Doing Well and Doing Good

There’s a story we’ve all heard in business circles: you can either make money or do good in the world, but you can’t do both. For small and mid-sized business owners, that’s not just misleading — it’s shortsighted. The truth is, plenty of small businesses already show you can do both.

Think about the neighborhood coffee shop that pays fair wages and still stays packed, even with a national chain down the street. Their employees stick around longer, which means less turnover, better service, and regulars who keep coming back because they feel known. Or consider a small accounting firm that invests in mentoring and developing junior staff. The result? Clients don’t have to re-explain their business to a new face every tax season, and the firm’s reputation for consistency becomes a selling point that draws in more referrals.

The truth is simple: when you design your business with people in mind — employees, customers, and the community around you — you create resilience. You build loyalty that outlasts price wars. You make your company a place people want to work, buy from, and recommend.

“Doing good” isn’t charity. It’s a strategy. And for smaller businesses, it’s one of the smartest long-term bets you can make.