Small businesses are started for different reasons. Think about it for what reasons people start a business.

This can be just to turn their love for cooking into a restaurant business to share their unique recipes or to sell their unique products to more than only their friends.

Each small business owner has their own dreams and by supporting them you can help them to fulfill their dreams.

It is critical for small businesses to have support in the start and the early years to grow the business.

What are your benefits to support small businesses?

You can keep eating at your favorite restaurant. Keep buying products at local stores for cheaper prices.

Your support is easily noticed by small businesses and you built a relationship.

Supporting small businesses doesn’t need to cost you any money, nor does it even require you to leave your home. It's simple to give your support to your favorite small businesses.

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5 Quick Ways to Support Small Businesses

1. Follow, like, & comment on social media content. Engaging with small businesses gives them the ability to create the needed relationships with their customers to improve their business. It also creates social proof that they have a community behind them of happy and loyal customers. Algorithms on Social media platforms rank  content as more relevant when it has comments, likes and shares which helps the small business to be seen.
    
2. Share about their business online and in person. Referrals are a game-changer for service and product-based businesses. In fact, it’s how a lot of them grow! So refer small businesses you like to friends whenever possible.
    
3. Cheer them on! Starting and running a small business is hard, really, really, really hard. From developing the products, getting customers, keeping customers, handling suppliers, marketing, sales, administration, tax responsibilities etc. all done by mostly 1 or 2 persons is not an easy task. A kind note, email, or message goes a long way when they are working hard to fulfill your needs.
    
4. Respect their time. Like said before, small business owners have a lot on their plate, and they’re likely doing the amount of work that most companies would have 3-4 people doing. Remember if it takes a little while to get back to you, they probably have many of their others tasks to do. They will read your message, smile, and get things done. Probably they work long hours, sometimes starting early in the morning at 5 o'clock till late in the evening. Respect their time in the same way that you hope people respect yours.
    
5. Pay full price. When you purchase products from small businesses, or hire their services, don’t ask for a discount. Pay full price because they deserve it. If they do offer you items for free—think about how you can support them. Repeat steps 1—4 and send them a thank you message, to show your gratitude.

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