Small Business School

Small Business School was a weekly, half-hour television program that began airing in 1994, first in the United States on PBS-member stations, and then throughout the world via the Voice of America.[1] The show traveled throughout the United States and the rest of the world to meet with and interview founders of small businesses that had been in operation for at least ten years and were honored by their community and industry for making the world a better place. The PBS Adult Learning Satellite Service syndicated the series to most every college and university throughout the USA.

The program was titled "Small Business Today" until 1995. Then, it was renamed to "Small Business 2000." [2]

Throughout the show's interviews, business owners talked about how they got their ideas for their businesses, how they got started, and how they got over the hurdles they faced.[3] Many even discussed their initial failures. Ultimately, the goal of the interviews was to provide insight and inspiration for all business owners.

Each episode had a transcript, a case study guide, an overview and a homepage to provide a means for viewers to further study each episode.

The show was on the air most actively between 1994 and 2008. It has since been included in re-runs on PBS and PEG stations around the country. Case study guides first prepared for the PBS Adult Learning Satellite Service feed were then made available to colleges and universities throughout the world by being included within 50 basic textbooks used in business schools. The selection of a business to profile was most often selected from among nominations within a local chamber of commerce or a national trade association. For over 50 seasons the show was sponsored by many large American companies and for one season by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

In December 1994, the television show put up its first website. The transcripts, case study guides and overview were all posted. By 1999, this online school for business owners began streaming video of key episodes. By 2006, each key point within most of the weekly episodes began streaming as short-burst, user-selected videos between one and five minutes long. There were over 1800 video clips on the site that addressed key issues that typical business owners face every day.