Small Business Season: How Melio Helps Support Small Businesses
Learn simple ways to support small businesses and see how Melio gives back to local communities.
Key takeaways
- Shop local first to keep more of every dollar circulating in your own community.
- Leave reviews and share your favorites to support small businesses for free.
- Recognize that small businesses drive most new US jobs and local economic growth.
- Explore Melio’s Small Business Season to see how promotion helps small businesses reach new customers.
What is Small Business Season?
Small Business Season is a Melio campaign that promotes small businesses. It uses Melio’s audience, social channels, and paid ads to boost small businesses’ sales. We created it to help entrepreneurs reach new customers and give back to the people who make communities thrive.
The idea is simple. We put real small businesses in front of a wider audience, so more people can discover them and shop with them.
Why supporting small businesses matters
Supporting small businesses keeps money close to home and helps neighbors stay employed. When you spend with a local shop, more of that spending circles back into your own community.
- 68% of every dollar spent at a small business stays in the local economy, compared with 43% at large retailers.
- Small businesses make up 99.9% of US businesses and employ 45.9% of the private workforce.
- Small businesses created about 9 of every 10 net new US jobs from March 2023 to March 2024.
Ways to support small businesses
You don’t need a big budget to make a difference. Here are simple ways to help.
- Shop local first: Check nearby shops before heading to a big retailer.
- Leave a review: Share an honest, kind review to help others find them.
- Spread the word: Tell friends and family about businesses you love.
- Buy gift cards: Pick up a gift card for a birthday or holiday.
- Attend local events: Show up for pop-ups, markets, and community fairs.
- Join loyalty programs: Sign up for rewards to keep coming back.
How Melio gives back through Small Business Season
We launched Small Business Season during a tough holiday stretch, when small businesses needed extra help. Over two months, we promoted 12 special offers from 10 businesses across the country. Each one reached thousands of potential customers through our social posts and paid ads. Those ads were viewed 10,000–100,000 times.
One of them was Colony House Liquor, a beverages shop. The campaign brought them new orders from far beyond their neighborhood.
We also featured Vnyl, a monthly vinyl-record subscription box, and Hippo and Bunny Books, an independent New Jersey children’s book publisher run by a mom-and-dad team. And we spotlighted Happy Cork, a Brooklyn store offering a selection of Black- and minority-owned wines.
Every business deserves a fair shot at getting noticed. That’s the heart of Small Business Season. When you get paid faster and pay your bills with less effort, you have more time to focus on what matters. Melio is here to help you do exactly that.
Support small businesses FAQs
What does it mean to support a small business?
It means choosing a local, independent shop over a large chain when you can. Your purchase, review, or referral helps that owner keep their doors open.
How can I support a small business for free?
Leave a thoughtful review, follow their social accounts, and share their posts. Word of mouth costs nothing and helps new customers find them.
Why is it important to support small businesses?
Small businesses strengthen local communities and keep neighbors employed. Supporting them helps money stay where you live and work.
*This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended as financial advice.
**Melio does not provide legal, tax or accounting advice, and you should consult with a professional advisor before making any financial decisions.