Small Businesses Show Resilience During National Week

Small business owners don't just dream big. They wake up every day and turn those dreams into thriving workplaces that fuel communities across America.

This week marks National Small Business Week, and ADP's Laci Buzzelli has a message of gratitude for the entrepreneurs who keep pushing forward. As senior vice president overseeing small business services at ADP, she's witnessed one quality emerge time and again: resilience.

"These are people who start with passion and purpose," Buzzelli shares. "And when the environment shifts, as it often does, they adapt."

That ability to pivot under pressure isn't just inspiring. It creates real results in communities nationwide, with small businesses building workplaces that help people learn, grow their careers, and make local impact.

Research from ADP reveals something surprising: small businesses actually have an edge over larger companies when it comes to employee engagement. Their teams feel more connected, more invested, and more human.

Behind every success story sits an owner managing countless moving parts. The most successful ones share a common strategy that changes everything: they simplify wherever possible.

Why This Inspires

When payroll, compliance, and HR systems run smoothly, something powerful happens. Business owners gain precious time to focus on their actual vision instead of drowning in paperwork.

That confidence ripples through every decision. Owners move faster, think clearer, and build stronger teams when administrative complexity isn't holding them back.

ADP now supports more than 900,000 small businesses nationwide, helping entrepreneurs spend less energy on operational headaches and more time doing what they love. Those partnerships free up owners to create the engaged, productive workplaces their communities need.

The companies featured in ADP's Grit & Wisdom awards prove what's possible when passion meets practical support. Their stories show that dreaming big truly does start small, one simplified system and one focused decision at a time.