How to Support Small Business Without Spending a Cent

This post was updated in 2025.

Chances are you know a small business owner or network marketer.  Chances are you know several.  Some of my favorites include Pampered Chef, Usborne Books (now Paper Pie Learning), and Gold Canyon Candles.  

How do you, as their friend, support them?  

Here are some ways you can be one of their strongest supporters and cheerleaders without spending a cent or even stepping out of your house!

I have been thrilled as a FOREVER Ambassador to see the difference that small-but-growing business makes in people's lives.  It really matters!  And that's why I'm so passionate about it.  I certainly love it when someone makes their Christmas cards or a hardbound family yearbook at my FOREVER website, or when they ditch Google Photos or iCloud for something that's actually permanent and private but still shareable:  Forever Cloud. 

But, you know what?  I'm also thrilled to have likes and comments on my YouTube videos.

I love it when I post something in my Facebook group, and someone says, "This is such a good point.  I'm going to try this."

And I don't love these things because I want to be an influencer and have more likes than anyone on the planet.  I love these things because when someone interacts, it actually helps other people.  It helps me reach more people, and it also helps people who have been thinking for a little while about doing something I'm talking about think, "Hm.  Maybe I will."  

For example, if you aren't all that interested in making a family calendar, that's totally fine, but a simple comment like, "Wow, this is so cool that you can put birthdates and special days right in the calendar grid!" is a great way to support my small business.

Even a comment on a blog post goes a long way.  It tells search engines that what you're posting is valuable to someone else.  (It's why my blog post sharing linkup is called Will Blog for Comments.)  If you ever read a blog post and think, "That's so cool," I highly recommend taking a moment to leave a written comment:  "That's so cool."

Better yet, take some time to learn about your friend's small business.  Does she teach a class?  Does she host events?  How can you learn a little more? 

Small business Saturday is the day after Thanksgiving every year.  So if you don't have any plans (or even after your plans are over and you're plopped down on the couch to catch your breath), think of a small business owner you know.  Think about how you can support her small business without spending a cent, and then do it.

And, of course, any day is a great day to support a friend!  Make it a habit.

Even just Pinning a blog post to your Pinterest to give it some wider visibility is a great way to support a small business without spending a cent.

Pinterest loves tall images like this one, so they're the best ones to Pin.

It goes without saying that the very favorite way a small business owner would like to be supported is by you actually spending a cent on their business.  😁  Preferably more.  However, if that's not possible, you can always refer someone.  I don't have any animals, but I can refer my friend who is a vet to my other friends who do have animals.

Because this is also true:

 

What are your favorite small businesses?  What are other ways to support a small business that I haven't thought of here?  Tell me in the comments! 

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