Executive's Small Business Awards – 2025

Beginning in 2025, the ESBAs have moved to an application (self-nomination) process. Please share this application with your favorite King County businesses and encourage them to apply.

No - All past winners from any year and in any category are ineligible to reapply.

However, past finalists that did not win can reapply. Review the list of past winners.

No - all applicants must be a for-profit business in operation for at least three years.

For the ESBAs, a business must have 50 or fewer employees. We do not consider revenue/income or other factors in defining "small."

Businesses may self-determine rural status. If there’s a reasonable case for your business to be considered rural, you may count yourself in. Examples include being based in a small town center surrounded by farmland or wilderness, or being located in a primarily rural area and also serving primarily rural populations.

We recognize that some areas are less clear-cut. While King County’s official regional planning maps use technical Urban Growth Area boundaries, for this award the definition is more flexible.

Yes. A business must have its primary physical location in King County to be eligible to apply. Online-only businesses must be registered to a physical address in King County.

Yes, a business may apply in more than one category. However, you will need to complete a separate application form for each entry.

Your business qualifies for both categories. We cannot advise individual businesses on the “best” category to choose if more than one applies. We suggest all applicants submit for the categories in which you’re qualified and where the business impact story is most powerful. Also consider the Small Business of the Year general category.