This week marks the 50th anniversary of National Small Business Week, first recognized by Presidential Proclamation in 1963 by President Kennedy.
As I talk with fellow small business owners, I’m surprised by how few of them shop online, and of those who do, how few are using coupon codes to get their out of pocket cost down and cash back programs to actually generate a rebate on their purchases.
So in honor of 2013 National Small Business Week, here is a tip for my fellow entrepreneurs:
It’s not enough to pay for your office supplies, office furniture, printing services, travel expenses, and promotional products with a cashback credit card. That’s one piece of a bigger opportunity for cost savings:
Shop at the same stores online after you click through a cashback shopping website like MrRebates, Ebates, or Extrabux and you’ll be presented with a thorough listing of coupon codes for the same stores, AND you’ll receive real cash back, by check or through PayPal.
Here’s an example:
Need to print some flyers? You COULD type Staples.com into your browser, go to their Copy & Print section, and order $100 in flyers.
OR, you could go to MrRebates.com, click through their link to Staples Copy & Print, order the same $100 in flyers, and earn 8% cashback, payable to YOU. You can still use your cashback credit card to pay for the order — so you’re earning cashback twice! Take the $8 you earned and invest it back into your business, or take an early afternoon off and go see a movie. It’s your money!
Which business-to-business merchants participate in cashback programs?
Avis, Expedia, Marriott, Radisson, and other travel sellers- Dell Small Business, BestBuy, Microsoft Store, MacMall, TigerDirect, and other computer sellers
- GoDaddy and 1&1 Internet for domains, hosting, and website builders
- Office Depot, Office Max, Staples, Quill, and Sam’s Club, and other general office suppliers
- Staples Print & Copy, PsPrint, and VistaPrint, and other printers
- 1800Flowers, Harry & David, Omaha Steaks, ThingsRemembered, and other business gift sellers
- Quicken, Intuit Quickbooks, and other accounting software sellers
These are just a few examples of the business to business retailers you’ll find online offering cashback and coupons from rewards sites like MrRebates, Ebates, and Extrabux. Remember, you can use any credit or debit card to pay for these items when you buy them online, including cards that themselves offer a cashback / miles / points reward, allowing you to “double up” on your shopping reward.
If you’re a small business owner, you know that every cent counts in this tough economy. You’re paying too much if you’re not shopping online for your business needs, with the money-saving coupons and real cash back offered by cashback sites like MrRebates, Ebates, and Extrabux.
Spread the word this National Small Business Week — shopping online for your business supplies and services can save YOUR business 10 to 40% with coupon codes and earn you 1 to 15% in cash back. Stretch your dollar further by shopping online!
