Celebrating Small Businesses with the Homebase Top Local Workplace Awards

This year, we’re thrilled to recognize our local shops, restaurants, and services for all they do to create workplaces where teams feel valued and connected. The Homebase Top Local Workplace Awards celebrate the unsung heroes who continue to show up, innovate, and serve their neighbors with heart. Through economic ups and downs, changing consumer preferences, and the daily challenges of running a business, these small businesses continue to make a big impact in their communities.

Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities, the heart and soul of our neighborhoods. They are the embodiment of grit, resilience, and drive, fueled by the passion and dedication of the people behind them. These local businesses, often family-owned and operated, have a profound impact on the lives of those they serve and the communities they call home. Owners pour their hearts into their work, and it’s this dedication that gives our neighborhoods their distinct character and charm.

But the impact of small businesses extends far beyond the storefront. They provide opportunities for people from all walks of life, offer pathways to career growth and development, and create jobs that are more than just a paycheck. In a small business, every team member is seen as an individual, recognized for their contributions and the extra miles they go.

Making local business teams unstoppable.

We understand the unique challenges small businesses face, from managing schedules and tracking time to processing payroll and staying compliant with labor laws. Our everything app for hourly work is designed to eliminate these tedious tasks, freeing up owners and managers to focus on what matters most – growing their business and creating great experiences for their customers and teams.

We’ve spent the past ten years building tools to accelerate the advantages small businesses have always had. We automate the mundane tasks that slow teams down so small businesses can focus on what they do best. When small businesses thrive, our communities thrive.

The future of work.

Beyond saving time, we’re committed to make work radically easy and superpower local teams. We’re revolutionizing the way people get paid and giving employees the flexibility to fit work into their lives seamlessly.  With tools that reduce the burdens and headaches for owners, we help teams unlock their true potential at work making them unstoppable.

We know that when we give small business owners and managers their time back, they can invest in the passions that make their businesses unique and contribute to the character of their communities. They can focus on building strong, engaged teams and creating workplaces where people love to work.

And we’re just getting started. We have big plans to eliminate even more headaches for small business owners and enable more benefits for their teams. In a world where attracting and retaining talent is always a challenge, we want to make it easier for local businesses to compete.

When we use technology to level the playing field for small businesses, we don’t try to make them more like big corporations. Instead, we double down on the advantages they’ve always had: the ability to provide exceptional experiences to their customers and teams.

In the coming year, our goal is to save small businesses 100 million hours on tedious stuff, so they can focus on what they do best. By helping small businesses succeed, we’re not just supporting individual owners and workers – we’re investing in the health and vibrancy of our communities. We’re proud to be a part of that story.

The heart of our communities where job satisfaction thrives.

Small businesses provide more than just jobs – they offer fulfillment, satisfaction, and a sense of belonging that is often unmatched in larger corporations.

Our research at Homebase has consistently shown that job satisfaction is higher in small businesses. In our regular surveys of hourly workers, 4 out of 5 workers agree that they’re happy with their jobs overall. This satisfaction stems from the unique benefits that small businesses provide.

In a small business, every team member is seen as an individual, and their contributions are often valued and recognized. According to the 2024 Homebase Small Business Team Fulfillment Index, 86% of hourly workers reported that they enjoy their jobs more when their colleagues recognize or appreciate their hard work. However, only 66% have received a compliment in the past year. This presents a valuable opportunity for improvement, as a simple acknowledgment can have a massive impact.

The close-knit nature of these teams fosters strong relationships and a sense of belonging that goes beyond the workplace. It’s no surprise, then, that our surveys have found that team relationships consistently rank above wages as a top priority for hourly workers. 62% of owners and 64% of hourly workers ranked “relationships with coworkers” as their number one factor for loving their jobs, according to our data. 

Small businesses also offer unparalleled opportunities for growth and advancement. These establishments are the great job creators of our nation, with 46% of the workforce employed by small businesses. 

Despite the challenges of rising costs and economic uncertainty, job satisfaction on Main Street has actually increased since August. Our data also shows that  55% of hourly workers at small businesses said they were satisfied with their compensation, even as 81% saw an increase in the cost of household goods and services. 

This resilience and optimism in the face of adversity is a testament to the strength and spirit of small business teams. When small businesses win, workers win, and  local communities prosper. That’s why we believe that supporting small businesses is more than just good business – it’s an investment in the future of our neighborhoods and our nation.

Helping small businesses build the best local workplaces, effortlessly.

At Homebase, we believe that the true strength of small businesses lies in their people. When teams are united in purpose and passion, they become unstoppable. That’s why we’ve dedicated ourselves to supporting and this year – recognizing and honoring the incredible teams behind local businesses.

We’re committed to being a partner and advocating for these teams every day of the year. We’ll continue to develop tools and resources that make the day-to-day operations of running a business easier, so owners and managers can focus on what they do best – creating great experiences and building a better future for their teams and communities.

If you’re a small business owner or manager, know that you’re not in this alone. We’re here to support you, celebrate your successes, and help you build an unstoppable team. Take a moment to reflect on the incredible impact you have on your community, and know that your hard work and dedication do not go unnoticed.

To everyone else, let’s use this National Small Business Week as a catalyst for action. Let’s show up for our local businesses, not just this week, but every week. Let’s recognize the vital role they play in creating good jobs, driving innovation, and shaping the unique character of our neighborhoods.

Together, we can create a future where small businesses thrive, and where the unsung heroes behind them get the recognition and support they deserve.