Pay It Forward: Support & Build Up Other Small Businesses

As a small business owner, you know first hand the struggles every small business owner faces. Because of that it’s very important to support each other. Doing so not only promotes small business, but it also fosters community.
Ways to support small business:

Shop there. Keep them front of mind when searching for products or services.
Pay on time or, at the very least, communicate when you will be able to pay. Offer to pay in monthly installments, etc. Do not create more work for them by making them come after you.
Do not haggle on price. You know how hard it is to claim your worth. Do not make other small business owners fight to claim theirs.
Leave positive reviews online. Keep negative reviews private! I am sure you have been in a situation where a client was not happy but you did not really do anything wrong. Would you want them to post a negative review? No, so keep yours private too.
Share their content online.
Promote small business. Refer them to your customers. Cross promote.
Partner with other small businesses to offer a more robust service to your clients. This could be through a partnership, a referral, or white labeling.
Collaboration over competition! There is always enough to go around. And each business is strong in their own way.
When making a purchasing decision, first ask yourself if you can get it from a small business.
Highlight the importance of supporting small business as often as you can.

Ways to find or build your community:

Find and join groups of like-minded individuals. These include affinity groups, industry groups, neighborhood groups, chamber and referral groups, etc.
Link up with an accountability partner; meet weekly to set your goals and measure progress. A while back, we wrote on how beneficial it is to “run with someone faster than you.” Check it out here in case you missed it.
Get involved with your local government, such as becoming a member of a small business commission.
Sponsor a local sports team/nonprofit. Not only are you promoting your business, but you are creating opportunities for the youth in your community.
If your local area has student work programs, participate. Sometimes the schools or non-profit covers the salary, you just have to commit to training. Speak on entrepreneurship in your local schools.

For more ideas, visit: https://www.fundera.com/blog/support-small-business

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