Tipping All Those Small Business Service Providers

Ah, that annual dilemma: how much do you tip all the service providers that serve you throughout the year?  Many of those service providers are self-employed small business people.

CNNMoney has the answers, in a comprehensive article, The ultimate holiday tipping guide.

Over at Business Know How, they’ve compiled a Holiday Tipping Guide for Small Business Owners — focusing on tipping service providers that provide support to small businesses. But many of those service providers are themselves small businesses, so that’s why I’ve included the article here.

If you are in New York, there’s also this article that speaks about tipping in New York City — apparently expectations of tipping are even higher there.  

Or, if you prefer to see it in pictures, CNBC has a holiday tipping slideshow.

Now here’s a suggestion to understand how small business service providers look at things: if you are tempted to give a small gift in lieu of a tip, remember that cash will be preferred by most small business owners. If you want to give a gift, then make it a small gift along with the cash, and not in lieu of cash.  A box of fine chocolates, or some cookies or a bottle of wine are all nice — but together with a little extra cash.  Cash is king.

For many service providers that extra cash envelope at year end not only helps them have a pleasant holiday — they rely on it.  They may be hoping for cash in order to finish their own holiday shopping. Some almost expect it. I’m not saying that’s right or wrong, just that it’s a fact of life.