Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is a special day set aside as part of an American Express program to encourage people nationwide to support small, local businesses. It is held annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year, it was celebrated on November 25th.

Started in 2010, the initiative is dedicated to getting more customers through the doors of small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. “Shop Small” was a successful shopping and social experience, bringing neighborhoods together and helping generate business for local entrepreneurs.

The day also gets national support from the government, with representatives (including the president), promoting the day publicly each year.

Small business in the United States is a huge driving force of the economy. In fact, almost 90% of the nearly 6 million employers in America have less than 20 employees.

In addition to that, there are some 22 million small businesses that qualify as “self-employers” (i.e. no payroll or employees). Over half the population of the U.S. works in small business, which is responsible for 65% of the new jobs since 1995.

If this subject is something that piques your interest and you’d like to participate, here are some ways to do just that:

• If you’re a shopper, you can “Shop Small,” and share the small businesses you love on November 25th. You can also find new favorites by exploring the Shop Small Map, which lists qualifying American Express Card-accepting small businesses in your community.
• If you’re a small business owner, you can celebrate customers and help attract new ones with customizable marketing materials from the Shop Small Studio. Qualifying American Express Card-accepting small merchants get even more.
• You can find resources at americanexpress.com. Learn more about free benefits to help you attract potential customers like personalized online banner ads, signage, and a listing on the Shop Small Map.

Being an entrepreneur can be a huge challenge and a stressful endeavor but also can be incredibly exciting and rewarding. So let’s celebrate the entrepreneurs and small business by shopping local and “Shopping Small.”

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES

Material contained in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be used in connection with the evaluation of any investments offered by David Lerner Associates, Inc. This material does not constitute an offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities and should not be considered in connection with the purchase or sale of securities.

To the extent that this material concerns tax matters, it is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law.

Each taxpayer should seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or her individual circumstances.

These materials are provided for general information and educational purposes based upon publicly available information from sources believed to be reliable– we cannot assure the accuracy or completeness of these materials. The information in these materials may change at any time and without notice.

David Lerner Associates does not provide tax or legal advice. The information presented here is not specific to any individual's personal circumstances. Member FINRA & SIPC