How does SmallGyfts help local businesses get more referrals?

SmallGyfts helps local businesses turn happy customers into repeat buyers and warm referrals. After a sale, you give customers a branded card with a discount that brings them back. They can also share the card with friends, family, and neighbors. If you offer the community donation feature, customers can direct a donation from your business to a local cause they care about, putting your name in front of entire networks of potential customers.

Can a business offer both a discount and a community donation?

Yes. The front of the card gives customers a discount for their next purchase. If you add the donation feature, the back of the card lets customers direct a donation from your business to a local cause they care about. The donation feature is optional and can be added at any time.

How much does SmallGyfts cost compared to lead generation platforms?

SmallGyfts is free to start with digital cards. The community donation feature is pay-as-you-go with no monthly fees. Physical cards start at $2.00 each with a minimum order of 250. Unlike lead platforms where you pay per lead and compete with other businesses, SmallGyfts gives you exclusive referrals from people who already trust the person who sent them.

What types of businesses use SmallGyfts?

SmallGyfts works for any local business that values repeat customers and word-of-mouth referrals, including home services contractors, auto dealers, restaurants, salons, retail shops, and professional services. Any business where happy customers can bring in new ones will benefit.

How do the community donations work?

You purchase donation credits and set the donation amount on your cards. When customers redeem, they choose a local cause to receive the donation. The donation comes from your business, and the cause and its supporters start hearing your name. Credits are only used when redeemed, never expire, and unused credits are fully refundable.

Do I need the donation feature or can I just use the discount cards?

You can use SmallGyfts either way. Discount-only cards give customers a reason to come back and something to hand to friends. Adding the community donation feature expands your reach by putting your name in front of entire networks of potential customers through local churches, schools, and community groups. Many businesses start with discounts only and add donations later.

How do I record SmallGyfts payments in my bookkeeping?

SmallGyfts payments are recorded as marketing or advertising expenses, the same category you use for Google Ads or Angi. Simply categorize all payments as marketing expense. It is fully tax-deductible as an ordinary business expense.

Who handles the tax reporting and 1099 forms?

SmallGyfts handles all tax reporting and 1099 forms for local causes. Businesses simply purchase credits from SmallGyfts and deduct it as a marketing expense. If a cause receives over $600 in donations during a calendar year, SmallGyfts issues them a 1099-MISC.

What if I want to cancel?

During the 30-day free trial there is nothing to cancel — just stop using the account and it will shift to read-only. After you subscribe, all paid tiers (Business Entry, Business Pro, Community Host) can be cancelled anytime with no fees. Unused donation credits are refundable.

What is a SmallGyfts Concierge Community?

A Concierge Community is a curated network of preferred local businesses, services, and experiences built by professionals like financial planners, realtors, and auto dealers. Clients carry one premium branded card that gives them access to perks at all participating businesses.

How do SmallGyfts reward cards work?

Businesses design branded reward cards (digital or physical) and share them with customers. Cards can include discounts, community access, or referral incentives. When a card is sent, an automated four-email follow-up sequence is triggered to drive engagement.

How much does SmallGyfts cost?

SmallGyfts has three public business tiers. Business Entry and Business Pro both include a 30-day free trial. Business Entry is $249/month after the trial and includes the branded profile, digital and physical reward cards, donation tags, automated email sequences, Google review integration, visitor analytics, and listing in Givers Near Me. Business Pro is $349/month after the trial and adds one-touch outreach, the Anser AI chatbot, push notifications to past visitors, Zapier CRM integration, and referral analytics. Community Host is $499/month and adds a branded concierge community page and community-level deal management.

How does SmallGyfts support nonprofits?

SmallGyfts gives nonprofits, churches, schools, and community groups free passive revenue from local business referrals. Businesses can include a donation option with their reward cards, allowing customers to direct contributions to causes they choose. Causes pay nothing to participate. The separate SmallGyfts, Inc. 501(c)(3) at smallgyfts.org operates community programs funded by platform sponsorships.

SmallGyfts — Turn Happy Customers Into Repeat Business and Warm Referrals

Item: SmallGyfts
Rating: 5
Author: Roland B., Hallman MSP

SmallGyfts is a referral-marketing platform for local businesses that redirects your marketing dollars to your customers and community instead of ads. Branded reward cards turn satisfied customers into repeat buyers and warm referrals, with optional small donations supporting customers' favorite local causes. Lower marketing costs, better results, bigger community impact.

What SmallGyfts Does

Grow your business by thanking customers with small donations to local causes. Earn warm referrals from a community of passionate advocates who want your business to succeed because when you win, the community wins.

Three Steps to Your Success

Set Up Your Card — Upload your logo, customize your reward card, and send your first card to customers via email in minutes.
Share With Customers — Order your cards, hand them out after every sale, or send digital cards by email.
Watch It Work — Customers bring the cards back to redeem their cash. Friends and neighbors show up with your cards. Your referrals and sales grow.

Pricing

Start free on the Platform tier ($0/month, 10% surcharge on donation credit top-ups). Upgrade to Business Entry ($249/month) for the full marketing-automation layer with 0% surcharge on donation credits, branded reward cards, automated 4-email follow-up sequence, Google review integration, and customer scanning. Business Pro ($349/month) adds Anser AI chatbot, two-way customer chat, and CRM/Zapier integration. Community Host ($499/month) adds a branded concierge community page and curated network of local businesses. No contracts; cancel anytime.

Who SmallGyfts Is For

Local businesses — referral marketing + customer loyalty without ad spend. Visit /bsignup for details.
Causes and nonprofits — earn passive donation revenue from local business referrals. Visit /csignup for details.
Partners and agents — earn recurring commission referring businesses to SmallGyfts. Visit /partners for details.
Members — support local causes simply by shopping with participating businesses. Visit /login for details.

Read the full home-services + referrals research library at /insights/01-insights-landing.html. SmallGyfts.com operates in Washtenaw County, Michigan and serves businesses nationwide.

SmallGyfts — Turn Happy Customers Into Repeat Business and Warm Referrals

What SmallGyfts Does

Three Steps to Your Success

Pricing

Who SmallGyfts Is For

TURN HAPPY CUSTOMERS INTO REPEAT BUSINESS

Picture This

Home Services - Finish the Job. Get more Customers.

Big Presence

Your customers already trust you.

What Our Community Says

Three Steps to Your Success

Set Up Your Card

Share With Customers

Watch It Work

Simple Pricing. Powerful Results.

BUSINESS ENTRY

BUSINESS PRO

COMMUNITY HOST

Design Your Own Custom Cards

Thank your customers

How It Works

The Tools

Donation Credits

SmallGyfts 4EVR Adhesive Tags

SmallGyfts 4EVR Reward Cards

The Processes

Create your card

Redeeming the promotion

Redeeming community donations

Other Questions

What if I want to cancel?

Can I get a refund on unused credits?

Who handles the tax reporting?

Contact Us