Looking for a Simple Way to Support a Small Business? Here’s Mine

Why Buy Me a Coffee Works – and How You Can Support This Blog

Running a small business is a major juggling act, there's a good reason why self employed people have bags under their eyes and a caffeinated nervous energy look to them on a semi-permanent basis.

There’s the work you do, the admin you planned for — and the admin that snuck up on you. Then there’s the website you maintain, the content you write, the ads you try to make sense of — all while figuring out how to keep the lights on, the wheels turning, and the bills paid. And all of this on a narrow budget of both time and money in a life that ain't getting any longer.

Even when things go well, small businesses rarely have the luxury of a cushion. That’s where Buy Me a Coffee comes in — a simple, no-fuss way to support what I do here on this blog and behind the scenes in my business. And you can do it too!

I have a related post: Why I’m Still Self-Employed (Even When It Doesn’t Make Sense) which is along the same theme as this one if you would like to read after you finish this.
What Is Buy Me a Coffee?

If you haven’t come across it before, Buy Me a Coffee is a platform that lets readers and customers show appreciation with a small one-off tip — literally the price of a coffee.

There’s no subscription (although there is an option to do this), no sign-up pressure, no strings attached. You just click a link and, if you want, toss a few euros into the digital tip jar via your card and leave or don't leave a message for the recipient.

It’s popular with artists and creators like myself as a way of receiving support without pushing subscriptions. The platform takes a 5% commission on donations to cover fees.

Why I Use It

I didn’t set out to monetize everything I do. In fact, I hesitated for a long time before adding the option. But as the blog grew — and the hours I spent testing products, troubleshooting, writing, editing and updating posts piled up — I realised something:

People were getting real value from what I was sharing.
And some of them might even want a way to say thanks.

I also run a small product-based craft business, where costs aren’t always predictable and income isn’t always smooth. A few coffees a month can help bridge that gap — whether it goes toward hosting, new supplies, or even just covering the time spent writing helpful posts like this one.

Honestly, I’ve been humbled by the people who stumbled across my site, dropped a few coffees into the jar, and left a note saying they appreciated what I do.

What Your Support Actually Helps With

It’s not just about the money — it’s about momentum. As a self-employed (or self-unemployed, as Del Boy would say) person, money coming in is never guaranteed. But a few euros here and there can go a long way.

A few euros here and there might cover:

Hosting or domain costs
Tools or products I test and review for the blog
Craft supplies for my small shop
Buffering slow months when sales are quiet
A small boost to keep writing, improving, and helping others

It keeps the blog ticking — and more importantly, it tells me I’m on the right track.

Like what you're reading? You can buy me a coffee — sure it’s cheaper than a pint!

I'm a Little Different than Other Creators.

I’m VAT registered, which means I pay 23% VAT on the 95% I receive after Buy Me a Coffee takes their cut. It’s a bit of a pain, but I live with it. Most creators aren’t VAT registered — my business just ended up going that way and now I’m stuck with it.

Want to Support My Work?

If you’ve read something on this blog that helped you:

A review that saved you time
A guide that made something clearer
A product that genuinely worked for you
An article that was of interest or passed a few minutes for you

Then Buy Me a Coffee is the simplest way to say thanks and a great way to support this blog and help me keep sharing honest, real-world content..

Can You Use Buy me a Coffee to Support Your Own Business.

Absolutely. I plan to write a separate post soon on how to integrate it into your own website or blog. But the short version:

Sign up at buymeacoffee.com
Choose a good password, confirm your email
Write a decent description and upload a profile picture — ideally something showing you at work
Note: You’ll need to reach €15 before you can withdraw funds. Same applies after each payout.

Final Thought

You don’t need to spend a fortune to support a small business.

Sometimes the smallest gestures — a kind comment, a share, or yes, even a coffee — make the biggest difference.

I recently supported a musician using their Buy Me a Coffee link. I could’ve enjoyed the free music and moved on, but I chose to give something back. And honestly, it felt good doing it.

If you like, you can check out the video on the Woodturning Experience in Tralee page — the background music is exactly what I wanted.

Thanks for reading, and for being part of the journey.

David

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