Myself and millions of other Americans work for a type of small business, whether that be in the food, clothing, or any other type of industry. I recently just started working at Tripp’s Kafe, a local small businesses in my area.

The feeling of working for a small business is like no other. You feel appreciated and important, which is vital for all employees to feel that way in the workplace. When workers feel needed, their job performance excels. When working for a small business, you are not just a number; you are a person who has needs and wants in their job and life in general. With saying that, the majority of small business owners take that into consideration.

I have compiled a list of reasons as to why working for a small business has made my working experience thus far a great one.

1. Sense of Community

Working for a small business, in a sense, feels like family. There is not “one person” running the show. It takes the whole team to make the company successful. As the saying goes, “It takes a village.”

2. Supporting Local Businesses

Shopping local holds meaning to be because it keeps my community's shops alive and well. Additionally, supporting local business helps boost the town's economic status.

3. You’ll Make Relationships

Some of the customers at my job are some of the coolest people I have ever met. Since I work at a gluten-free cafe, a lot of the customers are GF as well, just like me! Who knew bonding over a food allergy is something that I do at my job.

Being able to have strong relationships with customers is vital for businesses because a form of trust is made, making them frequent shoppers.

4. The Owners/Employees Are Not There For The Money; They Are There For The Customers

Time and time again I have heard my bosses say that they wouldn’t be as successful without the support of their customers. In the three months I have worked there, I can understand how important it is to have a strong customer base. Without them, Tripp’s wouldn’t be where it is today. In fact, all small businesses wouldn’t be where they are today without their customers.

What is so unique about the company I work for is that we are allergy-friendly, which is a big deal to many of our customers. Individuals who have a gluten, dairy, or soy allergy typically have a difficult time eating out, due to a chance of cross-contamination or even just a lack of choices on the menu. But at Tripp’s, everything is GF, and we have many dairy, and soy-free options as well.

Working for the small business that Tripp’s Kafe is makes it meaningful to work there. I know myself and my coworkers put a smile on our customer’s face when we tell them, “Yes, we are 100% gluten free.” Sometimes in life, you work to simply get a paycheck. But working at Tripp’s is more than that for me; it’s being able to cater to individual's allergy needs, and of course, making kick-ass gluten-free food.