The Best Black Friday Deals for Small Business Owners (2024 Update)

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Have you been wanting to invest in some new tools for your business but couldn't bring yourself to pay full price (especially given the current economy)? If you can wait, it's well worth waiting for Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals.

Have you been wanting to invest in some new tools for your business but couldn't bring yourself to pay full price (especially given the current economy)? If you can wait, it's well worth waiting for Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals.

For small company owners in the United States, the Thanksgiving shopping season is an excellent time to replenish inventory and purchase new business equipment on a budget. Although offers are still on the horizon, it's always a good idea to plan ahead of time and be ready to buy when they become available.

But what are the top Black Friday offers for small businesses this year? What are the biggest sales you don't want to miss? And how can you take advantage of the next Monday (which has even more online bargains!) to make the purchases you need to propel your business forward in the coming year?

Let's take a look at everything you need to know to make the most of this year's Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

What’s the Story Behind Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

There is some controversy about when and where the name "Black Friday" arose. The most reliable account appears to relate its roots to a commotion in Philadelphia in the 1950s. 

In preparation for the annual Army-Navy football game, municipal police would have their hands full—controlling crowds, preventing theft, and dealing with increased traffic congestion. Given the bad circumstances, law enforcement officials dubbed the Friday following Thanksgiving "Black Friday." It wasn't until much later that the holiday became connected with after-Thanksgiving sales.

On the other side, Cyber Monday emerged as an extension of the shopping season. The name was coined in 2005 to characterize the online sales surge that occurs on the first Monday after Thanksgiving. Consider it the younger sibling of Black Friday, with a concentration on internet shopping. 

Here are some intriguing insights about the two shopping days:

The National Retail Federation (NRF) claimed that almost 180 million Americans purchased items during the 2021 shopping season. Between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, people spent an average of $301.27 each.
According to Adobe research, shoppers spent a record-breaking $34.4 billion during Cyber Week (which includes Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday) in 2020, representing a 20.7% increase over the previous year. In 2021, that figure declined slightly to 33.9%, a 1.4% fall from the previous year.
According to a BlackFriday.com poll, the most popular categories of merchandise last Black Friday were clothes (23% of consumers), technology (22%), toys (18%), smart home appliances (16%), and gift cards (12%).

Should You Shop Black Friday Deals This Holiday Season?

You're probably wondering yourself, "Should I jump on it?"

If you've been thinking about buying a business for a while but wanted to wait for a better price, the answer is a clear yes. Whether it's a new workstation or updated software, deferring the purchase until later in the year—and taking advantage of Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales—can help you save a lot of money.


Another reason why small businesses should postpone purchasing until the holiday shopping season? Because you can get fantastic bundle bargains on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. For example, many stores (both in-store and online) sell laptops and desktop computers packaged with software that would cost more if purchased individually.

Is It Always a Good Idea to Buy During This Time of Year?

Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales can be a significant shopping advantage for small businesses. But is it always a good idea to go shopping during the holiday weekend? 

And the answer is: It depends.It makes no difference how good a deal you receive if you don't need to buy it. Finally, it's an unneeded buy that wastes your business's money. 

For example, what if you see a Black Friday ad advertising fantastic bargains on small business software, but it isn't applicable to your company? It's not a good investment, even if the price is incredibly low. 

The point is that finding shopping deals during this time of year is ideal if you know you need to make a specific purchase—but only if those purchases are critical to your business.

Where Can You Find the Best Shopping Deals?

For many people, the hunt for amazing deals is part of what makes this shopping season so appealing. If you don't want to sift through dozens of websites to make a purchase, start with the sellers listed below.

Computers and Mobile Devices

Are you looking for laptops, mobile devices, and other technologies for your small business? Here are a few locations you should look:

Major Retailers

Amazon, eBay, greatest Buy, and Walmart will continue to be the greatest places to look for technology things. Each retailer has a history of offering significant savings on notebooks, desktop computers, tablets, and televisions, so be sure to check them out.

Individual Manufacturers

Pay attention to big manufacturers such as Dell, HP, and Lenovo. For example, Dell has already published a slew of Black Friday specials on their holiday shopping page, including discounts on laptops and workstations. Lenovo has also launched Black Friday doorbuster offers, allowing customers to save up to 70% on business notebooks, tablets, and workstations. 

Smart Home and Office

IoT (internet of things) devices are gaining popularity in our homes. So, why not take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers to future-proof your surrounds and upgrade your home office?

Amazon

Amazon is frequently the first place to check for exclusive prices on Alexa-enabled smart speakers, intelligent door locks, smart plugs, and a variety of security solutions that will connect your home office and increase your productivity.

Google Store

This November, you'll want to check out the Google Store for another treasure trove of deals. While most bargains aren't revealed until close to the holiday, you can expect large discounts on smart home gadgets like Nest doorbells, thermostats, and Google Home speakers.

VPN and Antivirus Software

Digital security is a major concern for small business owners these days (read this article to learn why). If you haven't used a VPN (virtual private network) or antivirus software before, you should brush up and look for offers in this area.

Popular VPN provider NordVPN's Black Friday deal—which includes 3 months free with every 2-year plan—can help your organization save up to 68% on VPN costs. Other major VPN companies, such as ExpressVPN and Tunnelbear, will likely offer similar bargains.

Antivirus software is another small business need that is sometimes discounted at this period, so keep an eye on your preferred antivirus providers such as Avast, Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, or McAfee for special offers. Many of these suppliers have a history of cutting

Other Business Software

Speaking of software, chances are you utilize many software packages to keep your business running—whether it's accounting software, email marketing software, project management software, or customer management software. 

Many software firms provide their customers with Christmas discounts, which can range from free upgrades to membership and subscription reductions. If you already use software or are thinking about adding it to your IT stack, be sure to check their website for any Black Friday or Cyber Monday promotions.

Domains and Hosting

If you believe your company's website could benefit from an upgrade (or are still considering developing one), you should keep an eye out for upcoming promotions from domain dealers and hosting service providers.

Every major provider (from GoDaddy to SiteGround and HostGator) is known for offering fantastic deals around this time of year. While discounts vary by provider, annual plans can save up to 75% and include lower-cost domain names from many suppliers.

On that point, if you need assistance with your company's website or portfolio, see this post on developing an online portfolio.

Stationery and Office Supplies

Black Friday weekend is also an ideal time to refill home office equipment and stationery or create branded marketing materials. Because you'll be shopping around the holidays, you might want to consider ordering seasonal gifts for your consumers. Keep an eye out for must-have offers from retailers like Garafour Staples and , as well as print-on-demand platforms like Vistaprint and Moo.

Business Education

Black Friday shopping weekend is about more than just physical items. Every intelligent business owner understands that self-education is essential if your company is to succeed. As a result, you should be on the lookout for low-cost educational possibilities.

Audible

As mentioned, Amazon is a great place to score holiday shopping deals. In years past, the retailer has offered a significant discount on its Audible subscription (more than 50% off a 3-month subscription, which gives you ongoing access to Audible’s library and bonus credits for new subscribers, which allows you to purchase digital books for your library). If you don’t have the time to read paperbacks, audiobooks can help you keep learning—and keep your company growing—in the coming year.

Online Learning Platforms

Thinking about expanding your skill set? The growing popularity of MOOCs (massive open online courses) implies that more agreements emerge each year. Check out online learning sites such as Udacity, Udemy, FutureLearn, and EdX for exclusive course deals and coupon codes.

4 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Buying Tips

Want to make the most of this holiday shopping season? Here are some recommendations to help you make the most of Black Friday and Cyber Monday (while also taking your business to the next level).

1. Create a Wishlist

Before you roll up your sleeves and start looking for offers, you need have a good understanding of what you need and why you need it in the first place. Give your inventory a thorough examination and decide where to best use your funds. 

Many online stores (such as Amazon, Best Buy, and eBay) allow registered customers to establish wishlists, where they can add things they intend to purchase. Every time an item on your list is discounted, you will be notified via email or mobile app.

2. Set up a Budget

The main advantage of earlier preparation is creating a budget specifically for the shopping season. After reviewing your inventory and adding products to a wishlist, you should have a good idea of how much an item will cost. Begin setting aside little sums each month. 

When November sales begin, you will not have to go through the agony of parting with a large sum. You will also be less tempted to finance your purchases using a credit card (unless further reductions exist) and will avoid dealing with increasing interest rates in the long run.

3. Do Your Research

You can use tools like Google Shopping to check costs from multiple suppliers and determine where you can get the most value for your money. Price comparison platforms include product reviews, specification sheets, and filtering tools, allowing you to receive a comprehensive picture of the things you're looking for.

Other notable services include Yahoo Shopping, Shopzilla, and PriceGrabber. You should also follow your favorite retailers' social media feeds. Sharing bargains on social media is frequently part of their marketing strategy, and watching these services' social media presence can help you find the best deals and lowest rates.

4. Check Return Policies and Read the Fine Print

Some retailers vary their return policies around important shopping holidays, so study them before making a purchase. However, you should be alright provided you maintain the receipt, do not damage the item, and return it in its original packaging. 

Even with careful planning and research, not every purchase you make during these shopping holidays will be a keeper. Deals change throughout the shopping season, so don't feel bad about returning an item you bought on Black Friday and getting it cheaper from another vendor.

Shop This Black Friday to Reinvest in Your Business

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are excellent opportunities to expand your business resources and reinvest part of your hard-earned money. And now that you've learned how to make the most of the holiday shopping season, what's left to do? Get out there and shop in a way that helps you and your business!

 

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