AI Prompts for Small Business Owners

"Act as a local marketing expert. Brainstorm 5 low-budget, high-impact guerrilla marketing ideas for a [Type of Local Business, e.g., independent coffee shop]. Focus on driving foot traffic within a 2-mile radius without using paid digital ads. Suggest community partnerships or experiential stunts."

"Draft a professional and empathetic response email to a customer who left a 1-star review complaining about [Specific Complaint, e.g., slow service and a cold meal]. The tone should take ownership without groveling, offer to make it right via [Specific Offer], and take the conversation offline by providing a direct phone number."

"Create a step-by-step Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for opening the store every morning for a [Business Type]. Include: unlocking procedures, POS system initialization, prep work, and lighting/music setup. Format it as an easy-to-read checklist for a high school employee."

"Draft a polite but firm email to our primary supplier of [Goods/Materials]. We have been a loyal customer for [X years] but need to reduce costs. Request a 10% volume discount or extending Net-30 payment terms to Net-60. Frame it as wanting to grow our partnership rather than making a threat."

"Write a 200-word job description for a [Role, e.g., Shift Supervisor] at my local business. Be honest about the physical demands (e.g., standing for 8 hours) but highlight the perks (e.g., flexible scheduling, free meals, respectful environment). State the hourly wage range clearly."

"Draft a short promotional email blast to our subscriber list of 500 loyal customers. We are experiencing a slow month and want to offer a "Secret Menu Item" or a "Buy One, Get One 50% Off" special valid only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Keep the vibe local and appreciative."

"Explain the process of building a 13-week cash flow model for a seasonal business [e.g., Landscaping]. What are the 3 biggest expenses to track weekly, and how should a business owner calculate their minimum cash "buffer" needed to survive the off-season?"

"Write a 100-word promotional update to post on our Google Business Profile announcing our new [Service/Product/Menu Item]. Include 3 relevant local SEO keywords (e.g., 'best bakery in [City]') naturally, and end with a 'Call Now' or 'Get Directions' CTA."

"Draft a transparent email / physical sign communicating a 5% price increase across our [Services/Products]. Explain that rising costs of [Materials/Labor] have forced this change, but reiterate our commitment to maintaining the high quality they expect. Keep it brief and unapologetic."

"Draft a friendly, neighborly email to the owner of [Nearby Business Type, e.g., a local gym]. Propose a cross-promotional partnership where their members receive a 10% discount at my [Business Type, e.g., smoothie shop], and I promote their gym on my counter. Keep it very casual."

"My [Business Type] frequently runs out of top sellers while having too much dead stock in the back. Suggest a simple inventory management framework (like ABC Analysis or Min/Max levels) that a non-technical owner can implement using just a spreadsheet. Include formulas to calculate the Reorder Point."

"Design a simple, physical punch-card or points-based loyalty program for a [Business Type]. What should the final reward be, and how many purchases should it require? Calculate the perceived value for the customer versus the actual cost to the business to ensure it remains profitable."