Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, a computer-readable storage medium, and an apparatus for building a small business social graph. During operation, the system receives a collection of data from a first business. Next, the system determines if a first node for the first business exists in a social graph, wherein the social graph is a graph-based data model that indicates relationships among various businesses. If not, the system adds the first node for the first business to the social graph. The system then analyzes the collection of data to identify a second business. Next, the system determines if a second node for the second business exists in the social graph. If not, the system adds the second node for the second business to the social graph. Finally, the system adds a relationship between the first node and the second node to the social graph to indicate the relationship between the first business and the second business.