Lately, especially in San Diego, it seems as if a new chain store is opening everyday. Whether that be a Starbucks around the corner or yet another Target location appearing, these large corporations have become nearly inescapable. However, while they may offer a sense of familiarity, they are incomparable to small businesses in terms of positively impacting the communities in which they are located.
Predictably, the primary benefits a small business may offer to its community are economical. Not only do these organizations create more jobs for local residents, they help increase a value known as the local tax base (business.com). According to a website about investments, “A tax base is the total value of all of the assets, income, and economic activity that can be taxed by a taxing authority, usually a government. It is used to calculate tax liabilities” (investopedia.com). The higher the local tax base, the more money local governments can spend on their community. By significantly expanding the local tax base, small businesses indirectly benefit nearly every community member, irrespective of where one shops. Furthermore, almost all small businesses tend to contribute something that is unquantifiable — charm.
Whether one’s town is home to a beloved coffee shop or a treasured record store, chances are most people have some sort of small business come to mind when they think of their community, and justly so. According to a lifestyle website, “Local businesses add a certain charm to a town. [They] provide a unique character that can’t be replicated when compared to towns that only have large chain stores”(thecrossroadscaramel.com). The individuality brought about by small businesses is not only a reminder of the charm possessed by one’s community, but an attraction to tourists wishing to live like a local for a day or two.
Small businesses are also likely to contribute to community events, organizations, and charities. According to a website dedicated to small businesses, “Small businesses donate 250 percent more [financially] than larger businesses to local nonprofits and community causes” (score.org). Not only do small businesses indirectly benefit communities through tax revenue, they often directly and intentionally invest money into bettering the lives of those within their community.
It’s important to step back and fully understand just how deeply rooted local businesses are within communities. Whether one trades out their morning Starbucks for a local coffee shop, wanders over to the town farmer’s market for home grown produce, or buys a handmade shirt from a family-owned boutique, you are not only supporting a small business, but the community as a whole.