San Diego Small Business Expo returns Sept. 18 with AI, tax and networking sessions

The San Diego Small Business Expo is back Friday at Sheraton San Diego Resort with free registration, two keynotes, more than a dozen workshops and an exhibitor hall. The event aims to help Southern California entrepreneurs learn practical business skills, meet vendors and build new connections.

Why it matters: - The expo gives small business owners a single day to compare services, learn new tools and meet potential customers, partners and vendors in person. - The agenda focuses on decisions owners face now, including AI adoption, taxes, marketing, cybersecurity, staffing and funding. - Free registration lowers the barrier for startups and established businesses to access expert sessions and networking.

What happened: - Small Business Expo returns to Sheraton San Diego Resort on Friday, September 18, 2026. - The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time, with check-in opening at 9:30 a.m. - Registration is required, and attendees can register free. - The venue is 1380 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92101. - The event features two keynotes, more than a dozen workshops and an exhibitor hall. - Gold Sponsors are Amazon, GotPrint.com and Verizon Business.

The details: - Nadia Hansen, AI strategist at CLV Enterprise Inc., will speak at 11:15 a.m. on “Your Next Hire Is an AI Agent.” - Hansen will outline how small businesses can use AI coworkers for email, marketing, social media and prospecting. - Nicole Denise, brand intelligence strategist and CEO of CoAgency, will speak at 1 p.m. on “Thrive, Don’t Just Survive: The Entrepreneur’s Blueprint to Sustainable Success.” - Denise’s keynote will connect business strategy, branding and personal well-being with a plan for launching and growing a business, maintaining cash flow and avoiding common pitfalls. - Greg Schwartz of Amazon Web Services will present “The Small Business AI Playbook: How to Put AI to Work This Week.” - John Lawson of Verizon will lead “The Small Business Advantage: Getting Real Work Out of AI.” - Pablo Silva Torres of Amazon Business will share purchasing tools and habits aimed at more efficient buying. - Lucius C. Davis III of the Franchise Tax Board will cover California ownership options. - Carol Xie of the Internal Revenue Service will address taxes for entrepreneurs. - Izzy Rogner-Hall of Gusto will present on S-corporation elections. - Additional workshops will cover cybersecurity, advertising, AI visibility, sales communication, remote staffing and funding strategies. - The expo’s networking options include five Speed Networking sessions with two-minute one-on-one introductions. - Ten Industry Meet-Ups will connect attendees by sector, including finance and real estate, marketing, technology, professional services, healthcare and hospitality. - A Business Card Exchange will let attendees display cards for other participants to find. - Get Dotted®, the expo’s color-coded industry badge system, is designed to help attendees identify relevant professionals and start more focused conversations. - Speed Networking and Industry Meet-Ups are available to Silver, Gold, Platinum and VIP badge holders. - Badge upgrades are available through event registration. - The exhibit floor will let business owners meet vendors and discuss solutions in marketing, finance, human resources and technology. - Silver Sponsors include CoAgency, Gusto, Textellent, TD SYNNEX and Zoho. - Partners include the Internal Revenue Service, The Epoch Times, NTD News, SCORE, National City Chamber of Commerce and California Franchise Tax Board. - Event information, badge upgrades and the full agenda are available at the event page.

Between the lines: - The programming shows how AI has become a mainstream small-business topic, with sessions aimed at both automation basics and practical use cases. - The mix of government agencies, software vendors and local business groups suggests the expo is designed to be both educational and transactional. - The networking format is built to move attendees from introductions to follow-up conversations quickly, which can matter for owners with limited time.

What's next: - Attendees can register, compare badge options and review the full agenda before the event. - Small Business Expo says its national series has more than 250 expos, more than 800,000 attendees and over 4,300 workshops since 2008. - Future events will continue the company’s broader B2B trade show and educational conference model across the U.S.

The bottom line: - San Diego entrepreneurs get a free one-day chance to learn, network and shop for business services in one place.