As a small business owner, you already know that networking and professional development are keys to your continued growth.

But with so many events on the calendar and a budget to manage, it can be hard knowing which business events will give you bang for your buck and steer your business in the right direction. To help you separate the wheat from the chaff, here’s our curated list of six must-attend events for small business owners who are ready to invest in themselves.

1. Family Business Conference Asia-Pacific

WHEN: MAY

A panel at the Family Business Conference Asia-Pacific earlier in 2024. Image: Supplied.

Family businesses are the backbone of our economy, and the Family Business Conference looks to celebrate and connect those who are involved in family-run enterprises.

Run by the Family Business Association (FBA), this multi-day conference is for family businesses of all sizes across all industries – and it’s the only conference dedicated to family business in the Southern Hemisphere.

The event provides a unique platform for family business leaders to share their challenges and successes, while also giving practical advice on succession planning, governance and keeping the family unit harmonious.

The conference includes workshops, keynote presentations, facilitated interviews, masterclasses and of course plenty of opportunities to network. Popular events include The Longest Lunch, Family Business Site Visits and The Family Business Excellence Awards Dinner.

The 2025 Family Business Conference: Asia-Pacific will be their 25th event. Each year it’s held in a different part of Australia – 2024 was Cairns, 2025 will be in Western Sydney.

2. COSBOA National Small Business Summit

WHEN: APRIL

The COSBOA (Council of Small Business Organisations Australia) National Small Business Summit is the go-to event for small businesses wanting to get involved, get active and advocate for your community to make meaningful change.

Usually held in April every year, the two-day conference brings together key political, industry leaders and business influencers to discuss economic challenges for small businesses in Australia and how to break down barriers to entrepreneurialism.

Catch sessions on everything from adapting to new small business regulations, to boosting your financial resilience, to sparking innovation even in a tough economy. You’ll also be able to get a bird’s eye view of global small business trends so you can stay ahead of the game, from retail spending to labour market challenges and opportunities on the horizon.

Beyond the informative presentations, you’ll also be able to connect with other small business owners and learn from their experiences. If you’re serious about growth, this is the summit to attend.

3. Retail Leaders Forum

WHEN: MARCH

The Retail Leaders Forum is an annual two-day event in Melbourne targeted towards leaders and decision-makers in the retail industry. It’s a forum where you’ll get some incredible insights into the latest trends, challenges and opportunities that exist in the broader retail sector.

Attendees can hear from national and global speakers who will cover a wide range of topics, from customer experience and digital transformation to supply chain management and sustainability. Every session is independently moderated and you’ll have ample time to connect in-person with experts and likeminded retail leaders.

4. Digital Marketers Australia Conference

WHEN: MAY

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We are well and truly living in the digital age, so it makes sense that there’s a business event designed to help small and medium businesses stay ahead of marketing trends.

The two-day Digital Marketers Australia Conference on the Gold Coast happens in October and draws professionals from numerous industries who are keen to boost their online marketing strategies.

The conference features sessions on growth hacking, TikTok advertising, SEO strategies, eCommerce growth, email marketing, LinkedIn B2B marketing and so much more. It’s a fantastic place for business owners and marketers to come and learn from leading experts in the digital space.

5. Startup 2 Scaleup Summit

WHEN: SEPTEMBER

For entrepreneurs and startup founders, the annual Startup 2 Scaleup Summit is a full-day event designed for business owners who are ready to move from the startup phase to scaling their operations.

You’ll be privy to a range of topics, including securing investment, scaling teams, expanding into new markets and leveraging technologies like AI for growth.

Hosted by co-working and entrepreneurial community Tank Stream Labs in Sydney, the summit gathers some of the brightest minds in the startup ecosystem, with plenty of successful entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and industry experts running keynotes and fireside chats throughout the day.

There’s also a startup showcase, a pitch competition and an investor lounge for one-on-one access to potential investors.

If your startup is in the tech space, or if you’ve got a big vision with fast-growth goals, this is the one for you.

6. Small Business Month Expos and Festivals

WHEN: THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Each state has its own Small Business Month or Festival, so it’s well worth getting out there to be a part of their schedule of events.

For example, NSW Small Business Month is held every October, Queensland Small Business Month is held in May.

The great thing about these is that the expos and events are often held across the state, not just in the big smoke. For NSW Small Business Month, there are dedicated expos across Sydney, Central Coast, Dubbo, Northern Rivers, Wollongong, Batemans Bay, Queanbeyan and Newcastle.

The expos give small business owners and their staff a chance to engage with government agencies and large organisations, where you can share business planning and financial management tips, as well as have an opportunity to gain knowledge and learn new skills. It’s particularly valuable for small business owners who want to connect with local industry experts and carve out new business opportunities.

Travel in business style with American Express

If you’re attending one of these events out of town, you’ll need to factor in travel, accommodation and other expenses. With an American Express Business Card, you can cover your business-related expenses while getting benefits and earning rewards¹.

American Express Business Cards reward you for your day-to-day business spend with Membership Rewards, Qantas Frequent Flyer or Velocity Frequent Flyer Points¹. Some cards offer specific benefits like lounge access or passes, travel insurance as well as hotel and resort privileges – all of which can make a huge difference on a work trip.

So, invest in the future of your business by attending some of these top events for small business owners. Whether you want to scale your startup, improve your digital marketing strategy or connect with other business owners in your industry, there’s an event that will help you achieve your goals.

Travel rewards, Amex style

American Express Business Cards reward you for your day-to-day business spend with American Express Membership Reward Points, Qantas Frequent Flyer Points or Velocity Frequent Flyer Points. View the full range of cards to see which works best for your business’ travel needs.

This article is not intended as financial advice and all information has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should review the product information to decide if any product is suitable for you. Terms, exclusions and conditions apply on American Express’ products and services, please click here for more information.

This article is brought to you by Business Builders in partnership with American Express.

1. Earning points (this will depend on which Card you choose): 1.1. For the American Express Platinum Business Card, the American Express Business Explorer Card and the American Express Business Gold Plus Card. Subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Membership Rewards program available here. Eligible spend/purchases do not include Card fees and charges, for example annual fees, interest, late payment, cash advances, balance transfers, traveller’s cheques and foreign currency conversion. Merchants classified as “government“ include the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Postal Corporation (Australia Post), Federal/State and Local Government bodies. Industry specific earn rate may apply when you use a payment account, payment aggregator, services of a third party or online retailers that sell goods for another merchant. For example a payment made to Local Government bodies processed through a payment aggregator may earn rates at the government earn rate. There may be tax implications associated with participation in the Membership Rewards program. You are advised to check with your accountant or tax adviser for further information.

1.2. For the American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card: A business must be a Qantas Business Rewards Member to earn Qantas Points for business. Membership and the earning of Qantas Points as a business are subject to the Qantas Business Rewards Terms and Conditions. Points are earned in accordance with and subject to the American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card Points Terms and Conditions. Your business will earn 1.25 Qantas Points per $1 of everyday spend, which does not include annual fees, late payment fee and fees and charges for foreign currencies. Your business will earn 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 spent at participating merchants classified as ‘utilities’ including gas, water and electricity providers; ‘government’ including the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Postal Corporation, federal/state and local government bodies; and ‘insurance’ excluding insurances offered by American Express. Industry specific earn rate may apply when you use a payment account, payment aggregator, services of a third party or online retailers that sell goods for another merchant. For example a payment made to Local Government bodies processed through a payment aggregator may earn rates at the government earn rate. Your business will earn 2 Qantas Points per $1 spent on the following Qantas Products and Services purchased on the Qantas merchant account (i.e. directly from Qantas): Qantas passenger flights (with a QF flight number), Qantas Holidays, Qantas Branded non-airfare products, and Qantas Frequent Flyer and Qantas Club membership joining and annual fees. Excludes Jetstar. For the full list of exclusions, please refer to the American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card Points Terms and Conditions. From 10 January 2024, once you have earned a total of 500,000 Qantas Points on your Card Account in a calendar year, your earn rate of 1.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent will change to 0.75 Qantas Points per $1 spent on everyday business purchases. All other earn rates (Qantas products, services and government, utilities and insurances spend) will remain unchanged. The points threshold is based on eligible Qantas Points earned during a calendar year and will be reset on 1 January each year. Qantas Points earned by all Card Members on a Card Account contribute to the 500,000 points threshold each calendar year. Bonus points earned from Acquisition bonus offers and marketing campaigns are excluded from the threshold.

1.3. For the American Express Velocity Business Card:  Points are earned in accordance with and subject to the Velocity American Express Cards Points Terms and Conditions, and exclusions apply. Eligible purchases do not include cash advances and fees and charges for foreign currencies. These do not earn Velocity Points. For the full list of exclusions, please refer to the Velocity American Express Card Points Terms and Conditions.