1. Keep your money local

When you shop local, a significant amount of the money you spend gets put directly back into your community strengthening your local economy.

2. Support nonprofits

On average, local business provide 250 percent more support to local nonprofits and charities (such as animal shelters and even local high schools sports teams) than big businesses.

3. Good for the planet

Business that are locally owned and operated tend to buy local as well. Take Lake Burrito and Malvi for example, they rely on nearby farms and farmer markets to bring you the freshest high quality ingredients without the harm of pollution from excessive packaging materials, shipping and freight exhaust and even large amounts of pesticides and preservatives.

4.Better service

Many times when shopping at big name chain stores the employees are not experts they are thrown onto the sales floor with little to know training but when shopping small employees are meticulously picked and trained to insure that they know what they are talking about. Another perk of shopping and working small is that the employees are normally treated better and are therefore happier at their jobs creating a better overall shopping experience.

5. Less pressure to buy

Small businesses put more pressure on making sure the customer finds the right product then they do on closing a sale because many local store owners know that a happy customer normally means a repeat customer.

6. Increased tax revenue

Locally owned businesses generate more tax revenue for cities, with less cost, than sprawling big-box shopping centers, allowing for your sales tax to be directly deposited back into your communities schools and roads

7.Keeps community unique

Mom and pop shops are truly what makes each town unique and great, think about how it feels to go out of town and try new place or a new food. Without small businesses all we would have is the same chains that are all over, and how boring would that be?

8. More local jobs

Locally owned small businesses rely on local labor for everything they do, including in house hiring and outside labor like electrical work or help with taxes. Growth of small businesses directly results in an increase of available jobs in your community.

9. Owners live here

When a local business opens many times it's because an individual noticed a need or market for their business in that area. Having owners living near by ensures not only that they want the best for their community because they want the best for their business but that they also have a better understanding of your needs.

10. React quicker

Local business are able to react quicker to requests and even complaints because they have less channels to go through, if you need something it can go directly to the top in a matter of minutes, there is less protocol, less chain of command, and less paperwork allowing for that business to operate much faster than a big name business.

Bonus: small business Saturday.

Many local businesses participate in small business Saturday, the Saturday after thanksgiving, providing their own small tame version of black Friday with special deals and discounts and American express is providing double rewards for shopping small on small business Saturday.