It’s the final countdown! One small business has the chance to win an expenses-paid, 30-second television commercial during professional football’s biggest game on Feb. 7, 2016, at Levi’s Stadium. For most small business owners, the opportunity to share their service or product with tens of millions of people is unfathomable, but with the return of Intuit QuickBooks’ Small Business Big Game, one small business owner’s life is about to change.

The clock is ticking – there are only ten days left to submit for the ultimate grand prize. Since submissions opened in June 2015, QuickBooks has received thousands of entries from across the country. Notably, the top ten states that have submitted the most entries include: California, Florida, Texas, New York, Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. To ensure their states are represented, small business owners should submit by Aug. 7, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.

To enter, small businesses can visit the Small Business Big Game website, where participants will be evaluated by an internal panel of QuickBooks judges based on elements that align with QuickBooks’ commitment to small business success – the owners’ passion for their small businesses, as well as their authenticity, public representation and other entrepreneurial benchmarks. The top ten finalists will be announced on Sept. 2, when public voting begins to determine the top three winners, continuing through Nov. 3, at 12 p.m. Pacific time.

While QuickBooks can’t award all 29 million U.S. small businesses with the grand prize, there is more to score than the 30-second television commercial. After submissions for the commercial close on Aug. 7, five small businesses a week will win $500 in cash prizes for participating in a number of activities on Own It: A Small Business Network through Nov. 3, including:

  • Spruce Up Your Site: Websites are an indispensable tool for small businesses, but unless you’re an Internet design firm, building a great website is often the trickiest part of establishing an online presence. If your small business needs a style refresh, upload a screenshot of your site and share your ideas on what your website could do better. If you win, you can put your cash prize toward a website redesign!
  • Share Your Inspiration: As a small business owner, you’re constantly learning. Here’s your chance to pass that knowledge on to someone else. Post an example of an author, article, film or other work that has inspired you, and be sure to check out the gallery of other users’ responses. You just might find an insight that takes your business to the next level, and those who receive the cash prizes can use it for even more inspiration.
  • Build Your Own Banner: Banner ads can drive major traffic to your website, improve your visibility and help grow your business. Create your banner with a free online banner builder and upload your work. Even if you don’t win the cash prize for building buzz, you’ll have a new piece of advertising!
  • Giving Tuesday Pledge: Your community supports your small business, and this is your chance to return the favor. On Dec. 1, the world celebrates Giving Tuesday, an international day of giving back. QuickBooks is challenging small business owners to donate time and resources to benefit their local communities on Giving Tuesday. In a few sentences, share your pledge of support, and don’t forget to post photos of your story after Dec. 1. Every bit of support matters, so whatever you choose to do, your pledge enters you in our prize drawing. In addition to the $500 cash prizes, $500 will be donated to the pledged causes of the winners’ choice.

To see the official rules, visit the Small Business Big Game website, where there’s also an opportunity to cast votes to help propel your favorite small businesses to the top of the list for winning the ultimate giveaway. Be sure to join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #TeamSmallBiz.

About Intuit Inc.

Intuit Inc. creates business and financial management solutions that simplify the business of life for small businesses, consumers and accounting professionals. Its flagship products and services include QuickBooks®, Quicken® and TurboTax®, which make it easier to manage small businesses and payroll processing, personal finance, and tax preparation and filing. Mint.com provides a fresh, easy and intelligent way for people to manage their money, while Demandforce® offers marketing and communication tools for small businesses. ProSeries® and Lacerte® are Intuit's leading tax preparation offerings for professional accountants. Founded in 1983, Intuit had revenue of $4.5 billion in its fiscal year 2014. The company has approximately 8,000 employees with major offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India and other locations. More information can be found at www.intuit.com. Intuit and Small Business Big Game are not affiliated with the NFL or the Super Bowl.