There are nearly 30 million small businesses in the united states. These small businesses employ nearly half of the united states workforce. Buying local is beneficial to you and people in your community in more ways than you realize. Here are a few reasons why you should shop small.

Local economy

For every $100 you spend at a local small business establishment, $43 goes directly back into the community. When you give your business to a national chain, only $13 returns to your community. Supporting local businesses is what keeps your local economy thriving. The money stays right where you spend it instead of benefitting another city where a large corporation may be based. Money staying local includes taxes earned from small business. When taxes stay local, community improvements can be made as a result of it.

Health

When you buy local meat and produce, your family reaps major health benefits. You know where your food is coming from, you know it’s not coated in wax, filled with pesticides or hormones and you are benefitting your family’s health tremendously.

Quality

When you purchase from a small business, you receive high quality goods and services. With less overhead and more attention to detail, small businesses can make great quality products at great prices. Large corporations tend to mass produce their goods and because of this quality can be greatly reduced.

Jobs

When you buy from small businesses, you’re helping small businesses stay profitable. When businesses are booming, they need more employees. Small businesses can help build your community by giving its citizens more job opportunities. By keeping jobs local, citizens don’t have to commute to another city for work. The SBA estimates that small business owners create two out of every three net new jobs in the U.S. That number could go up if consumers shifted just 10 percent of their business to local organizations. Local First Arizona, a nonprofit supporting local business in the state, estimates that a community of half a million people could create $53 million in new wages if they shop small.

Community character

Small businesses are the building blocks for a warm community feel. Communities are brought together by the character and involvement that small businesses possess. Mom and pop shops are usually the staples of small towns. These small business provide local communities with its often unique charm and character.

Charity

In addition to boosting the local economy, small businesses are usually very involved in local charity events. Since they are heavily invested in their community, they usually care for it deeply. For that reason, small businesses tend to give a larger percentage to charity than large corporations.

Customer service

Although it may be easier to do all of your shopping in a big box store, what are you missing when you do? Customer service. Small businesses and specialty retail stores value your business more than larger box stores do. They provide better customer service, they have more expertise, and are more interested in making sure you get what you have come for, instead of settling for something that will merely get the job done. When you shop at small businesses and specialty retail stores often, you build a relationship with the employees and owners that can be invaluable to your shopping experience.

Although you should shop small businesses year round, Small Business Saturday (the day after Black Friday) and National Small Business Week (April 30 through May 6) are two great opportunities to show your local small businesses some support. If you own a small business, we can help you grow.