For most people, an elevator ride is a means to an end – a way to reach their destination. For nine small business owners, an elevator ride puts them in the hot seat and opens up an opportunity to get one-on-one advice from entrepreneur and host of CNBC’s The Profit Marcus Lemonis and compete for $10,000 in The UPS Store Elevator Pitch. Released on The UPS Store YouTube channel, the three-episode mini-series brings the “elevator pitch” concept to life.

In each episode, three small business owners have the chance to give their most compelling, yet concise elevator pitch for their business – in an actual elevator. Filmed in the historic Tribune building in Chicago, each of the nine contestants has just 24 floors to deliver their pitch. No stranger to providing advice on what works and what doesn’t for small business success, Lemonis listens to each pitch, asks questions and when they arrive at the top floor, their ride and time are up.

In a recent survey, The UPS Store found that 85 percent of small business owners believe that a good elevator pitch is a must-have for success. In fact, many of them regularly review and edit their pitch to ensure it is fresh and relevant to their business.

“Be concise, be organized and let your passion and your idea come through during your elevator pitch,” said Lemonis. “Small business owners never know who they are going to meet, or opportunities that may arise. Having a strong, passionate elevator pitch can be an important tool for entrepreneurs as they meet potential customers, business partners and investors. ”

In true reality TV fashion, the Elevator Pitch series includes Lemonis sharing his expert advice and strong critiques with the audience, unbeknownst to the contestants. At the end of each episode, one lucky contestant is chosen as the winner and receives $10,000 to grow their business and a Small Business Toolkit from The UPS Store to help them further their business. 

“Dramatic, yet insightful, we want small business owners to not only be entertained by this series, but also learn something valuable for their business,” said Michelle Van Slyke, senior vice president of marketing and sales, The UPS Store, Inc. “There are many key takeaways throughout the mini-series that can help entrepreneurs turn daily interactions into business success.”

From beauty and fashion to products and services, the contestants are all small business owners with less than five employees. Will the Elevator Pitch winner be the owner of a doggy social lounge, a nanny service on wheels or a dress rental shop? Viewers will have to tune in to find out.