Big vs Small Businesses: The Benefits for Employees

Much like choosing a city or college for yourself, deciding whether to work for a big or small company has the potential to greatly affect the direction of your life as a whole. The size of the company you work for can greatly affect the shape and direction of your career, so it’s important to make the right choice for you and your unique personal and professional goals. In this article, we’ll discuss a few of the distinctions of big vs. small businesses, the advantages of a small and big businesses, and some of the most impactful benefits of a small business vs. a big business for employees who may be considering a career change. 

Big Business vs. Small Business

A large business is unlike a small business in various ways, including its general structure, business model, target consumers, daily operations, finances, and employment approaches. Different laws apply to big businesses, and size aids the determination of a company’s potential eligibility for federal contracts and programs. The federal government accounts for the average number of employees and the average annual receipts when evaluating the specific size of a business. A large company has a general above-average size and high economies of scale. This type partakes in large-scale business activities and corporate-controlled finance activities. 

Small businesses, in contrast to larger operations with expansive holdings, play a specific role in local and national economies. Often run by independent owners, smaller existing companies serve as primary drivers of economic growth, with more targeted efforts toward the average consumer. While it can sometimes be difficult to classify an operation as large, medium, or small based on a specific annual revenue or number of employees, much of the classification depends on its given industry’s current top businesses and their level of growth, legal structure, and holdings. In the US, over 90% of companies are considered small, with less than 20 employees.

Advantages of a Small Business

Considering they currently make up a large percentage of existing US businesses, small businesses function as a significant source of national goods, economic growth, jobs, and services. There are around 28.8 million small operations across the United States. Communities throughout the country count on small businesses for their diverse and necessary social and financial provisions. There are benefits for owners and consumers alike from a small business. For owners and operators, a small outfit allows them to pursue unique passions, set a personal schedule, and build a special establishment for new and valuable worldwide contributions.

Worldwide clients and consumers of a small business’s provisions in turn reap the benefits of stand-out products and services in contrast to mass-produced offerings. Clients can also enjoy more personalized service and contact with a business that truly appreciates their support. When a person interacts with a smaller enterprise, they often experience quicker and more specialized employee attendance and results for their effort. They can also feel good knowing they made a positive difference toward the continued development and growth of a company.

The Benefits for Employees of a Big Business

There are distinct benefits and considerations when it comes to working for a small business vs. a big business as an employee. Depending on your specific personal and career goals, one size may be more fitting for you than another. Culture and the kinds of opportunities on offer change from one type of business to another. A business’s size can say much about the work environment. A larger company with potentially thousands of employees tends to be more team-driven and structured. Roles also tend to be narrower in scope. The larger an organization gets, the more specialized its employees often need to be. Surveys show that current employees believe large employers are more able to provide employee resources, benefits, and personal income or salary.

Current employees moving from a small to a big employer may experience a more organized and professional work culture, with operations, changes, and concerns going through HR as opposed to solely through the company owner. A more organized work culture with a large operation can also include faster recruitment, onboarding, and operations for employees as firm responsibilities are clear and methodical. There may be more opportunities for company advancement and an easier climb up through positions, which is often a top consideration when determining future job placement. There may also be built-in job movement and promotions. Employees can feel more secure in one setting over another depending on their needs.

The Benefits for Employees of a Small Business

While clients can benefit from the personalized attendance and creative efforts of small firm operators, employees also have various benefits from their support and participation. If you are considering new employment, it’s worthwhile to know some of the singular aspects and benefits of many small business offerings, including that of remote and contract work. A small company with fewer employees can be more personable and intimate. Surveys show that current employees recognize small employers as providing a superior experience with personal impact on business, individualized visibility, and co-worker and supervisor relationships. A personal and intimate environment can lead to a stronger feeling of family among employees and employers.

Current employees moving from a big to a small employer may find increased flexibility with regard to scheduling and deadlines in addition to some of the flexibility that remote work offers. In contrast to working at larger organizations where roles are highly specialized, when you work at a smaller organization, you often can wear different hats and make an impact across a larger portion of the business. When looking at small businesses vs. big businesses for your next position, it can be easy to lean toward a new environment and away from your previous one. However, companies big and small have the potential to offer ideal levels of scheduling, flexibility, advancement, intimacy, personability, growth, and organization. Deciding which size business is currently right for you entails organizing these aspects into a hierarchy of importance and evaluating each company for itself.

Big vs. Small Businesses as an Employee

When considering whether a big or small business is right for you as an employee, look at how your career goals and focuses align with each type, as well as the benefits each can offer. For help with your next career move, contact Brightwing.