Thousands of entrepreneurs from across the Los Angeles area came to downtown’s California Market Center Thursday for the city Small Business Expo, hoping to pick up new techniques and contacts that could give their businesses a boost.

Around 5,000 small business owners registered for the event, according Brittany Cattaruzza, Small Business Expo’s director of media parterships. The New York company puts on events in 14 major cities across the United States, and this was the fourth expo held in Los Angeles.

Calvin Cairns, a general contractor who owns Cal’s Home Repair, said he wanted to attend because he is always open to ways to improve his bottom line.

“It’s a great way to expand your knowledge and grow your business,” Cairns said.

Chicago’s Powerteam International, which bills itself as a “success education company,” was the expo’s presenting sponsor. Bill Walsh, Powerteam’s chief executive, said entrepreneurs “would have to be crazy” not to attend.

“For an entrepreneur who wants to become more successful or fine tune the business they have, it’s a phenomenal place to be,” Walsh said. “It’s a great place for great networking and great workshops all day.”

There were more than 30 workshops offered on topics including financing, email marketing, building websites, selling businesses and how to optimize cash flow with technology. One of the most popular was a morning workshop about how to “Get Buzz and Attention in the Media.”

The presenter, Ramon Ray, an entrepreneur and tech evangelist, flew to Los Angeles from New Jersey to teach the workshop and said local small business owners face unique challenges compared to those in other parts of the country.

“It’s hard for small businesses to get media attention,” Ray said. “The (Los Angeles) market is saturated. It’s hard to compete.”

He stressed to local business owners that despite this, they should be unafraid to be bold when it comes to contacting the media.

Speed networking was also offered throughout the day, and there were around 300 exhibitors on hand. They included Woodland Hills online marketing firm ReachLocal Inc., the Valley Economic Development Center, Pasadena law firm Leech Tishman and Los Angeles entertainment technology company Brandwood Global, as well as several out-of-town companies.