These are challenging times

No doubt you are concerned about your business. It would be strange if you weren’t. I want to recognise that everyone receiving this is both an owner, and a member of a local community. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing massive disruption to the health and safety of communities around the world. Above all, I hope you and your loved ones are safe and in good health.

One observation I’ve made is people everywhere are concerned for their local small businesses, and uncertain of how to help. The purpose of this message is to share a proposal for how together we can help small businesses.

Now let me say, supporting local businesses in your community right now is imperative. Small businesses are the engine of economic growth. Growth fuels prosperity for all. We all want and deserve prosperity. 

Due to COVID-19, businesses will shut down. Some are adapting, others will be less impacted. With this backdrop, and in the face of this adversity, each of us has the power to act, but sometimes we just don’t know what to do.

So here is a proposal. It won’t fix everything. Some may laugh at how insignificant the proposal may seem on the surface. Or be annoyed that it’s “just an idea”. I would contend, at least it is taking action, however small. And that small acts can make a big impact.

My proposal is this: pre-purchase from your local businesses.

Buy gift cards if available. Or, if you are a local business under duress, reach out to your clients and make it easy for them to purchase in advance from you today.

Why is this a good idea? Simply put, it gets cash into the hands of owners you believe in today, in the hopes they will be here tomorrow. Think of local restaurants, physical trainers or massage therapists. No clients will be visiting them for some time. 

Can you pre-purchase five lunches today? Or three sessions?

Again, this will not fix everything. And I am aware that many of you are experiencing such financial difficulty that you are not in a position to give. But for those of you who are, and who want to help and don’t know how, I would say, support the owners you believe in.

Cynics might say, “what if the owner just pockets the money and doesn’t honour the gift down the road?” To that I say, I believe in owners. 99.999% of owners will do the right thing. Why? Because they love their businesses, feel a duty to their customers, are concerned for their employees and respect their communities. 

Again, I believe in owners.

This is a start. There is still a long road ahead. I look forward to figuring out more ways we all can work together to support the global small business community.

By Mike McDerment Co-Founder & CEO Freshbooks.