Small business Saturday vs Black Friday

Imagine you bought a TV on Black Friday a few years ago. It was a great deal: $900 for a 55-inch model that normally sold for $1,100. So, you saved $200. Good & I appreciate your shopping calculations.

Two days later, you went to a local art market for Small Business Saturday. You found a handmade coffee table for $200. The woodworker who made it spent 20 minutes explaining his process. He showed you the grain, the joinery, the finish. And you bought it.

Still that coffee table is in your living room, but, the TV was replaced three years ago. What does it mean? Black Friday is about price. On the other hand, Small Business Saturday is about value, and sometimes that value lasts longer.

By writing this hypothetical story, I don’t mean that I am against any events or a fanatic for a specific one. In my opinion, you should shop in both holiday events. And today’s article is all about it. In this article, you will learn what to buy where. Let’s continue:

Finance Ideas AI snippet box | Tapos Kumar

Why is Small Business Saturday spending declining?

There could be many reasons, but based on my analysis, inflation & AI layoffs are the main reasons. Let me share some data that I have found. American Express reported $18 billion in SBS spending in 2025, hmm, an 18% drop from $22 billion in 2024. The reason is inflation.

Constant Contact’s Q2 2026 report found that 49% of U.S. consumers said rising costs forced them to cut back on spending at small businesses. Yeah, Americans love small businesses; 27% now say they shop mostly at small businesses, up from 10% in 2021, but affection doesn’t pay the bills, right?

Can we expect more spending to decline at the recent Small Business Saturday? Historical data tell us yes, because consumers become more cautious before spending any dollars.

I analyzed price & value to compare Small Business Saturday vs. Black Friday?

I selected key shopping factors and analyzed them against historical performance data. I mainly focused on value, local contribution, big savings, and money flow.

I hope you will find this table effective. Let’s read them:

Factors	Black Friday	Small Business Saturday
Primary appeal	Price (deep discounts)	Value (unique products, community)
Best for	Big-ticket electronics, appliances	Gifts, handmade items, local experiences
Typical discount	25–50% off	10–20% off
Shopping experience	Crowded, fast-paced, transactional	Personal, conversational, relationship-building
Where the money goes	Corporate headquarters, shareholders	Local jobs, local suppliers, community programs
Product uniqueness	Mass-produced, widely available	Handmade, one-of-a-kind
Return policy	Standard (varies by retailer)	Open i.e., owner’s decision

My 68-cent rule for seeing where the money goes?

According to the landmark American Express Small Business Economic Impact Study, $68 of every $100 spent at a U.S. small business stays entirely within the local economy. By contrast, Civic Economics data show that when consumers spend $100 at a major national chain store, as little as $14 of that revenue stays local.

Allow me to share the data in the table:

Where You Spend	Money that stays local	Data sources
Independent small retailer	$68	American Express Shop Small Study
National chain store	$13.60 to $14	Civic Economics / AMIBA Benchmarks
Independent restaurant	$79	Statista / Civic Economics Records
Chain restaurant	$30	Statista / Civic Economics Records

I also compare category & suggest which events are best?

Category	Best day in my view	Why?
TVs	Black Friday	Doorbuster pricing, hmm, 25–30% off
Large appliances	Black Friday	20–27% off
Gaming consoles	Black Friday	Bundles and new releases
Laptops (Premium)	Black Friday	40–60% off premium models
Toys (Mass-Market)	Black Friday	27–28% off, but sell out fast
Handmade gifts	Small Business Saturday	Unique, local, & customizable
Local art	Small Business Saturday	One-of-a-kind pieces
Boutique clothing	Small Business Saturday	Curated, unique styles
Artisan food & coffee	Small Business Saturday	Local sourcing, small-batch
Experiences (Classes, workshops)	Small Business Saturday	Local businesses offer unique experiences
Restaurant meals	Small Business Saturday	Support local dining

You should allocate budget for both shopping events?

According to my research, Gen Z is the largest generation that plans early or participates in Black Friday & Small Business Saturday. Then, the largest participants are Gen X & Boomers. However, Gen X & Boomers control spending power, i.e., they spend more dollars than Gen Z.

I don’t know which generation you are, but budgeting applies to all. We can’t give up long-term shopping behavior. Because, psychologically, it has become an emotional part of our lives.

With that in mind, I created a budget table for Black Friday & Small Business Saturday. I hope you will find it helpful in this inflationary economy. Let’s read it:

Budget category	Black Friday	Small Business Saturday
Big-ticket items	70–80% of budget	—
Gifts	20–30% of budget	50–60% of budget
Unique finds	—	30–40% of budget
Local experiences	—	10–20% of budget

Say your total holiday budget is $1,000. Your actual budget could be higher, but I am using this as a standard for all Americans.

For Black Friday, allocate $700 for a TV, laptop, or appliance. And for Small Business Saturday, $300 for gifts, handmade items, and local experiences. Now you might ask, why should I allocate more to Black Friday, i.e., 70% for Black Friday & 30% for Small Business Saturday? The reason is simple: Black Friday is for big-ticket items (major national retailers and deep discounts) & Small Business Saturday is for lower‑ticket items (local goods, gifts, food, crafts).

My neutral shopping advice?

Please, don’t shop for unnecessary items. Think twice before shopping. I am recommending this because inflation hit everyone. So, be selective & rely on a modest budget.

If you are facing an income crisis, adopt the 70/20/10 rule. You could face earning problems because no one is safe due to AI & as per my analysis, more layoffs are going to happen because of AI. So, what is the 70/20/10 budget rule? It means 70% for essential needs, 20% for discretionary spending like shopping & 10% for zero income or layoff chance.

Please control impulse buying. I talked about it in my Black Friday articles. You might be in a hurry, so here’s a tip: make a shopping list before the sales start. Don’t fall for big-discount trends, & also calculate tax and shipping costs.

Quick Q/A: Reader’s Most Asked?

Should shoppers choose one day over the other?

Look, I will share my opinion. Yeah, you can get better advice from deal sites, community forums & AI shopping tools.

Anyway, come to the question. Based on my analysis, no; instead, you should choose both events systematically.

For example, you can buy big-ticket items on Black Friday when discounts are deepest. Similarly, buy gifts and unique items on Small Business Saturday, when the value and community impact are highest. I hope my answer helps you.

Finance Ideas TLDR | Tapos Kumar

Shop Black Friday for: TVs, appliances, electronics, gaming consoles, i.e., big-ticket items with deep discounts.
Shop Small Business Saturday for: Unique gifts, handmade items, local experiences, and items you can’t find at big-box stores.
Buy big-ticket items on Black Friday, then shop for gifts and unique items on Small Business Saturday.
The 68 cents of every dollar spent at a small business stays in the local community, compared to as little as 14 cents for chains.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Small Business Saturday vs. Black Friday?

When is Small Business Saturday 2026?

November 28, 2026, i.e., the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Do small businesses offer Black Friday deals too?

I found some do. But most small businesses focus their promotions on Small Business Saturday. Hmm, I recommend checking individual stores’ social media for details.

How many people shop on Small Business Saturday?

Based on my recent study, about 67 million shoppers participated in Small Business Saturday.

Is Small Business Saturday only for in-store shopping?

No. I found that many small businesses also offer SBS deals online. So, check their websites and social media.

Do small businesses price match?

Usually, no. This is because small businesses don’t have the margins to price match big-box retailers. So, don’t expect it.

Tapos’s last thought

So, you should shop at both. Small Business Saturday is designed to promote & respect the local community, where Black Friday is for national retailers. So, shopping on Small Business Saturday means you help create local jobs and strengthen the U.S. economy by increasing local tax revenue.

And, my article explains how you can support both shopping events. Good luck with your shopping. I hope you spend every dollar effectively. Bye!

References & Sources

Below is the lists of sources that I have used to write this article [You can also visit these site for self- study. By doing this, you can verify my information also]:

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is just the author’s view & only for educational purposes. This guide is not for promotion or affiliate purpose. By reading this, you agree that the information is not personal finance advice. Do your research before making your black Friday plan. Therefore, Finance Ideas will not be liable for your financial loss if occur.

Tapos Kumar

I am an accounting graduate & founder of financeideas.org. I started my academic career as a researcher and accounting teacher & published many research papers in different international journals. I am a member researcher of the ResearchGate & Social Science research network. I have also worked as an accountant and financial analyst for the industry. I write about cryptocurrency, personal finance, insurance, investment, & banking.