99 Small Businesses, One Big Vision
SmallSpotter is celebrating 99 approved, owner-led U.S. small businesses! Discover the vision behind the directory, the businesses making strides, and what's coming for our Founding 100.
99 Small Businesses, One Big Vision: SmallSpotter Is Almost at 100!
Real businesses. Real owners. Real opportunities to be discovered.
When I first envisioned SmallSpotter, I wasn't interested in creating just another business directory.
I wanted to build something meaningful. A place where independent, owner-led businesses across the United States could gain visibility, strengthen their online presence, and have an opportunity to compete in an increasingly crowded digital marketplace.
Today, I'm celebrating a milestone that means so much more than a number.
SmallSpotter has reached 99 approved business listings!
That's 99 real businesses, founded and operated by people who have invested their time, skills, resources, and dreams into building something of their own.
And we're only getting started.
Why 99 Means So Much
From the beginning, SmallSpotter has maintained a specific focus: supporting genuine, owner-led small and micro-sized businesses operating in the United States.
Growth has never been about accepting every application that arrives.
Every submission is reviewed to help preserve the quality and integrity of the directory. Business ownership, legitimacy, and eligibility matter.
That sometimes means requesting additional information or declining listings that don't meet our standards.
It's a deliberate approach because the businesses joining SmallSpotter deserve to be represented alongside other genuine independent businesses.
It's not just about growing a directory. It's about building one worth trusting.
SmallSpotter by the Numbers: From an Idea to 99 Businesses
When I began building SmallSpotter, I had a vision: create a trusted directory where genuine, independent, owner-led small businesses across the United States could gain greater visibility.
What I didn't know was how quickly that vision would begin taking shape.
The journey began on June 15, 2026, with two businesses: my own, CM Brand Studio, and my client's business, Enhance Braiding Salon.
By mid-July, SmallSpotter had officially launched to the public.
Today, just over three months later, we're approaching our first major milestone: 100 approved businesses!
The Numbers Behind Our Growth
As of October 27, 2026, SmallSpotter has:
- 99 approved owner-led business listings
- 96 free listings and 3 featured listings
- 76 rejected applications
- 6 applications awaiting edits
- 1 application pending review
These numbers represent more than directory activity.
Every submission requires attention, and maintaining SmallSpotter's eligibility standards has been a priority since the beginning.
Not every applicant qualifies, and not every rejected application is fraudulent.
Some businesses simply don't meet our eligibility requirements, while others may need additional information or clarification.
My goal has never been to accept the most applications.
My goal is to build a directory that independent business owners and visitors can trust.
Growing Website Visibility
While our directory has been growing, SmallSpotter has also been attracting visitors.
According to Google Analytics 4, between June 1 and October 26, 2026, SmallSpotter recorded:
- 1,459 website sessions
- 670 engaged sessions
- 945 total users
- Approximately 46% session engagement rate
These figures include our early development and public launch periods.
Watching people begin to discover and interact with SmallSpotter has been an encouraging part of this journey.
Growing Visibility Through Google Search and AI Assistants
One of the most exciting developments in SmallSpotter's early growth has been watching visitors discover the directory through both traditional search engines and emerging AI-powered platforms.
According to Google Analytics 4, September 2026 was a particularly encouraging month.
SmallSpotter recorded 470 website sessions, a 51% increase over August's 311 sessions.
Even more exciting was the growth in AI-assisted discovery.
In August, SmallSpotter recorded 12 sessions attributed to AI assistants. By September, that number had increased to 89 sessions.
That's approximately 642% growth in just one month!
A closer look at September's traffic sources revealed:
- ChatGPT: 89 sessions
- Google: 44 sessions
- LinkedIn: 8 sessions
- Bing: 4 sessions
- Perplexity AI: 1 session
ChatGPT became SmallSpotter's second-largest individual traffic source that month, behind direct traffic.
Approximately 19% of September's website sessions were attributed to ChatGPT.
Seeing SmallSpotter discovered through both Google Search and AI assistants is particularly meaningful to me.
As a designer and front-end developer, I've intentionally incorporated SEO (Search Engine Optimization), AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), and AI-search discoverability into the development of SmallSpotter.
While these numbers don't establish that any particular optimization caused the increase, they demonstrate that visitors are finding SmallSpotter through multiple digital discovery channels.
And that's exactly what I want for the independent business owners who become part of this directory.
The way people discover businesses online is changing, and I want independent businesses to have opportunities to participate in that changing digital landscape.
Because visibility matters. Discovery creates opportunities. And small businesses deserve both.
Growth With Purpose
SmallSpotter is still young.
We're learning, improving, and building new opportunities for the businesses that have chosen to become part of this community.
But one thing remains unchanged:
SmallSpotter isn't about collecting the largest number of listings. It's about helping genuine small businesses become more visible, discoverable, and connected.
And with our Founding 100 milestone just around the corner, I'm excited about what comes next.
More Than Visibility: Watching Small Businesses Grow
One of the most rewarding parts of building SmallSpotter has been seeing the progress of businesses that are part of the directory.
Two of our featured businesses in particular have experienced encouraging developments.
Ariel Personal Care: From a Directory Listing to a Digital Presence
Ariel Personal Care is one of SmallSpotter's featured businesses and a client of CM Brand Studio, the creative studio behind SmallSpotter.
When I first began working with Ariel Personal Care, I designed the business's logo, helping establish its visual identity.
At the time, Ariel Personal Care did not have a dedicated website. Its SmallSpotter listing became its initial online presence, providing an opportunity for prospective clients to discover the business and learn about its services.
As the business began receiving inquiries and attracting clients, a new need emerged.
Potential clients wanted more detailed information about the services offered, what those services included, and how to begin the process of receiving care.
The business needed more than visibility. It needed a place where prospective clients could explore services, submit inquiries, begin the onboarding process, and request a free consultation.
That's where CM Brand Studio stepped in again.
I designed and developed a dedicated website for Ariel Personal Care, creating a more comprehensive online presence that could support the business's growing communication and client onboarding needs.
Today, Ariel Personal Care has both a featured SmallSpotter listing and its own website, giving prospective clients additional ways to discover the business and learn about its services.
For me, this experience demonstrates something important about supporting independent businesses.
Sometimes visibility is the first step. The next step is building the digital tools that help a business serve the people who discover it.
And that's part of the larger vision behind SmallSpotter: connecting independent businesses with opportunities for discovery while recognizing that their digital needs may evolve as they grow.
Enhanced Braiding Salon: Expanding Visibility Through AI Discovery
Enhanced Braiding Salon is another featured business on SmallSpotter and an established, independently owned hair braiding salon in Orlando, Florida.
Founded in 2019, the salon has built a strong local presence, supported by a team of seven and an owner who remains personally involved in the daily operations, including providing braiding services herself.
As a longtime client of CM Brand Studio, Enhanced Braiding Salon has benefited from branding and ongoing website development and management. From designing its logo to maintaining its CMS-powered website, my work has focused on strengthening its digital presence and improving how customers connect with the business.
One particularly useful improvement was implementing a website chatbot to handle frequently asked questions, reducing repetitive phone inquiries and allowing the owner to concentrate on serving clients.
Despite an established website and Google Business Profile, additional visibility remained valuable, particularly during slower business periods.
When I created SmallSpotter, Enhanced Braiding Salon was one of the first businesses I wanted to feature because it represents exactly the type of independent, hands-on ownership the directory was designed to support.
Following its addition to SmallSpotter, the owner began reporting something new: prospective clients were discovering the salon through AI-assisted search, including ChatGPT and Google's AI search experiences.
While we cannot attribute every discovery directly to SmallSpotter, this was an encouraging development that the owner had not previously reported.
Today, the salon is preparing for another chapter of growth, including recruiting additional braiders and expanding into a new location.
For an established small business, visibility isn't just about being found for the first time. It's about continuing to reach new customers as the ways people search and discover businesses evolve.
Our goal is not simply to list businesses. It's to give them another opportunity to be discovered.
Celebrating the Businesses That Believed in the Vision
Every growing platform has its early supporters.
Before the milestones, before the recognition, and before a community becomes established, there are people who decide to give something new a chance.
I want to recognize some of the early businesses that joined SmallSpotter and helped turn an idea into a growing community.
Engineers Plus PC
Engineers Plus PC holds a particularly special place in my journey.
My connection with this business led to an opportunity to work on the Atwood Island Trappers Cottage project.
That opportunity came at a time when the work made a meaningful difference in my own professional journey.
Engineers Plus PC is an established, woman-owned engineering firm in the Richmond, Virginia area, with a reputation built through years of professional work and relationships within the community.
I've had the opportunity to witness the business evolve under new ownership, while continuing to serve its industry and community.
Even established businesses with strong reputations and word-of-mouth referrals can benefit from additional digital visibility. Being part of SmallSpotter provides another avenue for prospective clients to discover their services.
For me, this connection is a reminder that supporting independent businesses creates opportunities that can extend well beyond a directory listing.
DJ Pet Suites: Sometimes All a Small Business Needs Is a Place to Be Seen
DJ Pet Suites is a woman-owned, Black-owned pet care business in Chesterfield, Virginia, offering personalized pet daycare, overnight boarding, and a home-like environment where animals receive individual attention.
What makes this business particularly special to me is how it became part of SmallSpotter.
On July 26, 2026, owner Dee reached out requesting to have her business included in the directory.
She was one of our early independent business owners who saw the opportunity and chose to become part of the growing SmallSpotter community.
Unlike businesses with established websites and extensive online marketing, DJ Pet Suites currently relies on simpler ways for prospective customers to connect, including direct telephone inquiries.
Yet her SmallSpotter profile has already received 14 views, giving her business another opportunity to be discovered by people searching for local pet care services.
For me, DJ Pet Suites represents an important part of SmallSpotter's purpose.
A small business doesn't need an elaborate website or a large marketing budget to deserve visibility. Sometimes, it simply needs an opportunity to be found.
Tech Pro Live LLC: Supporting Innovation and Independent Technical Talent
Tech Pro Live LLC represents another side of independent business ownership: the highly skilled professionals bringing advanced technology and engineering expertise to organizations.
Led by software and AI engineer Michael Legemah, the business reflects years of experience in software architecture, artificial intelligence, and enterprise technology.
I've had the opportunity to watch Michael's professional journey evolve over the years. While my career focused on design and front-end development, he continued expanding into increasingly complex areas of software and AI engineering.
His professional experience includes projects supporting the U.S. Army and U.S. Space Force, as well as enterprise AI development. His professional résumé highlights the breadth of technical expertise he's developed.
On August 6, 2026, Michael joined SmallSpotter to expand his professional visibility and connect with new opportunities.
Since joining, his SmallSpotter profile has received 9 views and 1 share.
These may seem like modest numbers, but for an independent professional, every opportunity to be discovered matters.
Small businesses aren't always storefronts or traditional service providers. Sometimes they're highly skilled independent professionals whose expertise deserves greater visibility, too.
Personally Scouted, Proudly Recommended
Not every business featured on SmallSpotter came to us through a submission. Some were businesses I personally discovered while researching independent, owner-led companies across the United States.
From photographers and plumbers to business consultants, creative professionals, and local service providers, I've come across business owners whose work, dedication, and commitment to serving their communities deserve recognition.
These are businesses that caught my attention because of what they do, how they serve their customers, and the effort they've invested in building something of their own.
I wanted to take a moment to personally highlight a few that I believe deserve a closer look.
A Few of My Personal SmallSpotter Picks:
- Lil Swatara Soap — Beautiful handcrafted soaps and artisan bath products
- Premier Schools — Supporting Real Estate students and professionals through education and career development.
- Sandia Consultants — Independent consulting with a strong commitment to community involvement and service
- Alpha Lawn — A family-run lawn care business built on a lifelong passion that began in childhood.
- Appalachian Wedding Photography — Beautiful, creative photography capturing life's special celebrations and preserving precious family memories.
- Dr. Michele Henry — Empowering women through compassionate therapy and coaching focused on emotional well-being and personal growth.
These businesses represent the variety of talent, services, and entrepreneurship that make our small-business communities so valuable.
To these owners and everyone else who joined along the way: thank you for seeing the vision and choosing to be part of it.
You wanted your businesses to be seen. And I wanted to help make that possible.
The Founding 100: Something Special Is Coming
With 99 approved listings, SmallSpotter is approaching its first major community milestone.
The Founding 100.
These are the first 100 approved businesses to become part of the SmallSpotter directory.
They represent the foundation of what I hope will become a lasting resource for independent businesses throughout the United States.
To celebrate, I'm preparing special recognition and promotional opportunities for the Founding 100.
This is my way of thanking the business owners who believed in SmallSpotter during its earliest stages.
More details about the Founding 100 celebration will be announced soon!
Building Something Bigger Than a Directory
SmallSpotter is still growing, still evolving, and still finding new ways to help independent businesses become more visible.
As a designer and front-end developer, I understand that having a website or an online listing is only part of the challenge.
Businesses also need opportunities to be discovered through search engines, digital platforms, and the changing ways people find information using AI.
That's part of the larger vision for SmallSpotter: using thoughtful digital design, technology, and discovery strategies to help smaller businesses establish a stronger online presence.
I want independent businesses to have opportunities to be discovered without needing the enormous marketing budgets available to larger companies.
But throughout that growth, one principle will remain unchanged.
If you believe in supporting independent, owner-led small businesses, I invite you to be part of what we're building. Explore the SmallSpotter Directory, discover businesses worth supporting, share their listings, and help spread the word. And if you're an independent U.S. small-business owner, join our growing community and give your business another opportunity to be seen.
SmallSpotter is built for real, owner-led businesses.
Help Support SmallSpotter's Mission
SmallSpotter was created with a simple belief: independent, owner-led businesses deserve opportunities to be discovered without the financial barriers that often come with promoting a business online.
Basic business listings are free, and I want to keep them that way.
If you believe in what I'm building and would like to help support SmallSpotter's continued development, maintenance, and growth, your support would be sincerely appreciated.
Every contribution helps me continue improving the platform, expanding its reach, and creating more opportunities for independent U.S. small businesses to be seen.
Whether you contribute, share the directory, or recommend SmallSpotter to another business owner, you're helping this vision grow.
To Our First 99: Thank You!
To every business owner who submitted a listing, believed in this project, or supported its mission, I appreciate you.
The first 99 listings represent more than a milestone.
They represent people who took a chance on their own ideas, worked hard to establish their businesses, and believed that what they built deserved to be seen.
I know what that feels like because SmallSpotter started as an idea of my own.
And now, together, we're building something real.
Here's to our first 99, the upcoming Founding 100, and everything that's still to come!
Explore SmallSpotter and discover independent businesses across the United States.
