The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), Illinois’s leading small business advocacy organization, encourages shoppers to support small businesses on November 29, 2025.

“From Chicago’s storefronts to Main Streets across Illinois, every purchase on Small Business Saturday helps our local entrepreneurs build more than just a business—it builds our community’s future,” said NFIB Illinois State Director Noah Finley. “Our small businesses are the backbone of our local communities, and we should support them not only on Small Business Saturday, but every day of the year.”

According to October’s NFIB Small Business Optimism report, a net negative 13% of all small business owners (seasonally adjusted) reported higher nominal sales in the past three months, down 6 points from September. Small Business Saturday presents an opportunity to boost sales and the overall economy.

Small Business Saturday began in 2010 to help local shops and restaurants bring in more customers after the Great Recession. Last year, shoppers spent an estimated $22 billion at locally owned businesses nationwide. Every purchase made on November 29th sends a powerful, localized investment directly into the heart of our communities.