6 Ways Pro Bono Can Help Your Small Business

Small businesses across the country are hurting right now—navigating repeated closures, supply chain problems, and slowed services—all while working night and day to figure out how to recover. Would professional advice and expertise in business strategy help your team bounce back? Pro bono could play a key role in your recovery strategy. Main Street America, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, released findings from their survey on the impact of COVID-19 on small businesses. Certainly we know the most urgent need for many businesses is financial backing, but respondents also identified “guidance on how to modify my business model,” “technical training on social media,” and “website development and e-commerce” as other types of assistance they’re looking for. These are all areas where pro bono can help.

The difference pro bono can make

At Taproot we know just how powerful pro bono support can be for nonprofits facing tough challenges—a single call with an expert can have a major impact. That’s why we’re making this same resource available to small businesses like yours through consultation sessions on our online matchmaking platform Taproot Plus.

What are these consultation sessions? They’re 60-minute virtual conversations with business experts to troubleshoot or brainstorm any challenge you’re having in marketing, HR, technology, strategy, or finance. Your volunteer will provide free, high-quality consultative support to help you tackle the issues affecting your business.

What can you accomplish in a 60-minute conversation with a business expert? We’ve got a few ideas:

• Talk with an HR professional about the policies you need for bringing your staff safely back to the office or for extended work-from-home.
• Connect with a strategy expert on how you can modify your business model to be more flexible in times of flux.
• Brainstorm creative, fresh strategies to engage your customers on social media with a marketing pro.
• Explore different types of e-commerce platforms for your website with a web developer or e-commerce professional.
• Pick the brain of a change management expert if you’re considering downsizing your staff.
• Discuss the communications you’ll need to notify your customer base of re-opening plans with a communications professional.

If you’re a small business interested in pro bono consultations or brainstorming support, visit Taproot Plus for Small Businesses to sign up and get started (for free, of course).