you can apply right away.

Info: Communication - True communication is the response you get. Learn the skills to adapt your communication style to communicate in the way your team wants to be communicated with. Watch as tension lowers and productivity rises.
The Power of Planning - Management comes down to systems and accountability. Together, we guide you through the process of weekly and daily planning for your team to ensure their individual success.

Info: Shopify makes it easy to build a beautiful, professional online store — no coding required. Whether you sell physical products, use dropshipping, run a retail brand, or offer subscriptions, Shopify gives you the tools to grow.
And now, your store can be discovered inside AI-powered storefronts like ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Mode, and more — creating powerful new visibility opportunities.
In this practical workshop, you’ll learn:
• How to start with Shopify step-by-step
• What to include on your website to build trust and increase conversions
• How to design your store for repeat sales — not just one-time traffic
• Low-cost marketing ideas that work for small business owners.
If you want to grow your online store without burnout or overwhelm, this workshop will give you clarity, direction, and a smarter strategy.

Info: In this session, we’ll break down the most common cybercrime attacks targeting small businesses, teach you how to quickly recognize scams, and share practical steps you can take right away to protect your company, your customers, and your data. Whether you're just getting started or looking to strengthen your defenses, this workshop will give you the tools you need to stay secure in today's digital world.

Info: Explore business ownership options including starting an independent business, buying an existing business, and starting a franchise business, with emphasis on franchising. Look at funding options and how to make your best decision in moving forward with a business that is right for you.

Info: Marketing is changing fast — AI search, shifting algorithms, new platforms, more competition. As a small business owner, it can feel exhausting trying to keep up. This training is designed to help you navigate modern marketing without burnout.
In this workshop, we’ll cover:
• How people actually buy today — and what influences their decisions
• How to optimize your business for AI search (ChatGPT, Google AI, and beyond)
• Why trust-based marketing outperforms
• AI slop
• Smart ways to reach customers across multiple channels
• How to use automation and simple frameworks to grow without doing more work
Walk away with a clear, empowered mindset and a focused strategy for 2026 — knowing exactly where to concentrate your efforts to generate consistent leads.

Info: AI is everywhere, but it does not have to feel overwhelming.
In this interactive 90-minute session, we will explore a practical path to using AI more strategically in your business. You will discover how to think about AI beyond simple content creation, identify everyday tools that create immediate value, uncover hidden growth opportunities through deeper research, and leave with a clear action plan you can implement right away. No technical background required. No coding. Just practical insight and real-world application.

Info: Learn how to start developing a strategy by finding your “Why” for AI. Sandeep will explain how to double your output, how to audit your processes, and how to perform a maturity readiness check.

Info: Join us for a relaxed networking lunch where you can grab a bite, meet new people, and connect with fellow entrepreneurs in a welcoming, low‑pressure setting. It’s a great chance to share ideas, swap experiences, and build relationships with others who are growing businesses right here in Georgetown. Whether you're hoping to make new contacts or just enjoy good conversation, this casual lunch is the perfect mid‑day break to recharge and connect.

Info: AI doesn’t have to be complicated to be powerful. In this practical session, Carolyn Cummins shows you how to put AI to work as your behind-the-scenes marketing assistant. Instead of chasing hacks or one-off prompts, you’ll learn repeatable workflows that help you save time, reduce stress, and keep your marketing strategy on track.
Discover how to:
• Map out content pillars and campaigns with AI so you never wonder what to post next.
• Create a weekly or monthly marketing plan in minutes, not hours.
• Use AI to organize customer insights into clear messaging themes.
• Build reusable checklists and templates that simplify marketing tasks.
• Streamline your process so you spend more time connecting with clients and less time stuck in the weeds.
You’ll walk away with a simple framework and ready-to-use workflows you can replicate immediately, making AI part of your business routine in a way that feels easy, strategic, and sustainable.

Info: Many people feel inspired to start a nonprofit after seeing a need in their community or experiencing an issue firsthand. Passion is often the spark that motivates people to act—but turning that passion into meaningful impact requires thoughtful reflection and clarity of purpose.
Before forming a new organization, it can be helpful to step back and explore the problem you want to address, the change you hope to see, and the broader landscape of people and organizations already working in that space. This perspective helps ensure that your energy and ideas are directed toward creating the greatest possible impact.
This session invites participants to explore the difference between passion, purpose, and organization. Through practical examples and guided reflection, participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to move from personal passion to purposeful, sustainable community impact and whether that ultimately leads to starting a nonprofit or strengthening existing efforts

Info: Growth takes capital — but not all capital is created equal.
Whether you're seeking startup funding, expanding, buying equipment, hiring staff, or acquiring real estate, understanding your funding options can make the difference between smart growth and expensive mistakes. In this practical, no-fluff session, we’ll break down the different types of business capital — from traditional bank loans and SBA programs to CDFIs, lines of credit, investors, and alternative financing — and help you determine what fits your stage of growth.
Too many business owners chase capital without understanding how it fits their strategy, timeline, or risk tolerance. This session demystifies the capital landscape and helps you think like a lender, so you can position your business for funding and long-term growth. We’ll cover real-world examples, common mistakes, and practical steps you can take immediately.

Info: How much time do you focus on your insurance needs and options as a small business owner? If you are like most, the day-to-day relegates it to the "important but not urgent" bucket. This workshop will help you to recognize typical exposures for small business, understand which types of insurance policies cover those exposures, and how to smartly insure against perils.

Info: This interactive workshop helps entrepreneurs quickly identify the main area slowing the business down across five areas: Attract, Convert, Deliver, Repeat, and Cash. Attendees will choose one priority to improve and leave with a clear next step they can test right away. 

Info: These will be 20 minute one-on-one sessions with Dr. Amir. This is a great opportunity to ask questions, seek advice, and gain expert perspective to support your business journey.
These are a special event and will require you to register separately, please email [email protected].

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Host or Publisher City of Georgetown Economic Development