It makes sense that things feel uncertain right now, especially for small businesses: Recent research found that 48% of small businesses think economic uncertainty will be challenging in 2025, while almost half (45%) believe it will be harder to get new customers next year.
Still, there is hope. The traditional ways of selling may no longer have the same impact, but there are plenty of consumers with their wallets out, ready to spend. So if you’re wondering whether now’s a good time to start a business, the answer is yes—even if you don’t have a ton of money.
As brands switch up how they do things to meet changing customer expectations, the key word will be “adapt.” To support you, we’ve put together this list of practical small business tips that will help make the next year your best yet.
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22 Small business tips for success
Not every business has the budget to hire a specialized staff or purchase the fanciest software that’ll drive growth—but don’t let that stop you from pursuing your passion and business ideas. There are plenty of actions you can take and systems you can set up yourself that will help you find success, even with little to no budget.
Before you get started, make sure you’ve set up the basics: choose a business name, register your business, and get any business licenses you might need.
Once you’ve done all that, check out these 22 small business tips to help you get more customers and gradually expand your ecommerce business.
- Narrow your focus
- Build a brand
- Make it easy to buy from you
- Find ways to cut costs
- Stay on top of the latest marketing trends
- Build a community
- Create great content
- Build an email list
- Continuously solve real problems
- Delegate time-consuming tasks
- Provide great customer service
- Keep an eye on your competitors
- Automate repetitive tasks
- Create immersive product experiences
- Find where your customers hang out
- Make sure you look good on mobile
- Consider subscriptions for recurring revenue
- Build a great website
- Understand cash flow
- Make analyzing your brand a habit
- Use social proof to sell
- Focus on omnichannel experiences
1. Narrow your focus
Due to the megacorporation’s size, Amazon is able to successfully sell online in a wide variety of markets. That’s because it has a great deal of capital to invest in branding, marketing, and customer service.
A small business owner doesn’t have that luxury. So, for you, the best strategy for success is to get hyper-focused in a single niche market.
For example, if you’re interested in starting a clothing brand online, you could narrow down your focus to something like women’s formal dresses, women’s nightlife apparel, or women’s activewear.
Niche research tools like Google’s Keywords Everywhere can help you find high-potential niches to explore as a small business owner.
2. Build a brand
Developing your branding involves creating a unique identity for your business that makes it stand out from the competition. A strong brand conveys the values, mission, and personality of your company. It involves creating cohesive brand elements such as a unique brand name, logo, visual aesthetics, and a messaging strategy across all platforms.
Say you’re developing the brand for an online clothing store called Boho Chic. You could start by designing an intricate, whimsical logo. An earthy, vibrant color palette, like turquoise and burnt orange, paired with a carefree, flowing font could signify the relaxed and artistic vibe of that brand.
Once you establish your brand identity, make sure your new branding shows up consistently wherever you do business—in every marketing platform, product or service offering, customer interaction, and so on.
Need help setting up your brand? Try the following branding tools from Shopify:
3. Make it easy to buy from you
Consumers are as busy as you are, so it’s crucial to do everything in your power to simplify your ecommerce checkout process. Sometimes, a great browsing experience is all that’s needed to attract and convert customers.
Start by reducing the number of form fields, eliminating unnecessary steps, and displaying the order summary on your checkout page. For payments, offer as many payment processing options as you can. That’ll make your checkout process more accessible for a wider variety of customers with different payment method preferences.
Ideally, you’ll want to use a system like Shop Pay, which allows customers to check out with one tap. A study by a Big Three global management consulting company found that Shop Pay lifts checkout conversions by up to 50% relative to defaulting to a guest checkout process. Plus, it outpaces other accelerated checkout tools by at least 10%.
You should also make sure your website follows user experience (UX) design best practices. For example, your product or service pages should be clearly organized and easy to navigate. Make your call-to-action (CTA) buttons visible, add zoom or pan functionality on images, and be upfront about shipping fees within each page’s pricing section.
4. Find ways to cut costs
Cutting costs is a quick and easy way to improve your small business finances. Find out where your money is going and evaluate which areas could use a trim. Good accounting software like Wave can help you categorize expenses to see where you are spending your capital.
For example, maybe you can cut down on shipping fees. Perhaps you can also save by cancelling unnecessary software subscriptions, switching to a shared office space, or renting, leasing, or buying used equipment.
Run an online store? Finding a wholesale supplier as a small business owner is another effective way to reduce overhead. Marketplaces like Faire have made it easy for small businesses to find wholesalers for different items.
Remember, every dollar counts when you’re a small business, so cut or adjust whatever you can to develop a healthier cash flow and financial standing.
5. Stay on top of the latest marketing trends
Your business can only grow if your target audience knows about it, so make sure you prioritize running at least a few marketing campaigns to boost brand awareness. Staying up to date with the latest marketing trends will help you create campaigns that actively engage your audience.
To keep up with the latest marketing trends, consider these small business tips:
- Follow marketing thought leaders on LinkedIn.
- Read expert marketing blogs like HubSpot.
- Listen to educational podcasts like Marketing School.
- Attend marketing conferences such as YoastCon.
- Look at what competitors are doing with their campaigns.
It’s also a good idea to connect with marketing professionals in your community online and in person. The discussions you have with them will give you an insight into the types of content that resonate with audiences like yours.
6. Build a community
It’s almost impossible for small brands to compete with the likes of Amazon and Temu on price and convenience, so you’ll have to offer something different. This is where building trust and community come into play.
These days, cultivating a strong online community can be your biggest asset as a small business. These are the people who genuinely care about what you’re doing and want to see you succeed.
Start by showing up consistently on social media or through email marketing. Share stories about your business, celebrate your wins, and—most importantly—solicit and listen to customer feedback.
Every conversation adds a brick to your community’s foundation. Whether it’s an active online group or regular in-person meetups, focus on creating spaces where people feel valued and heard. Customers are more likely to stick around when they feel like they’re part of something bigger.
7. Create great content
Content is the bridge between you and your audience. It’s how they learn about you, build confidence in you, and ultimately decide to buy from you.
But “great content” doesn’t mean cranking out blog posts or videos just for the sake of it. Instead, it’s best to share useful, engaging, and authentic stories that resonate with your audience.
Think about what your customers need right now. Is it advice? Inspiration? Behind-the-scenes updates?
Answer their questions and solve their problems in a way that only you can. That might be a how-to guide, a quick Instagram Reel, or a thoughtful email—whatever format you choose, focus on quality over quantity. And remember, not every post needs to sell something. Most of the best content marketing simply builds relationships by building trust in your brand.
8. Build an email list
Did you know that email marketing offers one of the highest returns on investment (ROIs) among all small businesses’ marketing strategies? Of course, you’ll only earn from email if you have a list of people to email. So start gathering those addresses from day one.
Build your email list via a sign-up form on your website. If you’re using Shopify, you can use Shopify Email, a native marketing tool that lets you create email marketing campaigns and send them from your admin. Shopify Email lets you design your email templates to match your brand and even link directly to products, making it easier than ever for customers to make a purchase.
9. Continuously solve real problems
Most businesses do best when they focus on solving real, everyday problems for their customers.
Start by asking yourself: What’s frustrating or time-consuming for my customers? What keeps them up at night? Ask your audience those questions directly, too, through surveys, casual conversations, or social media.
Once you uncover your customers’ biggest pain points, you’ll be able to prioritize solving those challenges using your products or services.
10. Delegate time-consuming tasks
Even if you’re a solopreneur, you can’t—and shouldn’t have to—do everything yourself. Fortunately, technology is evolving all the time, so you have a lot of options for getting assistance.
Tasks like bookkeeping, social media scheduling, and customer support can quickly eat up your time and energy, leaving little left for actually growing your brand instead of just staying afloat. Stop pushing yourself to do it all, and start delegating repetitive or specialized tasks that are outside of your area of expertise. If you have the budget for trusted team members or freelancers, pass on the appropriate tasks to them. Alternatively, there are plenty of AI business tools available to help you get more done more efficiently, like support chatbots and content optimizers. Your time is better spent on what only you as a leader can do, like strategizing, building relationships, and driving your business forward.
11. Provide great customer service
There’s nothing more effective for customer retention than delivering great customer service. Excellent customer service creates satisfied customers who are more likely to remain loyal to your brand and even refer it to family, friends, and colleagues via the value of word-of-mouth marketing.
A great way to provide high-quality customer service is to keep your finger on the pulse of your target audience. Stay on top of your social media DMs, and use tools like Shopify Inbox to let customers chat with you directly from your online store and in the Shop app. From Shopify Inbox, you can respond to customer messages and send product links, discount codes, and images.
Take time to review customer feedback to identify areas for improvement and make changes that help improve your customer experience. Once you’ve done that, ask customers to review your business on platforms like Google and Trustpilot. Doing this will help you build social proof, which can be a powerful revenue driver for a small business.
12. Keep an eye on your competitors
No matter the nature of your business, you will have competitors.
To be successful, you need to research their practices and find out as much as possible about them. What do consumers like about their products? How about their customer service reputation? Their branding? Doing this research will help you develop strategies that will empower you to stand out from other businesses over time.
To create a winning strategy, start by identifying which companies offer similar products or services in your market. Then evaluate your strengths and weaknesses in comparison to theirs. You can use a free tool like Quick Search to make it easier to analyze, track, and learn from your competitors’ strategies.
13. Automate repetitive tasks
Are you constantly doing things on repeat? Do you find that you have limited time to work on the things you’re really passionate about? AI-powered automation can help you break the monotony and regain freedom in your business.
Be selective about which tasks you automate. Focus on automating mundane tasks like online scheduling or analyzing sales data. Do not automate tasks that require lots of creativity, like building your brand and creating unique content— AI can’t replace the imagination of the human brain.
14. Create immersive product experiences
Customers want to know exactly what they’re buying before they click Purchase.
Immersive experiences like augmented reality (AR) or 3D-rendered product views let them see, test out, or visualize your product in their world. That might mean letting them “try on” glasses virtually or place a digital version of your furniture in their home. The biggest benefit of these tools is that they remove any doubts and hesitations, making customers more confident in the wisdom of their purchase decisions.
For example, IKEA’s Place App lets customers try out furniture in their own homes through AR technology. This has reduced returns by 20% and increased online sales by 35% since its launch.
Incorporating these technologies doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Start with small, accessible features that enhance the customer experience, and run A/B tests from there.
15. Find where your customers hang out
There are many, many social channels to contend with and it can be tricky trying to keep up with them all.
Instead of spreading yourself thin and trying to be everywhere at once, spend time figuring out which platforms, communities, and spaces your customers are most likely to frequent. Online communities might be found on popular social platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, or LinkedIn, or perhaps in more niche online forums.
When you’ve found your space, don’t just show up—become a valued part of the conversation. Engage authentically and don’t sell immediately. Instead, listen, contribute value, build relationships—and trust that authentic engagement will make the impact that helps your business grow.
16. Make sure you look good on mobile
Most customers will experience your business on their phones first. In fact, 76% of Americans have made purchases from their mobile devices.
If your website is slow, clunky, or hard to navigate on mobile, you’re losing sales. To avoid missing out, optimize everything for mobile—from loading speed and button sizes to checkout processes and product pages.
17. Consider subscriptions for recurring revenue
One of the biggest struggles small businesses face right now is maintaining a steady income. The ups and downs of the economy have mirrored themselves in most business accounts, which can make it hard to predict cash flow.
If this is you, consider implementing a subscription business model to turn occasional buyers into loyal customers who engage with your brand month after month. Think about what types of subscriptions make sense for your business. Can you offer exclusive access, regular product deliveries, or ongoing services that provide consistent value?
The key is to make your subscription feel like a no-brainer to your target audience. Give customers something they can’t get anywhere else and keep them coming back without a second thought. That will help you retain customers and nurture more predictable revenue streams.
18. Build a great website
Your website is the digital version of a brick-and-mortar store. It needs to look professional, load quickly, and clearly communicate what you offer.
To capture visitors’ attention, it’s absolutely crucial your website is easy to navigate and creates an enjoyable shopping experience.
Start by focusing on your site’s loading speed. A website that loads in less than three seconds is non-negotiable. Compress images, use a reliable hosting service, and optimize your code to keep things running smoothly.
Next, prioritize user experience (UX). Can visitors easily navigate your site? Is your menu intuitive? Do your product or service pages answer the questions your audience is likely to ask?
Don’t overlook the importance of clear calls to action (CTAs). Whether it’s Shop Now, Learn More, or Get a Free Quote, every page should guide visitors toward a specific next step that gets them closer to making a purchase.
You should also make sure your website reflects your brand identity. Use consistent fonts, colors, and tone of voice to build recognition. Add testimonials, case studies, or trust badges to reassure visitors they’re shopping in a credible and secure online store.
19. Understand cash flow
Even the most profitable businesses can fail without proper cash flow management.
Start by tracking your income and expenses in real time. Use accounting software like QuickBooks or Wave to get a clear picture of your financial health and monitor patterns in your cash flow: Do you see a slow season approaching? Are there months when big expenses pile up?
Being proactive means you can plan for gaps or delays and make sure you have enough reserves to cover things like payroll, inventory, or unexpected costs.
Pay close attention to your accounts receivable and payable, too. Are clients paying invoices on time? Can you negotiate better terms with vendors? Small adjustments in your accounting here can have a big impact on your cash flow.
Lastly, build a buffer. Aim for three to six months of expenses in your savings. That’ll help you to weather storms like supply chain issues or a global pandemic.
20. Make analyzing your brand a habit
What works for your business now might not work next year or even next month. That’s why regularly analyzing your brand, website, and data is so important.
Start by gathering feedback. Conduct surveys, read reviews, and pay attention to what customers are saying on social media. Then, look for patterns. Are people struggling to understand what you offer? Do they see your business as trustworthy and approachable?
Next, evaluate your branding elements. Is your logo still relevant? Are your messaging and visuals consistent across platforms?
You can also use tools like Google Analytics or Hotjar to see how people interact with your website. Are they spending time on the pages where you want them to spend the most time? Are they dropping off before converting?
Bake these analysis habits into your quarterly strategy so you can quickly spot any changes and respond to them before they dramatically impact business and sales.
21. Use social proof to sell
People trust what others say about your business more than they trust your marketing.
Start by gathering reviews and testimonials from happy customers. These can live on your website, social media accounts, or even product packaging. The key is to make them specific. Instead of generic “great service!” comments, encourage customers to share the full scope of their experience as constructive criticism.
Also, consider highlighting user-generated content (UGC) to show real people using and loving your products. Get customers to tag you on social media or leave photos in reviews, then share this content with permission.
Don’t be shy about asking for social proof. Send follow-up emails asking for reviews, incentivize feedback with discounts, or create a referral program. The more you can show that others trust you, the easier it becomes to earn that trust from new customers.
22. Focus on omnichannel experiences
Consumers expect seamless experiences no matter how they interact with your business. Whether they’re browsing your website, engaging with you on social media, or visiting your physical store, the journey should feel connected and consistent—from branding to messaging to product offerings. This is known as an omnichannel strategy.
Start by understanding how your customers interact with your brand. Are they starting their journey on Instagram but completing purchases on your website? Do they prefer customer support via email, live chat, or DMs? Map out these interactions to see where your channels connect and where they don’t.
Next, integrate your systems. If someone abandons a cart on your website, consider following up with a personalized email or SMS text. If they inquire on Instagram, think about picking up the conversation seamlessly over email or chat. Use tools like CRM platforms or unified messaging systems to tie everything together, so customers never feel like they’re repeating themselves.
Consistency is key here. Your branding, tone, and message should be the same everywhere. It would be confusing if your Instagram was quirky and casual, but your website was formal and corporate. Align your channels so customers recognize and trust your brand, no matter where they interact with it.
Finally, use data to personalize the experience. With tools like Klaviyo or HubSpot, you can segment your audience and tailor messages to their unique needs. The more you can anticipate what they want, the stronger your relationship with them can become.
Start growing with these small business tips
The road to small business success is bumpy and full of challenges. For many entrepreneurs, the journey will have obstacles that test their patience, persistence, and perseverance. The good news? If you implement even just a few of the small business tips above, you’ll find it easier to break down the barriers to growth and discover new ways to thrive as a small business owner.
Small business tips FAQ
How can I be successful in a small business?
Being successful in small business starts with a clear business plan. What is your target market? What product or service are you selling? And how will you sell it better than anyone else? Once you get up and running, maintaining good customer relationships and constantly delivering a good product are essential for success.
How can I make a lot of money in my small business?
Make sure you are maintaining good profit margins. A standard profit margin in many industries is 20%, which means you keep one-fifth of the small business’s revenue as profit. Control your expenses and innovate on ways to obtain customers for less, while keeping your existing customer base happy and loyal.
What do small businesses need most?
Small businesses need capital, marketing strategy, and a well-defined product or service. Lack of cash is the number one reason a small business fails. So if you can maintain positive cash flow and keep customers happy with a quality product, you’re in good hands.
What makes a small business good?
Good small businesses meet customer needs, stay financially stable, and operate efficiently. A positive organizational culture and strong relationships with customers and suppliers are also important. Lastly, staying adaptable to market changes can help you navigate through tough times and come out stronger.
Is $1,000 enough to start a business?
Yes, $1,000 can be enough to start a business, depending on the type of business. For service-based businesses or online ventures with low overhead (like freelancing, consulting, or ecommerce), $1,000 can cover basic startup costs like a website, marketing, and tools. However, businesses that require inventory, physical locations, or specialized equipment may need more capital to get off the ground.
