The spread of COVID-19 has more and more people hunkering down and staying inside. While social distancing is vital to containing the coronavirus, it is having a disastrous effect on small businesses.
Right now, many small businesses are concerned with meeting payroll, rent and other expenses due to a decrease in cash flow. As more and more people are required to stay inside, it’s more important than ever to support your local businesses as they have to close their doors temporarily or find other methods of selling and delivering their goods or services
So, how can you help support small businesses during COVID-19? Here are five ways you can help your local businesses.
1. Buy gift cards or certificates.
One way to put immediate cash into your local small business is by purchasing a gift card or gift certificate for future use. While the business may not be able to accept it right now, you can plan ahead for later, and it gives the businesses immediate cash to help tide them over during this crisis.
2. Shop local.
When you need to stock up on necessities, shop from local businesses, both online and offline. Take the precautions when going out, but try to shop at local businesses — from hardware stores to pharmacies and small grocery stores — instead of larger chains. If your local stores have online shops, consider shopping from them while you hunker down at home.
3. Order delivery or pickup from nearby restaurants.
If you’re not up for cooking, order pickup or delivery from your nearby restaurants. That way, you can continue to support your local small businesses to help ensure you can dine-in at their location once the crisis has passed. Try calling the restaurant or ordering directly from their website rather than third-party apps so the business can avoid fees.
4. Tip a little extra.
Many forget that service workers are among the most impacted by quarantining. If you’re ordering in, make sure to tip extra, as many rely on this for their main source of income. A few extra bucks here and there will go a long way. If you go to pickup, make sure to leave a tip as well.
5. Share on social media.
If you can’t afford to go out or have sufficiently stocked up with what you need, encourage your friends and followers to support local businesses. Share their social posts so those in your circle can see it and support, too. Also, if there’s a local business that you love, leave them a good review, which can lead to more potential customers and more business.