BBB: November is ‘Thank a Business Month’

As we enter the busiest shopping season of the year, it’s an excellent time to thank a business.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) suggests customers show their support and appreciation by nodding to trusted companies with great products, customer service, and community involvement. Businesses, small, midsize, and large, do more than provide jobs for their employees. They often serve as an integral part of the fabric and lifeblood of their communities.

The BBB is recognizing the importance of businesses in November with “Thank a Business Month,” inviting customers to say thank you — a gesture that benefits businesses and is easy to do. For complete details, visit https://www.bbb.org/all/customer-reviews/thanks.

“At the end of November, we celebrate local and smaller businesses with Small Business Saturday following Thanksgiving,” said Steve Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau. “That’s very important, but one day a year isn’t enough to thank great businesses that do an excellent job.”

Of course, the ultimate compliment is to continue doing business with and spending money at great local businesses.

Another powerful way to thank a business you like is to leave a positive review. When you have an excellent experience, where the company went above and beyond your expectations, post a good review on various sites, and the Better Business Bureau website at BBB.org is a great place to start.

The latest BBB Trust Poll found that 68% of respondents are more likely to leave a review for a business after a negative experience than after a positive one.

Posting positive reviews on Google, local Facebook groups, or any review site of your choice helps tout a great business. Also, posting positive comments on the business’ website and social media channels helps immensely.

Reputation can mean everything, especially for a small-business owner trying to attract and retain customers. You want to tell customers that your business is trustworthy, ethical, and transparent — and what better way to illustrate that story than through online customer reviews.

There are so many reasons to acknowledge great businesses for their excellent service and the impact they have on the quality of life in the communities where they do business. In addition to the revenue generated by the tax dollars they pay, they also provide financial support for scores of nonprofits and charities. In many cases, they sponsor local causes and community events.

Money spent at local businesses keeps much more money in the state and city where they reside. According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses contribute 43.5% of U.S. economic activity. When shopping locally, about 68 cents of every dollar spent stays in the community, while only 43 cents of every dollar spent non-locally stays in the community.

“These small businesses are close to home, often down the street or around the corner, providing for our essential needs,” Bernas said. “Small businesses can also say ‘Thank You’ to their fellow small business owners by purchasing locally the goods and services they need.”

Small businesses employ 59 million Americans, accounting for 45.9% of private-sector employees. From 1995 to June 2023, small businesses created 20.2 million net new jobs, accounting for 61.1% of net jobs created since 1995.

Saying “Thank You” is beneficial for the business and easy to do:

• Continue doing business and spending money with great local businesses.

• When you have an excellent experience where the business went above and beyond your expectations, post a good review on the Better Business Bureau website at BBB.org.

• Additionally, post positive comments on a business website or social media.

• Spread the word among family and friends.

• Buy gift cards, and if ordering from a restaurant, try picking up your food instead of forcing restaurants to use margin-cutting delivery services.

• Choose local. That may not always be possible, but when it is, it can have a significant impact.

• You can find local retailers online, try the local chamber of commerce, neighborhood-focused organizations, Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, TikTok, and other social media sites.

• If you have a “buy local” organization in your community, take part in any events they may have. Do this year-round.