4 ways your small business can give back

As a determined small business owner, it's easy to get caught up in your own world. After all, we're all trying to make a living. But despite the demands of running a small business, you can find inspiration and perspective in giving something back. Here are four things to try...

1. Give advice

Take a look around your local community - have any new small businesses recently opened up shop? See if you can extend yourself by not only welcoming fellow entrepreneurs into your area, but by offering advice. Think back to when you were first starting up your business. What tips and tricks would have made your transition into your community that much easier?

Or perhaps offer up your advice to the online world. Approach a relevant blog and extend an offer to guest post. Whether you're offering general advice to aspiring entrepreneurs or providing guidance within your industry's specific niche, your words of wisdom can help light other business owner's way.

2. Contribute to your community

Think about ways in which you can improve the community your business is based in. Whether you organise a team clean-up, sponsor a local event or start your own community garden, there are plenty of ways in which you can enrich your business's environment. Also, by extending your effort to brand your good deeds (with team-shirts and signage) you can capitalise on positive brand recognition.

3. Team up with a charity

If you don't have the time to give back outside of your already demanding workday, don't worry! There of plenty of ways you can give back without sacrificing your already streamlined schedule.

Consider donating a potion of your sales to a charity in need, or by matching donations made. You could also offer your team time off so that they can volunteer themselves.

When deciding on what goodwill direction to go in (i.e. what charity to sponsor), ask your customers and your team for their advice. By satisfying the needs of your customer base and your team, you'll be giving back to both your community and to the groups that matter to your business's success the most.

4. Jump on the non-profit train

Consider ways in which your business could aid the non-profit portions of your community too. If you have some available time, you could jump on an advisory board or volunteer at your local Chamber of Commerce. Similarly, you can service the needs of non-profits by offing up your services pro bono.

While it should never be the driving force of your good deeds, submitting press releases could pay you back in social buzz and positive brand recognition. If anything, your effort to give back will provide you with a better sense of satisfaction, more balance and a positive mood that jumpstarts your motivation, inspiration and entrepreneurial energy.

In what ways does your small business give back?

Kelly Gregorio writes about small business topics, while working at Advantage Capital Funds, a provider of merchant cash advances. You can read her daily business blog here .