Support small businesses with simple actions like leaving reviews, ordering directly, or buying gift cards. Every small effort helps boost local economies and builds stronger communities.
Key Takeaways
If you only have a minute or two, start with one of these:
Leave a specific review and add a photo
Share a business post with a friend
Buy a gift card for later
Order directly from the business
Recommend them to someone who needs it
Locally owned and operated small businesses bring unique products and friendly service to your neighborhood.
In the U.S., 36.2 million small businesses account for 99% of companies and employ 62.3 million people. [1] This is nearly 46% of the workforce, while offering unique products and services that keep local economies alive. There are many simple ways to support them. You do not need a big budget or a lot of time. Even one small action helps.
Here are quick steps you can take today.
1. Direct Financial Support
Buy Gift Cards for Later (2 Minutes)
Gift cards give businesses a steady income they can use for daily expenses. You can usually buy:
- Digital gift cards online
- In-store gift cards
- Email gift cards
They also make the perfect last-minute gifts. You introduce someone new to that small business by giving a gift card.
Pro Tip: Buy directly from the business whenever possible. Third-party platforms sometimes take fees, but direct purchases put the full amount in the owner’s hands.
Order Takeout or Delivery (3-5 Minutes)
Ordering takeout or delivery is an easy way to support local restaurants. A little extra tip can brighten someone’s day.
The simplest way to support a restaurant is to be a customer and order food. Many restaurants have increased their takeout and delivery options to cater to customers staying at home. Rather than use a delivery app that charges restaurants extra fees, take advantage of these services when ordering.
Here are easy ways to maximize your impact:
- Order from their website instead of an app
- Choose pickup if it is convenient
- Add a small extra item (drink, dessert, side)
- Tip well
- Leave a quick thank-you when picking up
Even one takeout night a month can make a difference for a local restaurant.
Bonus Tip: Smaller restaurants often offer more unique menus, seasonal dishes, and personal touches.
Buy Merch From Your Favorite Business (2-3 Minutes)
If a small business sells branded merchandise, then you can consider buying it. Most items like t-shirts, tote bags, mugs, hats, or stickers help support your favorite business and let others see their brand. You become a walking recommendation when you wear or use merch in public.
Someone might ask where your shirt is from or notice the logo on your tote bag.
Ways To Make Your Purchase Go Even Further
- Wear or use the merch in public
- Post a photo and tag the business
- Gift merch to friends who’d like the brand
- Buy limited-edition items when available
Buy Gifts (3-5 Minutes)
You can support local entrepreneurs by buying gifts from them. Even one purchase supports a local business.
Easy Gift Ideas From Small Businesses
1. Handmade or Artisanal Products
Candles, soap, baked goods, coffee blends, and handmade crafts often come from independent makers.
2. Local Art and Home Decor
Prints, pottery, and home items from local artists make memorable, one-of-a-kind gifts.
3. Curated Gift Boxes
Many small businesses bundle products into themed gift sets, which makes shopping quick and thoughtful.
Stay Loyal ( 0 Extra Minutes)
Small businesses rely heavily on regular customers who support them over time. You can make a difference by simply continuing to purchase products or services from a small business you trust. You can even join the loyalty or reward programs if offered by the small businesses.
2. Visibility Support
Leave a Positive Review (2-3 Minutes)
This step costs nothing and takes less than three minutes: leave a review.
Before trying a new place, most people check Google, Facebook, or Yelp first. Your words help future customers decide if a business is worth visiting. Reviews help others discover the business and encourage them to visit.
But here is what many people don’t realize: specific reviews matter more than short ones.
Do not just write, “Great place!” Mention about:
- What you bought or used
- What stood out about the service
- How the staff treated you
- Why you’d go back
For example, “They fixed my phone screen in 20 minutes and explained everything clearly” is far more helpful than a generic comment. Detailed reviews build trust and make the business easier to choose.”
Reviews also help owners improve. Many small business owners personally read feedback to see:
- What customers love
- Where they can do better
Your review serves two purposes: to attract new people and help the business grow. You can leave reviews on:
- Google (most important for local discovery)
- Yelp
- TripAdvisor (for travel, food, and attractions)
Bonus Tip: Add a photo if you can. Pictures of food, products, or the space make reviews more trustworthy and eye-catching.
Follow Accounts on Social Media (10 Seconds)
Social media is one of the main ways people find small businesses. According to Statista, here is the number of consumers who discovered small businesses:
- 61% on Facebook
- 48% on Youtube
- 46% on Instagram
- 45% on TikTok
Among young shoppers, 75% of Gen Z discovered businesses through TikTok. Likes, comments, and shares help more people see the business and learn about it. [2] Following them keeps you updated on products, sales, and events. It is free marketing for them and early access for you. Social media can become an excellent avenue for businesses to attract new customers. You just need to be updated with the changing algorithms and tricky settings.
Like, Comment, and Share Their Posts (30-45 Seconds)
Simple interactions help a business reach more people. Interacting with the posts of the small business is the next step that helps them grow. Social media platforms don’t automatically show a business’s posts to all its followers. Visibility depends on engagement. When people like, comment, share, or save a post, the platform reads that as “This content matters” and shows it to more users.
How To Actually Make an Impact (It Takes Under a Minute)
- Follow their account
- Like recent posts
- Leave a short, real comment
- Share to your story or feed
- Save the post
- Tag someone who would genuinely be interested
Why This Matters?
Small businesses often rely on organic reach because ads can be expensive. Your interaction helps their content travel beyond their existing audience.
Your feed, in turn, will become more personalized. The more similar content you will see, including:
- New products
- Local events
- Deals
Post a Shoutout (1-2 Minutes)
Post about the business on your own page to make a bigger impact than a like or comment.
Your friends will see it as a recommendation. That trust is powerful, and small businesses rarely get that kind of exposure without paying for it.
You don’t need a perfect photo or a long caption. This can be simple with tips such as:
- Post about your meal from a local restaurant
- Share a product you bought and loved
- Show before-and-after results from a service
- Repost one of their updates to your story
Tag the business so they see your post. They may share it with others. This kind of word-of-mouth marketing is what helps small businesses grow steadily.
3. Relationship And Long Term Support
Choose the Local Option (30 Seconds)
Pause for a moment and ask:
“Can I buy this from a local business?”
Small businesses are built on people, families, and communities. Buying from a small business helps them to pay local wages, utilities, and other nearby businesses. Many small businesses now have:
- Online shop
- Social media shops
- Local delivery
- Curbside pickup
You will also often find:
- Better customer service
- More personalized help
- Unique or handmade items
- Higher product knowledge
You don’t have to switch everything. You can start with one or two purchases a month. Including:
- Gifts
- Coffee
- Books
- Decor
- Repairs
- Beauty services
Sign Up for Their Newsletter (20 Seconds)
Joining a small business’s email list is one of the easiest long-term ways to support them. Most businesses use newsletters to share:
- Exclusive discounts
- Early access to sales
- New product launches
- Event announcements
- Behind-the-scenes updates
Visit their website to look for:
- A pop-up when you land on the page
- A sign-up box in the footer
- A “Join our community” or “Get updates” section
Even if you only open emails occasionally, being on the list helps. It gives them a reliable way to reach customers without fighting social media reach limits.
Tip a Little Extra (5 Seconds)
Restaurant owners aren’t the only ones feeling the pandemic’s impact. COVID has also wrecked bottom lines in the service industry. Services like gyms, hair salons, and hotels have experienced a slower cash flow because of social distancing, stay-at-home orders, and labor shortages.
If you’re in a position to do so, consider tipping a little more than you typically would for these types of services. The extra few dollars will go a long way for the service workers who have lost revenue in the past few years. Plus, by offering a generous tip, you’re doing your part to help your favorite businesses stay open.
Point Out Online Errors (1-2 Minutes)
Small businesses often lose customers because of simple online mistakes they don’t even know exist.
Fixing these errors takes under five minutes but can directly improve their local search visibility, credibility, and sales.
Common Online Errors to Look For
Focus on errors that affect customers, including:
1. Incorrect Business Hours
Wrong hours on Google Business Profile, Yelp, or Facebook frustrate customers and hurt trust.
2. Broken Website Links
Dead links reduce search rankings and make a business look inactive.
3. Wrong Address or Phone Number (NAP Errors)
Inconsistent Name, Address, Phone (NAP) details can cause customers to go to the wrong location.
4. Outdated Services or Pricing
Old information leads to confusion and lost bookings.
5. Missing Contact Buttons or Forms
If customers can’t easily call or message, they leave.
How To Help
Send a short email or direct message like:
“Hi, I noticed your Google listing shows you close at 5 PM, but your website says 7 PM. Just wanted to let you know in case it helps!”
This quick action helps the business:
- Improve local search rankings
- Avoid losing customers
- Build trust online
- Keep their Google Business Profile accurate
This kind of heads-up is valuable for busy owners managing multiple platforms.
Refer a Friend to a Small Business (30 Seconds)
Referrals are one of the fastest ways to help small businesses grow. A personal recommendation builds trust instantly and often turns into a paying customer. Referrals feel genuine, which makes people more likely to try a local business.
Ways to Refer a Business
1. Send a Direct Message or Text
Share a quick note like:
“You should try this local bakery with amazing cakes and great prices.”
2. Use Referral Links If Available
Some small businesses offer referral programs with discount codes or rewards. Both you and your friend benefit.
3. Mention Them in Conversations
If someone asks for a recommendation, then you can name a small business you trust.
Show Your Appreciation (30-60 Seconds)
If you want to go the extra mile for your favorite small business, reach out to the business owner with a personalized thank you. A simple thanks shows that you care about the business and its impact. Send an email, a direct message on social media, or tell employees in person. Your words could brighten a business owner’s day and help them stay motivated during tough times.
Explore More Small Business Stories
Are you passionate about supporting small businesses? Check out some of our Swyft Small Business Spotlight articles, where we share the stories of our favorite small businesses from around the country.
These stories show how small businesses contribute to local economies and create jobs, and bring meaningful products and services to their communities.
Spotlight: Global College Pipeline Uplifts Memphis Youth
Spotlight: How Everybody Wins With SIMPLi’s Ethically-Sourced Food
Spotlight: How Ballethnic Dance Company Celebrates Diversity Through Dance
Spotlight: Lord Jameson: Providing Positivity for People and Pooches
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What does it mean to support a small business?
It means helping the independent, locally owned companies succeed by buying from them, sharing their work, and keeping money and jobs in your community.
2. What can you do to support a small business?
Here are the ways to support a small business:
- Shop with them first
- Buy gift cards
- Boost visibility
- Write positive online reviews
- Engage with them online
- Order directly from them
- Attend local events
- Recommend their services
3. Which types of support actually help small businesses most?
The most helpful support for small businesses includes reliable funding, cash flow guidance, and access to loans. Mentorship and expert advice prevent costly mistakes. Strong digital visibility, customer reviews, and community shopping boost sales.
4. How do I find small businesses in my area?
Here are the methods:
- Use Google Maps
- Check local Chamber of Commerce directories
- Browse apps like Yelp, Nextdoor, and Angi
- Attend local farmers' markets
- Check community
- Browse social media groups
5. What's the difference between direct vs. indirect support?
Direct support means direct financial aid or specific resources tailored to an individual company. Indirect support refers to broader, systematic measures that benefit the business environment, such as improved infrastructure, tax policy changes, or regulatory easing.
6. Do small businesses actually prefer local customers over online?
They rely on a mix of both and value each channel for different benefits.
Bibliography
- U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF ADVOCACY. 2025 Small Business Profile. Accessed January 31, 2026.
- Statista. Social Media Usage by Small Businesses in the U.S. Accessed January 31, 2026.