HootBiz

    Your community knows who the best biz is. Let them celebrate it.

    The people you serve every day can now vote to name you Biz Person of the Year in your city. Celebrate your 2026 by entering before December 31, and let your customers, partners, and fellow business owners show up for you.

    Entries are open now. Voting opens November 1, 2026.

    Introducing the 2026 Biz Person of the Year Contest

    Awards like this are a highlight of the year for small and local business owners. They give customers a reason to celebrate the businesses they love, and give owners proof of the trust they've earned. We're bringing that tradition to HootBiz, built for the small businesses on our platform.

    Winners earn a badge on their HootBiz profile that every visitor sees, plus a spotlight in our winners announcement.

    Sample Biz Person of the Year badge

    How it works

    Step 1

    Enter

    Fill out the Biz Person of the Year form with your business, city, and state or province.

    Step 2

    Share your link

    You'll get a personal link to send to customers, partners, and your network.

    Step 3

    Collect votes

    Anyone can vote by verifying their email. No HootBiz account required. HootBiz members vote in one click while signed in.

    Step 4

    Earn your badge

    Reach 15 votes to become a Finalist. Earn the most votes in your city to win.

    Step 5

    Celebrate

    Winners are announced in early January 2027, and badges appear on your profile automatically.

    Three ways to be recognized

    Nominee

    Enter the contest and show your community you're in it.

    Finalist

    Earn 15 or more verified votes by December 31.

    Biz Person of the Year

    Earn the most votes in your city, with at least 15.

    Official contest badges coming soon - winners and finalists will earn their badge automatically on their HootBiz profile. Badges can also be embedded and downloaded for use on website and in marketing materials.

    Ready to be recognized?

    Entries close December 31, 2026. The sooner you enter, the more time you have to rally your community.

    Sign in to your HootBiz account to enter.

    Sign InClaim Your HootBiz Profile

    Not a member yet? The contest is open to active HootBiz members only. Start growing for $25/month and enter today.

    Nominees

    Hoot Host

    Monterey, CA

    0 votes

    FAQ

    Official rules

    1. Sponsor. HootBiz, a Hoot Host brand, Monterey, California.
    2. Contest period. Entries and voting open November 1, 2026 and close December 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific. Votes received after the cutoff do not count.
    3. Eligibility. Open to businesses located in the United States and Canada, entered by an owner or authorized representative age 18 or older. Entrant must hold an active paid HootBiz subscription at the time of entry and through the winner announcement. Employees, contractors, and immediate family of HootBiz and Hoot Host are not eligible.
    4. How to enter. Submit the Biz Person of the Year form with business name, city, and state or province. One entry per business.
    5. Voting. Anyone may vote by verifying a valid email address. A HootBiz account is not required. One vote per person and email address. Votes from the entrant's own email address do not count. Votes may not be bought, sold, traded, or generated by bots, scripts, or disposable email addresses.
    6. Recognition tiers. Nominee: every eligible entrant. Finalist: 15 or more verified votes by the cutoff. Winner: at least 15 verified votes and the most verified votes among nominees in the same city and state or province.
    7. Ties. Decided by the nominee who reached the tied total first.
    8. Vote verification and disqualification. HootBiz may review, remove, or invalidate votes it believes are fake, duplicate, purchased, or otherwise fraudulent. Suspected manipulation may result in disqualification. HootBiz's decisions are final.
    9. Recognition. Winners and Finalists receive a profile badge and may be featured in HootBiz announcements. No cash, physical prize, or substitute is offered.
    10. Publicity. By entering, entrants allow HootBiz to use their business name, profile, and results in contest promotion.
    11. Privacy. Voter emails are used only to verify votes and, with consent, to share updates from the nominee or HootBiz. See our privacy policy.
    12. General conditions. HootBiz may modify, suspend, or cancel the contest for technical issues or fraud.
    13. Winners announcement. Early January 2027, on HootBiz and its channels.