While large companies are typically the ones to get most of the attention, it’s small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that truly pump life into the American economy. According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), there are 32.4 million SMBs throughout the country, making up 99.9% of all U.S. companies. They’re also responsible for 43.5% of the U.S. gross domestic product.
As a company whose mission is to keep small business in business, we were looking for a way to celebrate the massive contribution of SMBs. That’s how we came up with the Melio Pays the Bills campaign. It’s our way to acknowledge the efforts and entrepreneurial spirits of small businesses by chipping in to cover some of their many expenses.
How it started
In November 2021, we launched the campaign on Twitter, prompting followers to tell us which bills they’d like us to help cover with the hashtag #MelioPaysTheBills. This way we supported both the winning business and their vendor, who got extra exposure on our feed. The best responses each month receive a prize of up to $500.
The best thing about this campaign is that we’ve gotten to know so many small businesses and hear about their challenges and growth efforts. And we love it. The campaign will continue throughout 2022, but after seeing the impact it’s had so far, we decided to expand it to our other social media channels, including Instagram and Facebook, so we could reach even more small businesses.
By the end of this year, we plan to give away $50,000 to support small businesses from all industries.
Meet (some of) the winners
As of early April, we have already helped around 30 small businesses pay their bills. Below are three that really touched our hearts.
It’s Seasoned
West Chester, Pennsylvania-based It’s Seasoned produces and distributes spice and herb blends, with a focus on low-sodium, healthier seasoning choices. Its blends are made from natural ingredients with no artificial flavoring or additives and are vegan-friendly. The company sells its products nationwide through its online shop.
It’s Seasoned used the $500 it got from Melio to pay a social media manager. The company recently decided to contract one to increase exposure and brand awareness in order to bring the joy of balanced and healthy seasoning to more homes.
Prescription Joy
Based in New Orleans, Prescription Joy (a.k.a. RxJoy) is a medical clowning nonprofit that provides emotional support to families dealing with the fear and stress of illness or loss. The organization was founded in 2018 and employs healthcare clowns trained to perform in sensitive environments. The clowns help those undergoing a healing process and their loved ones reconnect using imaginative interactions.
Prescription Joy is a member of the North American Federation of Healthcare Clowns (NAFHCO) that works to uphold the standards and best practices of the trade. The organization employs seven clowns currently operating in four hospitals.
Melio’s $500 prize helped Prescription Joy cover a visit by a healthcare clowning team to one of the hospitals they work with. This included compensation to the clowns for their time and skills, materials, insurance, and overhead costs.
Life is Deleesh
Founded by New York-based marketing specialist Delesia Watson, Life is Deleesh is an online copywriting studio for beauty, fashion, and travel brands. Fueled by her love for language and entrepreneurial spirit, Delesia curates compelling copy to help premium brands attract high-end clientele.
Life is Deleesh used the $100 it got from Melio to pay for digital subscriptions that are crucial to the day-to-day operations of the business, including email hosting and graphic design software.
Want Melio to pay your bills too?
All you have to do is:
- Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.
- Using the hashtag #MelioPaysTheBills, tell us about the bill you want us to cover.
- Check your inbox to find out if you’ve won. This could mean $100, $250, or $500 to help take care of your bills.
Don’t have a Melio account yet? Sign up here in just a few clicks to get started.
*This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended as financial advice.
**Melio does not provide legal, tax or accounting advice, and you should consult with a professional advisor before making any financial decisions.
