I come from a long line of small business owners. You might say the entrepreneurial spirit is in my blood. My grandfather owned a local hardware store, my father has owned a number of small businesses including a local arcade and a marketing company, my sister owns a web design firm and I own this blog.

Long before I started this blog, I owned my own magazine. (Bet you didn’t know that about me!) It was a small local magazine about women in business. During my nearly two years as a self-published magazine owner, I had the privileged of meeting and networking with wonderful women from my community who were also small business owners themselves. It was inspiring to learn about what drove them to create their own business. While eventually I had to close that business, I will never forget the lessons I learned from owning that first business or the joy of being part of a community of women business owners. To this day, that experience drives my support for small businesses. I know first hand how much work is involved with owning a small business, but I also understand that it is one of the most rewarding experiences as well because each success is very personally your own. I hope one day my daughters have the opportunity to experience owning their own businesses at some point in their lives.

In support of the little guy, American Express launched Small Business Saturday in 2010. It’s a shopping holiday designed to encourage consumers to shop their favorite small business. While Americans across the country are encouraged to participate in the shopping holiday, AMEX also puts its money where it’s mouth is. In order to entice its customers to patronage small businesses on Small Business Saturday, AMEX offers its customers a $25 statement credit when making any purchase at a small business of $25 or more on that day. That’s right, this holiday is celebrated by AMEX handing out FREE money to its customers. How’s that for a credit card perk!

As a card-carrying AMEX customer and small business owner, I was thrilled when the program began and have participated in both prior Small Business Saturdays.

Last year we “celebrated” Small Business Saturday with brunch at our favorite local restaurant and then went to my favorite boutique in search of Christmas presents for family members. This year I am debating shopping for some new clothes at a local clothing boutique or a lovely monogrammed Christmas gift at a different local shop. I think my husband is planning on getting his car detailed at the local car wash. Decisions decisions.

AMEX cardholders must pre-register to take part in the promotion. Mark your calendars – registration for 2012 begins on November 18, 2012 and ends November 24, 2012 at 9:59 EST OR when the enrollment limit is reached sooner.

After registering, all you have to do is make a purchase of $25 or more in a single, in-store transaction at a qualifying small business location on Saturday, November 24, 2012. Qualifying small business locations are those identified on the Shop Small® Map, available at ShopSmall.com. In addition, small business locations that accept American Express through Square also qualify and can be found on the Square Directory at or from your mobile phone using the Square Wallet app.

So, the only question is, “Where will you shop small on Small Business Saturday 2012?”

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for American Express. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.