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The Best Black Friday Deals for Small Business Owners (2022 Update)

Have you been planning to invest in some new tools for your business but just couldn’t bring yourself to pay full price (especially in this economy)? If you can wait, it’s definitely worth holding out for Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals.

For small business owners, the U.S. Thanksgiving shopping season is a perfect opportunity to refresh inventory and acquire new business equipment on a budget. Although deals are still on the horizon, it’s always a good idea to prepare early on and be ready to buy when they arrive.

But what, exactly, are the best Black Friday deals for small businesses this year? What are the major sales you don’t want to miss? And how can you take advantage of the Monday following (which offers even more sales online!) to make the purchases you need to move your business forward in the year ahead?

Let’s look at everything you need to know to make the most out of the shopping holiday that is Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year.

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

There’s been some disagreement about when and where the term Black Friday originated. The most accurate account seems to link its origins with the ruckus that occurred in Philadelphia in the 1950s.

In preparation for the annual Army-Navy football game, city police would have their hands full—controlling crowds, preventing theft, and handling increased traffic in the city. Given the unfavorable circumstances, law enforcement officers designated the Friday after Thanksgiving “Black Friday.” It wasn’t until much later that the holiday started to be associated with post-Thanksgiving shopping.

On the other hand, Cyber Monday came into existence as an extension of the shopping season. The term was coined in 2005 to describe the online sales spike observed on the first Monday after Thanksgiving. You can think of it as Black Friday’s little brother that focuses on online shopping.

Here are some interesting insights into the 2 shopping days:

• The National Retail Federation (NRF) reported that nearly 180 million Americans shopped during the 2021 shopping season. Between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, spending averaged $301.27 per person.
• According to data from Adobe, consumers spent a record-breaking $34.4 billion during Cyber Week (which includes Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday) in 2020—a 20.7% increase from the previous year. That number fell slightly in 2021 to 33.9%—a 1.4% year-over-year decrease.
• A survey by BlackFriday.com found that the most popular categories of items during the last Black Friday were apparel (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 asking yourself: “Should I jump on it?”

If you’ve been planning a business purchase for quite some time but wanted to wait for better deals, the answer is a resounding yes. Whether it’s a new desk or an updated piece of software, pushing the decision to later in the year—and taking advantage of Black Friday deals or Cyber Monday sales—can help you save some serious cash.

Another reason small businesses should consider postponing purchases to the shopping holiday season? Because you can score great deals on bundles during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. For instance, many retailers (both in-store and online) offer laptops and desktop computers bundled with software you’d have to pay more for if you purchased them separately.

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

Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals can be a major shopping win for small businesses. But is shopping on this holiday weekend always the right move?

And the answer is—it depends.

If you don’t actually need to purchase something, it doesn’t matter how good of a deal you get. Ultimately, it’s an unnecessary purchase—and a waste of your business income.

For example, if you see a Black Friday ad that’s offering great deals on small business software—but that small business software isn’t relevant to your business? It’s not a good investment—even if the price tag is a total steal.

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

Where Can You Find the Best Shopping Deals?

For many, the hunt for great deals is part of the allure of this shopping season. But if you don’t feel like browsing scores of websites to make a purchase, you should check out the following vendors first.

Computers and Mobile Devices

On the lookout for computers, mobile devices, and additional tech for your small business? Here are some places you’ll want to look:

Major Retailers

As usual, the best places to look for tech items will be Amazon, eBay, Best Buy, and Walmart. Each vendor has a track history of substantial discounts on notebooks, desktop computers, tablets, and TVs, so be sure to check them out.

Individual Manufacturers

You should also pay attention to major manufacturers like Dell, HP, or Lenovo. For example, Dell has already announced a host of Black Friday deals on their holiday shopping landing page—including discounts on laptops and workstations. Lenovo has also already rolled out Black Friday doorbuster sales, where you can pick up business notebooks, tablets, and workstations for as much as 70% off regular retail prices.

Smart Home and Office

IoT (internet of things) devices are becoming increasingly popular in our homes. So why not use Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals to future-proof your surroundings and smarten up your home office?

Amazon

Amazon is often the first place to look for exclusive deals on Alexa-enabled smart speakers, intelligent door locks, smart plugs, and a whole range of security systems that will make your home office more connected and you more productive.

Google Store

Google Store offers yet another motherlode of bargains that you’ll want to check out this November. While most deals typically aren’t announced until shortly before the holiday, you can expect significant discounts on smart home devices like Nest doorbells and thermostats or Google Home speakers.

VPN and Antivirus Software

Digital security is a key concern for those running a small business these days (read this article on digital security to learn why). If you don’t use a VPN (virtual private network) and antivirus software yet, you should brush up and hunt for deals in this department.

Popular VPN provider NordVPN’s Black Friday deal—which includes 3 months free with every 2-year plan—can help your company save a whopping 68% on VPN costs. You can expect similar deals from other popular VPN providers like ExpressVPN or Tunnelbear.

Antivirus software is another small business essential that typically goes on sale during this time, so monitor your favorite antivirus providers like Avast, Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, or McAfee for deals. Many of these providers have been known to cut costs by up to 75%.

Other Business Software

Speaking of software, chances are, you use several software products to keep your business moving forward—whether that’s accounting software, email marketing software, project management software, or customer management software (Or all of the above!)

Many software companies offer holiday discounts to their customers, ranging from free upgrades to discounts on memberships and subscriptions. If there’s software you’re already using—or are considering adding to your tech stack—make sure to check their website for any relevant Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals.

Domains and Hosting

If you feel your company website could use an upgrade (or you’re still considering creating one), you might want to look out for upcoming deals from domain vendors and hosting service providers.

Every major provider (from GoDaddy to SiteGround and HostGator) is known for offering incredible savings during this time of year. While deals vary by provider, the discounts can run up to 75% off for annual plans and include cheaper domain names across several vendors.

On that note, if you need help creating your company website or a portfolio, read this article on creating an online portfolio.

Stationery and Office Supplies

Black Friday weekend is also an excellent opportunity to restock home office supplies and stationery or churn out branded marketing materials. Since you’ll be shopping close to the holiday season, you could also consider ordering seasonal gifts for your customers. Keep an eye out for can’t-miss deals at retailers like Staples and Office Depot and print-0n-demand platforms like Vistaprint and Moo.

Business Education

Black Friday shopping weekend is not only about tangible assets. Every savvy business owner knows self-education is paramount if your company wants to prosper. Therefore, you should be vigilant about finding affordable learning opportunities.

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 of expanding your skill set? The rising popularity of MOOC (massive open online courses) means more deals popping up each year. It might be a good idea to check online learning sites like Udacity, Udemy, FutureLearn, and EdX for exclusive offers and promo codes for their courses.

4 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Buying Tips

Want to maximize the benefit of this holiday shopping season? Here are some tips to help you make the most of Black Friday and Cyber Monday (and take your business to the next level in the process).

1. Create a Wishlist

Before you roll up your sleeves and start hunting for deals, you should have a solid idea of what you need and why you need it in the first place. Give your inventory an honest review and decide where to best allocate your money.

Many online retailers (like Amazon, Best Buy, or eBay) allow registered users to create wishlists where they can add the items they’re planning to buy. You’ll be notified via email or mobile app whenever an item from your list gets discounted.

2. Set up a Budget

The key benefit of advanced planning is building up a budget exclusively for the shopping season. Once you’ve reviewed your inventory and added items to a wishlist, you more or less know how much an item is going to cost you. Start setting aside small sums each month.

When November sales hit, you won’t have to deal with the anguish of parting with a lump sum. You also won’t be tempted to finance the purchases with your credit card (consider that only if additional discounts apply) and will avoid dealing with soaring interest in the long run.

3. Do Your Research

You can use tools like Google Shopping to compare prices across several vendors and see where you can get the best bang for your buck. Price comparison platforms come with product reviews, spec sheets, and filtering options, so you get a complete overview of the items you’re looking for.

Other noteworthy services include Yahoo Shopping, Shopzilla, and PriceGrabber. You should also monitor your favorite retailers’ social media posts. Often, sharing deals on social media is part of their marketing strategy—and monitoring these services’ social media presence can help you snag the best deals and lowest prices.

4. Check Return Policies and Read the Fine Print

Some retailers tend to change their return policies during major shopping holidays, so be sure to read them before committing to a purchase. That said, you should be fine if you keep the receipt, don’t damage the item, and return it in the original packaging.

Even with solid planning and diligent research, not every purchase you make on these shopping holidays will be a keeper. Deals fluctuate across the shopping season, so don’t feel bad about returning an item you got on Black Friday and buying it for less from a different vendor.

Shop This Black Friday to Reinvest in Your Business

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are perfect opportunities to beef up your business resources and reinvest some of that hard-earned cash. And now that you know how to make the most of the holiday shopping season, all that’s left to do? Get out there and shop in a way that benefits you and your business!

This post was updated in November 2022.