How Small Businesses Can Get Involved in Their Community (and Why It Matters More Than Ever)

By Ryan Prutsman — 8-Ball Consulting

When I started 8-Ball Consulting, one thing became clear fast:
Small businesses don’t just survive on algorithms — they thrive on relationships.

And relationships are built in the community long before they're built online.

For me, community involvement isn’t something I do to “check a box.” It’s part of who I am — rooted in my faith, my desire to lift people up, and the belief that life feels fuller when you’re serving others. Over the last few years, I’ve gotten involved in a handful of organizations that have changed me, stretched me, and grounded me. And I’ve realized something:

Every small business can make a bigger impact — and earn more trust — by stepping out into the community.

So today, I want to share what I personally do and, more importantly, what you can do as a business owner to get involved and make a real difference.

1. Give Your Time to Local Causes That Matter to You

Service starts with showing up — even when nobody knows your business, and even when there’s no “marketing angle” attached to it.

COMBA — Serving the Trails I Ride

I spend a lot of time on a mountain bike, and the trails I ride don’t maintain themselves. That’s why I volunteer with COMBA (Colorado Mountain Biking Association). We build trails, clean up debris, keep the mountains beautiful, and support responsible outdoor recreation.

What surprised me most?
You build stronger friendships with strangers carrying shovels than you do scrolling online.

Food For Thought Denver — Feeding Kids Facing Food Insecurity

Every week during the school year, I volunteer with Food For Thought Denver at the MSU campus. We pack weekend food bags for kids who depend on school meals. It’s fast, high-energy, and humbling.

You walk in with a coffee…
And you walk out grateful you even have a coffee.

Youth with a Mission, Homes for Hope — Serving Families in Tijuana

One of the most powerful experiences I’ve ever had was traveling to Tijuana, Mexico, to build homes for families who have almost nothing. You spend a few days serving side-by-side with people who remind you what gratitude actually looks like.

Moments like that force you to get out of your head… and into your heart.

These three things keep me grounded, connected, and aligned with why I started 8-Ball in the first place — to help people.

2. Look for Simple Ways Your Business Can Lift Others Up

Not everything has to be a big trip or an organized event. In fact, most of the community involvement that actually builds trust happens in the small moments.

Support Other Local Businesses

Whenever possible, I walk into local businesses, introduce myself, learn their story, and see how 8-Ball Consulting can help them grow.

Not because I’m trying to sell them something — but because small businesses are the backbone of every community.

That connection you make face-to-face can change everything for someone.

Share Other Businesses Online

If you want to get involved in your community but feel overwhelmed, start here:

Share their posts.
Leave reviews.
Tag them.
Send them a referral.

You have no idea how much a single share or review can mean for a small business owner trying to get out from behind the 8-ball.

3. Use Your Skills to Serve

Not everyone has time to volunteer every week. But every business has something they’re good at — and there’s always someone who needs that skill.

If you’re a:

• photographer — your photos can help a nonprofit raise donations

• fitness coach — your classes can help fund a charity

• accountant — you can help a small organization get their books straight

• marketer (like me) — you can help a business become more visible

Your skills are one of the most valuable gifts you can offer.

4. Make Community a Part of Your Brand

This is where the marketing side of me comes in.

When your business is consistently seen serving the community, something powerful happens:

You build credibility, authenticity, and visibility — without even trying.

People don’t want to hire businesses that only care about making money.
They want to hire businesses that care about people.

When you step into your community, share your heart, and serve others, your brand becomes bigger than your business.

It becomes part of the neighborhood.

5. Start Small — but Start

If you’ve been feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or you're not sure how to get involved, here’s my advice:

Start with one thing.
Seriously — just one.

That’s how all of my involvement started.

And once you start serving, something flips in you.
Your business grows.
Your character grows.
Your relationships grow.

It’s hard to explain, but service has a way of pulling you out of your own head and putting you back into your purpose.

6. Faith, Service, and Business — They Work Together

I believe God puts people in our path for a reason. I’ve seen it too many times in my life, from strangers who showed me love when I needed it most, to moments where serving others gave me clarity I couldn’t find anywhere else.

Service sharpens your heart.
Community sharpens your purpose.
And both sharpen your business.

When small businesses serve, whole communities rise.

Final Thoughts

If you want to grow your business, build trust, and create a brand people actually believe in — get involved. Give your time. Use your skills. Show up where you're needed.

The return on investment isn’t just in revenue…
It’s in the relationships, the gratitude, and the meaning you build along the way.

This is how you Get Out From Behind the 8-Ball — not just in business, but in life.